Modular Infotech Pvt. Ltd. - DSpace

APPENDIX LXI.-Contd.] B 76
Gives the following detailed criticisms on Mr. CHEANG LIM'S Memorandum:-
Paragraphs 1 and 2.-Does he seriously rely on the Olinese Krani in
a Chandu Shop to do this faithfully?
Paragraph .,.-Is the Chinese cooly on a distant mine or estate pl'"rhaps
20 miles from a chandu shop to come in once a week in person? This is
surely unreasonable.
Paragraph 14.-'Vhat is a "respectable person"? What are "medkal
purposes"? If all the shop-keepers and contractors in the town asked
for some chanda for the "benefit of their health" they "'ould presumahly
get it being "respectable persons" and for "medical purposes". Having
got it they would then sell it.
Paragraph 15.-Supposing the wretched man had been ill or had a
job miles from the shop this rule would be very unfair.
Paragraph 17.-This is bad luck on the man who was hard up and
couldn't afford to buy his full ration.
Paragraph 2O.-"Qualified Doctor" of what nationality and what
qualifications? Or does it include the Chinese medicine man?
Paragraphs 23 alld 24.-Publication amongst a floatiilg population
of people 90 per cent of whom are illiterate is useless. The tirst they will
hear of it is when they find themselves in the dock.
COLLECTOR OF LAND REVENUE, SEREMBAN.
Opposes use of any coupon system. Considers refusal to register luture
Immigrants impracticable. Thinks the restriction of consumption by means
of a permit and registration system must be as gradual as possible in order
to avoid the complete dislocation of Federated Malay States and Colunv
finances.
DISTRICT OFFICER, KUALA PILAR.
Considers either scheme would prove very difficult in practice. Points
out that both seem to overlook the fact that most of the smokers are of the
labouring class and have no facilities for preservation of documents such as
permits. Thinks such permits as Mr. CHEANG LIM proposes would soon
become unrecognisable if carried on the person of the owner, and if handed
to employers or others would involve undue influence. The coupons contemplated
by the other scheme would be equally liable to become unrecognisable
&r be misappropriated. Suggests an alternative system as follows:-
"I suggest it might be better to provide each registered smoker
merely with a small identification card (about the size of the Protection
Tickets now in use). This card would have to be produced for every
purchase, but the record of the purchase would be endorsed on the
corresponding card in a card index to be kept in each retail shop .
. "The card index kept in each retail shop would be of all the opiumsmokers
registered for the particular shop. The card index envelope
system used by Medical Practitioners at home for patients who come
under the Health Insurance scheme might be adopted with advantage.
On the envelope would be recorded all the necessary information regarding
the registered smoker, e.g., Register number, Nane and Address.
Photo, Thumb-print and weekly allowance of opium. This envelope
would last for many years. The record of purchases would be on a card
placed inside the envelope and when that is filled up a second could be
inserted. Subsequent alteration in the ration would be endorsed on the
envelope.
"In event of a customer wishing to transfer his custom to another
shop the envelope, together with the cards inside it, would be transmitted
to that shop, if necessary through a Central Registry."