smoothriver.net ~ 順川のブログ

Things that make you go hmm…

Just snatch a copy of MSN* that print SOB** from anyone you don’t like or any overcharging cafe and you will have a wonderful adventure of words… words that are so blog-able and they really make you go hmm…

For instance in today’s SOB:

Election Commission (EC) chief said people don’t understand that EC’s “hands are tied” and EC is MERELY the IMPLEMENTING agency in elections.

On the suggestion of marking voters’ fingers with indelible ink to prevent impersonation and multiple voting (hence can reduce a lot of phantom votes), the EC chief said that it is not necessary because… WE HAVE SUFFICIENT PROOF of identification. Do we? Hmmm…

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department (ID) enforcement director, who goes around catching large number of alleged illegal immigrants, is complaining that his department don’t have enough time and not enough interpreters to process so many cases. Hence, there are problems and mistakes in arrests.

The ID director was responding to a remark by a High Court judge, who quashed a conviction of a Pakistani, criticising that the Immigration Department did not provide interpreter for the Pakistani and the poor fler was convicted. The Pakistani’s relative later provided proof that he entered the country legally. In his defense, the ID director said foreigners speak broken English (as if people in his department can speak perfect English, sorry just wanted to rub this in…) and they claim that they don’t need interpreters. Err… common sense will ask you to get an interpreter when you cannot understand what the fler is saying right?

Flip another page of an MSN, and I found this… Director General (DG) of the National Service Department said:

“Don’t worry, your children are in good hands.”

He said that he is CONFIDENT that his department will take NECESSARY STEPS to ensure that the trainees would not face any problems. Hmm…

On the other hand, Inspector General of the Police is proud to announce that they are going to increase another FIVE THOUSAND policewomen in the force. Wow! 5,000! By the way, the current size of the police force is 90,000 and the number of women is about 10%.

Ok the last piece of blog-able info from our beloved MSN:

Several documents related to claims by contractors for EXTRA FUNDS for government projects have bee classified OFFICIAL SECRETS after leaked to third parties.

The documents are:

1. The assessment report by the officer in charge of overseeing a government project
2. Comments by government Claims Committee
3. Minutes of Claims Committee’s meeting
4. The document stating the decision of the Claims Committee
5. The document which proposes the ex-gratia payment to be paid

The reason to OSA-ing these documents is Attorney-General (A-G) will find it DIFFICULT to defend the government if the if the contractors have access to those information when there is a legal dispute.

This is what the Public Works Department DG said:

If contractors have access to these documents, particularly if the government officer and the Claims Committee have different opinions, then it could make the government’s case difficult if it goes to court.”

So, there must be a reason why opinions are different right? Will OSA-ing the documents solve the problem?

Well, my concern is IF anyone of us SUSPECTS a contractor is working with some people in the government to get some extra pocket money from the tax payers’ account… How are we going to expose the case?

By the way, I am intrigued by the title of an article in the MSN that reported a bus accident.

Nightmare for first-time user of ill-fated bus

Three questions:
1. Can someone tell me what is an “ill-fated” bus?
2. For 2nd time, 3rd time (or more) users of an ill-fated bus, it is not a nightmare?
3. Why people wanted to board an ill-fated bus?

*MSN: Main Stream Newspapers
**SOB: Stories of Bolehland