Malaysia’s Quota Of Broken Hearts
Image courtesy of THE STAR
Earlier today, my friend Johnny told me that his girlfriend’s brother was found – DEAD. 
He was one of the missing people following the ferry tragedy that happened just a few days back on Saturday, which so happens to be a holiday weekend celebrating Hari Raya.
I’ll let Johnny do the details at his blog, I will go on to express MY opinion regarding this debacle and various other things.
What Is The Government Doing?
That’s what I want to know. It was as if the bus tragedy a few months back that was touted to be one of the country’s worst road accidents wasn’t enough as a wake-up call, we have to endure this boat tragedy. What next? Airline tragedy?
Let’s examine both situation
Ferry Tragedy
- Ferry did not have valid licence
- Ferry did not have valid passenger certificate.
The Ferry license expired on March 16, 2006, passenger certificate expired on March 18, 2005.
Bus Tragedy
- The driver had 13 traffic summonses and many others unsettled with two warrants of arrest against him
- 20-year-old bus with 19 summons
- 20-year-old bus with NO permit to ply the route.
It doesn’t make sense at all. We have the Ministry Of Transport and this isn’t a HUGE country! (pardon the ugly website, it just need to make known that there IS such a Ministry in Malaysia)
Was there no tracking of expired license? Were there no investigations done on companies whose licenses expired? What about safety checks?
Not like it matters I guess, our locally made cars are not cheap and they don’t come with safety features like ABS, Traction Control, ESP and even Air-Bags! So how do Malaysians get additional safety on the road? PAY A PREMIUM! Yup, models with air-bags would cost more. For advanced safety features, you’ll just have to save up for an expensive imported car. Alright I’m digressing here. Now, back to the matter.
Safety First? Not A Chance!
Unlike the bus crash, a boat on fire is easier to escape. At least there’s the opportunity to jump into non-freezing water, which is still better than getting into a crash while sitting inside metal enclosure.
Nevertheless, was that all safety about? Jumping into the water?
Let’s read further
She was near us but there was just not enough space on the float.
Source : Survivors haunted by inability to save woman
Unfortunately, there were not enough vests and all four of us did not get any.
“There was chaos and we decided to jump into the water as the flames were getting closer,” she said, adding that she and her mother were pushed off the boat by her father and boyfriend because they were too afraid to jump.
Hong added that when they were in the water, many people also jumped and landed on them, pushing them deeper into the water.
Source : Li Chin: I was so close yet I was unable to help my mother
Shocking isnt it??!?! . Was life jacket not a necessary safety gear for cross open-water travel? How about lifeboats?
During emergency, shouldn’t there be a conductor to ensure safe exit of all passengers? And how about alerting people much earlier? The pandemonium clearly shows that the situation was quite serious before everyone knew about it.
The captain registered to pilot the ferry was one Roslan Mohamad, but it is learnt that he was not on board when the incident occurred.
Met at the Seagull office, the company owner’s son Law Ah Heng, who helps out in the business, said they could not alert the Marine Department about the change of captains as it was closed for Hari Raya.
Source : Ferry licence ‘expired’
Safety First? Look, if it’s not the registered captain navigating the ferry then who was doing it?
Could not alert the Marine Department as it was closed for Hari Raya? Ridiculous! If there are ships operating, why should the department be closed? Even McDonalds could operate during Hari Raya, and they’re just serving food!
Search and Rescue is NOT a Politican’s Game!
Here’s what my girlfriend told. She was told to head out to search either 8am or 9am (somewhere around that time). They wait for it and asked the marine police if they can head out already or not but the marine police said that they need to wait for the YB(Yang Berhormat) to come first.
The operation was delayed till the arrival of the FIRST YB and the YB with marine police head out without the victim’s relatives. They said that they still need to wait for another YB which turn out to be late again. Again, they stranded at the dock waiting for the YB to arrive. One is from MCA and another is a malay women. The malay women still don’t want the marine police to go out yet. Reason? Don’t ask me. My girlfriend’s sister cried infront of the malay women YB only she give permission and ask the marine police to head out for the search operation.(I’ll talk this part later on)
Source : Appreciate but at the same time, disappointed!
When I read that, I was like WTF?!?! Well, Johnny said most of it. I agree with him.
What’s a rescue operation got to do with politicians arriving? It’s not like you’re officiating and event! My goodness, during such critical situation, EVERY SECOND COUNTS! Damn it, it’s a ship on fire in the open sea! Ok put it this way, drop yourself into a deep pool and tell me how fast you sink. 2 seconds is all it takes to make to drop to a depth where it’s difficult to locate you. 5 seconds and you’re probably gasping for breath.
Probably if those YB’s loved-ones are involved in the tragedy, they’ll call up and say “Don’t wait for me!”.
Not Enough! Never Enough!
MERSING: Seagull Express and Accommodation Sdn Bhd, operator of the Seagull Express ferry that caught fire and sank near Pulau Tokong Bahara will pay the funeral expenses of the four holiday-makers killed in the tragedy.
The company would make arrangements for burial and bear the funeral costs to ease the burden of the grieving families, said one of the owners who declined to be named.
He said the Mersing-based company, owned by six businessmen, had also provided accommodation and food at a hotel here for 20 victims of the 12.30pm tragedy on Saturday.
Source : Vessel operator to pay funeral expenses
Sure, that’s the most they could do BUT it will not be enough and will NEVER be enough. No amount of money and effort could replace a life that’s lost, a life that’s seen so many ups and downs through time, destined to be wiped out by negligence and incompetence of others.
Najib: Government wants answers over tragedy
Ahh the USUAL HEADLINES, every time something happens the headlines would look something like that – MINISTER : XYZ / WHO wants answers over ABC tragedy..
Don’t we have enough of this? Why is it always something sad had to happen before action are taken to ship-shape whoever’s in-charge? If things were done in orderly and upright fashion, there won’t even be a NEED for “WANTS ANSWER OVER…….”. Wouldn’t it great to see – “Government happy to announce that our safety standards are world-class.”
Images courtesy of THE STAR
I can’t help but think – what if it was my family or loved ones?
Malaysia’s Quota Of Broken Hearts – what is the quota? Do we want more? Look at the photos above and feel their pain, anger, anguish, disappointment – all could’ve been spared such ordeal if people actually DO THEIR JOB and DO IT WITH COMMON SENSE and UPRIGHTNESS OF HEART!
To those who survived, be strong.
Update : 19th October Emotional scene following recovery of decaying remains
Apparently the The Video Report mentioned that the Rescue Team has decided to call off the operation to look for the 3rd missing person. Strange, it was said We have deployed at least five big boats, seven small boats and a Cessna plane. More than 120 men are taking part in the mission. – it was not an air-crash at sea, so many boats and people involved took so long to find just a few? Would the lives be saved if mobilization was done faster? I’m not saying they’re not doing their job, neither am I saying that they are BUT I do hope that response time WILL undergo improvements.
Come to think of it. 1 plane? Don’t we like have 3 helicopters or something to spare?
October 19th, 2007 at 12:22 am
1. Corruption ( Denial, denial and denial)
2. Malaysia Boleh ( Tidak Apa Attitude)
3. Glory Hunting ( All want to challenge, but never have the right mechanism of a challenger)
4. Power and Politics ( Shall I say more, and linked with 1)
5. Democracy (Looks like 1 sided governing, and only acts when “Election” coming)
6. Incapable leaders ( Looks at some of the Bollock Minister)
7. Rich become richer, poor become poorer
8. Like the press always said, 1st class Facilities, 3rd class Mentality
and a lot more. Unless all of this got ridden and fixed, until then, we the citizen will suffer. And I am not surprised. Just look at our police force for example, only massive nationwide ops when festive season? Why not all year round? Malaysia will never move ahead with all this backlog, and more innocent life will loss until all this. It just shows that how capable our Government is.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:38 am
I’ll ad Lack of Enforcement to that list (your point #2 perhaps?)
Everything looks great during festive season and election time. After the election, even those flyers and horrid looking flags and decos are left un-attended.
The usual. It’s part of the culture already. Quite sad to see the nation heading towards a direction of lacking in responsibility nor the respect to the law of the land, not forgetting the lack of respect towards nature and even people around.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:07 am
Yup and you are certainly not the only one feeling that way. And I am already expecting V2020 a failure. Just wait and see then. Economy is not going much better but instead declining, freedom of speech being scrutinized heavily and ISA is use to protect the G. AAB famous quote, Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang? How terbilang himself when he uses BM to speak to the press and live audience which includes VIP? Even Najib speaks English a lot better than him in the recent interview with the “astronaut” live. And it will always a one party win until our Election Commission is total free from “grips and pressure”. I’m surprised on how are they doing their job. Phantom voters? Ain’t this suppose not to happen at all. Whatever it is, eligible voters, use our vote wisely. Yes, it will be always the same 1 sided party win, but we can use our vote to pressure the government to serve better by using opposition to pressure them. True, like what your articles said, they always ACT AFTER an incident happens. Why AFTER but not ALL YEAR STRICT YEAR ROUND, and selection of government servant also in question. It will always them use to be scape goat, and if that so, what happens to those who heads the selection of staff entrance? Are they not guilty as well? If you wants to get rid of a bad apple, start it from the empty basket itself. Upper level already in degrading state, and you expect your lower level staff be much better? Sigh.. Leader is always an example for the worker.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:27 am
This will be never-ending, my friend, for as long as you decide to live her and call Malaysia your home. Sad, I know, but that’s the whole ugly truth.
October 19th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Yes Steve, it’s being Malaysia. Safety is not priority, convenience and $$$ is ahead of everything.
I’ve updated the post, it’s really sad. So many days just to search for people.
We have Sepang F1 Circuit, KLIA (which so happens to located in KL, not even close!) and KLCC (which so happens to be 2 KLCC, one being the Convention Center) and yet our safety priorities are at such appalling state (and so are our naming system).