Trust v2

Is the reason for red-tapes and bureaucracy due to lack of trust? Or also due to poor enforcement? And does red-tape and bureaucracy the reason why law abiding citizens get penalised and crooks get away with murder?

How can Malaysia break away from the above?

Let's compare a few examples:

i) If you get stopped by a cop for running a red light what does one do? Pay legally the fine or pay illegaly a bribe?

ii) If getting a permanent residency easier if one pays their way through or go through all the eligibility rules and regulations in Malaysia?

iii) Why do traffic offenders with multiple fines always get discounts after waiting for enforcement for years and a law abiding citizen who pays fine early pays the full rate?

Trust

Due to the fact that the system in Australia acts on the presumption of trust, many things can be done on the phone or online via www. However as many Australians have got this built into their personal system, there is a higher tendency for them to give others the benefit of the doubt and trust the other person more.

This is directly opposite to those of us in Asia, where trust must be earned over a longer duration of time. A simple example is getting documents or identity certified for Government or other applications. In Malaysia for example the identity card is of utmost important, without one, one is nobody. Getting things done means carting along loads of documents, forms and getting it certified etc. before even submitting the application and then there is the vetting process.

Today I just found out my company got cheated over a credit card scam from Nigeria. I would have thought that these Nigerian would have attempted to scam those in Asia or so, but I guess choosing someone from a more trustworthy society may be easier given that people here are more trusting that those from Asia.

Please don't get me wrong, there are good and bad in every society. We just have to exercise caution everywhere regardless of our presumption!

REGO i.e. Road Tax

Well, trust is definitely at a much higher level here in NSW. You get to renew your "rego" or the Malaysian equivalent of Road Tax for your car without stepping foot out of your home.

1 month before the expiration, you receive a notice to renew the rego with the "sticker" enclosed.

You just buy your Third Party insurance online (with premiums comparison on the RTA website to shop around) and then just pay your rego notice online with your credit card.

Upon payment, you get a receipt reference number and then you can stick your newly renewed rego on your car and drive till it expires again.

What a way of change from Malaysia where one has to go to the post office to get a new roadtax sticker!

I wonder how they police those who fail to pay unless they get into some trouble with the law or insurance?

Credit Cards

Despite having good credit history from Malaysia, getting a credit card can be a pain.

I got one when I first arrived from the banker I bank with regularly i.e. where my salary is deposited. All I got was a limit of $1,000; lower than when I first obtained my first credit card nearly 20 yrs ago.

Well few months later after making regular payments I applied for an increase and got a rejection letter.

To this Big 4 bank, you'll be receiving a termination in due time as I've managed to get two new cards from other institutions with credit limits that are more than 4 x my existing limit.

So much for loyalty. You can spend millions in your campaign but without looking into details, you lose a customer like me.

It reminds me of a similar rejection by Malaysia's largest bank about 10 yrs ago. Till now they've not got my credit card despite attempts in sending my preapproved cards without any application.

Good bye!