Kuching Friday, 24th June 2011
Swinburne University: University Of Burden
Swinburne University: University Of Burden
Swinburne University of Technology’s campus here, a partnership between Australia and the state government, has come under fire for putting a heavy financial burden on students and staff.
“It started to collect parking fee for vehicles parked within the university’s compound since the beginning of the year,”said Wong King Wei, the newly elected Padungan assemblyman.
“The parking fee was RM1 per hour and upon protest of the students and me, the management decided to maintain the hourly rate but fixed a maximum rate of RM4 per day,”he told the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.
Wong said that at one time, Sarawakians were hoping that with the involvement of the state government in establishing a university in Kuching, the locals would get good quality education at a reasonable price.
“Sad to say, the state government has proven us all wrong. The tuition fee of the university has kept increasing since its establishment in 2000. “The tuition fee for a student doing an engineering course can reach more than RM10,000 per semester and it will be increasing from next year with a fix percentage,”he said.
Furthermore, Wong claimed, the collection of parking fee had been contracted to a
“Barisan National (BN) crony company”, namely Kuching City Parking System Sdn Bhd. “Where is ‘rakyat didahulukan’ (people first), if the government ‘mendahului’ (prioritises) making profits and ‘mendahului’ a crony company?”he asked.
On the issue of electricity, Wong said Sarawak had the Batang Ai and Bakun hydro electric dams, and coal-power plants, but many Sarawakians were still living in darkness, especially Dayaks staying in longhouses. “
Having electricity and treated water supply seems to be too luxurious for them,”he said, pointing out that Sarawak would be celebrating its 50th anniversary in Malaysia in 2013 while BN would be celebrating 50 years of having ruled the state.
“However, it is a shame for BN for failing to provide the basic needs of the people. The government is ignoring them. The state is wealthy, the leaders are wealthy but the people are poor,”he said.
For the benefits of the readers of Bukittunggal, we would like to publish some of the comments made which were published in the article written by Joseph Tawi the owner of the Broken Shield Weblog.
Sick and tired of all this rubbish. Get rid of the heartless and hopeless and bring in new blood. Those swimming in a sea of corruption but see none should be shot dead. My vote goes to anyone but BN.
by No Cry For BN on Jun 24, 2011 at 8:13 am
The rakyat must understand that if you want quality education, you must pay. The Government's money comes from taxes collected. However ONLY 15% pay taxes. It is ridiculous to expect the 15% tax payers to subsidise the other 85% of the rakyat. There is a limit to every thing. The government must impose GST so that every rakyat would pay their fair share of taxes. Pakatan I understand is not interested in the welfare of the 15% tax payers.
by Observer on Jun 24, 2011 at 8:23 am
Kuching City Parking System Sdn Bhd if not mistaken belongs to Alan Sim the former SUPP Youth Chief.
It is a SUPP crony business.
by Sarawakian on Jun 24, 2011 at 8:31 am
I AGREE TO IMPLEMENT GST ONLY IF THE GOVT IS CLEAN N FAIR TO ALL RAKYAT.
by Vincent ak Paul on Jun 24, 2011 at 8:33 am
Observer,
You are a mere moron and talking non-sense here. The people don't to pay tax, but the problem is where is the money gone? Last year, Petronas generated a pre-taxed profit of RM90 billion. where is the money now?
by onemalaysia on Jun 24, 2011 at 8:49 am
This must be the winter of our discontent!
by dagenli on Jun 24, 2011 at 9:03 am
Bising pasal BN tapi p/raya undi BN juga.Bodoh sendiri lah.
by sabahman on Jun 24, 2011 at 9:03 am
We have said before that a University does not exist in a vacuum. It has its corporate social responsibility. much like any independent, private organization. The issue here is one of parking fees for students that would be an additional burden with an already existing high tuition fees they have to bear.
We also shouldn't forget that the Sarawak Foundation (SF) has direct interests in the University and has also been given timber concessions by the State. Now this a double whammy situation – it has enjoyed the millions from the concessions and now even charges local students with parking fees? How puny & socially irresponsible!
by aborium on Jun 24, 2011 at 9:05 am
Observer,
Who say the 85% are not paying tax? one way or another the 85% pay tax too. If you pay your parking for extra time or eat KFC, there are Service tax be included on top of the amount that you have to pay. So you see there , even student or children who are not working already pay tax by eating KFC. The poor farmer at rural area buy pesticide/baja for the farming are also been taxed , so what are you talking about.
You are clearly one of BN stooges…I am not Pakatan supporter, but your remarks clearly offend me..
by Albert on Jun 24, 2011 at 9:25 am
We all grumble and complain about the unfairness of the crony system but come election time and we time and time again vote for these b******s.We deserve what we get!
by tonysup on Jun 24, 2011 at 9:28 am
