Quick Fix Denial Syndrome

Technorati tags: Malaysia, Politics, Quick Fixes, Commentary

Earlier on, Walski made a hypothesis that the quantum of traffic fines has little, if any, to do with improvement in road safety. Walski stands by that hypothesis. But was the move to reduce the amount of fines done for the right reasons?

Apparently, road safety was not the primary consideration. It was done, apparently, as a move to create a culture of paying fines, and oh, to curb corruption within the police force. The rationale, it appears, is that lower fines would prompt motorists to pay the fines instead of trying to wiggle their way out by bribing the police. And once that happens, our air space will be filled with flying piggies...

Hmmm... Walski doesn't know about you, but doesn't that reek of denial (not to mention stupidity)?

Now, there are some motorists who do offer bribes, no doubt about that. But it takes two to tango, as they say. Hence the assertion that it's supply side economics that's contributing more to police corruption seems naive, at best. It's like saying "the police don't take bribes, they merely accept them if offered".

This is the perfect example of what Walski calls the Quick Fix Denial Syndrome: find a simple solution (however ludicrous) that sounds good in the papers (and not necessarily even on paper), while denying that the root of the real problem even exists. Blogger buddy, KTemoc, it seems, doesn't know whether to laugh, or cry. And Walski can't blame him one single bit.

And this is not the first time that the Quick Fix Denial Syndrome (QFDS) has reared its stupid ugly head either.
(more Quick-Fix Denials in the full post)

Another recent case that probably examplifies QFDS is the issue surrounding Tun Dr. Mahathir's allegations about Pak Lah's government. Just about every minister has made statements urging the Tun to stop criticizing the government. And what about the issues raised (some of which are very, very valid - the crooked bridge issue aside)? Issues? What issues?

Not to be outdone, Walski's favorite ageless political superhero, had this to say yesterday: the transport ministry is in the process of gazetting the MRR2 Flyover to be off-limits to heavy vehicles, forever. The reason? The damn lorries have been running into the 2.5 meter-high gantries set up at either end of the fly-over while its being reinforced.

"We have put up large signboards and yet accidents happen. Drivers must be asleep while they are on the road, they can't see the gantries.

JKR (Public Works Department) will gazette so that all lorries, big or small, will use the down road. Only cars can go up the flyover"

Hello... earth to Uncle Sam - Malaysian motorists don't read f*cking road signs, ok? They might on Planet Krypton, but here on Planet Malaysia, its a different story altogether.

In the meantime, the entry points on either end of the MRR2 flyover have been constricted to barely one lane. From 3 lanes. The result? Traffic jams. Malaysian road planners simply love their bottlenecks, don't they. And if steel gantries can't stop the heavy vehicles, Walski supposes that a gazette would, huh?

Meanwhile, the real problem is not addressed at all, not even a teensy-weensy hint - lousy traffic management of the construction works. Problem? Mana ada problem?

Quick Fix Denial Syndrome - is what Walski reckons will be the primary reason that we probably won't achieve Vision 2020 on time, in 2020. If at all...

And no, sports fans, there is no quick fix for QFDS. Don't even bother asking. Quick Fixes are nothing but bigger problems just waiting to happen.