MRT Sungai Buloh 150km (USD17B or USD133M/km) verses China's Bejing - Shanghai fastest train cost 1,318 km (USD22B or USD16M/km)
Please send this to all your email contacts and also inform those without internet access about this open plundering before all your future generations become beggars and housemaids.
I won't be surprised that Bolehland will go bankrupt during our life-time under the BN Govt.
Would you believe it? It cost UMNO to build the Sungai Buloh MRT a distance of ONLY 150km a walloping USD17B (RM53B) or a cost of USD133M per km verses China's Bejing - Shanghai (Fastest train in the World @
350km per hour) a distance of 1,318km ONLY USD22B or USD16M per km??????
Another wasted tax payer's money! Why don't ask the Chinese to build it??? Check the web below
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/3/5/business/8191732&sec=business
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing%E2%80%93Shanghai_High-Speed_Railway
Another ploy to BANKRUPT the country! What is the projected recoup period for this massive expenditure???
The government is quite good in playing some ploy to deceive the rakyat (that's us). I'm short of calling the government as a con artist. Anyway, government ministers are also quite good in giving excuses, reasons and in-direct information.
From the snippet below, according to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, if RM51 airport tax is collected from an international flight, RM5 is allocated to ERL (owned by YTL Corporation). That's roughly about 10% share. The airport tax is meant for the government who is the servant to the rakyat.
Ong Tee Keat also revealed that in 2008, RM292 million airport taxes were collected from KLIA (he didn't says how much were collected from foreigners). Based on the 10% allocated given to ERL, that would amount to about RM29.2 million. RM29.2 million given for free YTL. Of course, Ong Tee Keat has reminded us that it is the "concession" money.
Wonder how much YTL refunded back to their kaki in the government. Only in Malaysia.
From MalaysianInsider
Fly or ride, or neither, taxpayers still pay ERL
By Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 – Malaysians have been subsidising the Express Rail Link (ERL) service since last April, it was revealed in Parliament today
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said that YTL Corporation’s ERL Sdn Bhd, the operator of the high-speed rail service from here to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, had been indirectly subsidised since last April because the company is unable to cover costs due to poor sales.
Answering a question from PKR’s Azmin Ali, the minister said that under a concession agreement for the rail service, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the operator of KLIA, is required to pay ERL a portion of service charges it levies on all passengers.
But since April 1 last year, the finance ministry has been reimbursing MAHB for the money it pays ERL.
Ong said this arrangement was a result of a restructuring exercise in MAHB under a “marginal cost support scheme.”
He did not, however, reveal how much has been paid indirectly to ERL under the scheme.
Ong told Parliament that ERL was not being given any allocation from airport taxes, but under the concession agreement, an allocation from passenger service charges levied by MAHB was due to ERL since 2002.
“For example, if RM51 is collected from an international flight, RM5 is allocated to ERL,” he said.
Later, he told reporters that the Finance Ministry has been reimbursing this amount to MAHB since April 2008 but insisted that “ERL gets no monetary support from the government.”
However, the fact that the government-linked company is reimbursed for whatever it pays ERL by the government, effectively makes it an indirect subsidy.
Ong justified the allocation to ERL by pointing out that there had been a massive capital outlay to operate the rail line but that ticket sales “cannot cover the cost of the outlay and maintenance.”
He added that the allocation was agreed upon based on projected traffic before the ERL had begun operations.
“With the inception of the low-cost carrier terminal two years ago, (ERL) takings have further deteriorated,” he said.
Ong also revealed that the government has collected RM1.86 billion in airport taxes since 2004.
In 2008, RM446.4 million was collected, with RM292 million from KLIA.
Here a summary of the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) scandal over alleged mismanagement of fund.
* MIED is an education arm of MIC.
* Samy Vellu is the MIED chairman.
* MIED chief executive officer P. Chitrakala Vasu to go on leave.
* Missing amount totaled to RM5.265mil at MIED.
* Mismanagement of awarding of construction contracts for AIMST.
* Tan Sri M. Mahalingam, a signatory of MIED cheques, was removed as MIC treasurer-general last December.
From TheStar
A MIED top official linked to funds mismanagement
By FLORENCE A. SAMY
PETALING JAYA: The Maju Institute of Educational Development controversy has taken another twist with the MIC president pointing fingers at a top MIED personnel for the alleged mismanagement of funds amounting to millions of ringgit.
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu claimed that they had identified the person as the one allegedly responsible for the missing RM5.26mil He also hinted that more discrepancies would be revealed.
“The police are investigating the case. MIED has made a report to the police over two people. The first stage of the missing amount is RM5.265mil.
“We investigated and identified that the money was taken under different disguise and put into someone else’s account. We have to report this to the police.
“We cannot keep quiet and allow things to happen. We are still investigating and there are more and more coming,” he told reporters on Sunday at the MIC-owned MIED’s UPSR excellent achievement awards ceremony here yesterday. MIED is MIC’s education arm.
Controversy had plagued MIED over the alleged mismanagement.
On Saturday, it was reported that the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department was investigating two senior MIED executives for alleged criminal breach of trust.
Samy Vellu said Sunday that many had an incorrect perception that MIED was being investigated.
“MIED is not being investigated. We have reported to the police and have asked them to investigate,” he added.
On being queried by the police recently, Samy Vellu said the police came to see him given his capacity as the MIED chairman.
“Naturally, police came to see me as I am the head of MIED.
They wanted to find out what had happened - who is the chief executive officer, how did we employ her, what are her responsibilities - all this I have to answer,” he added.
Samy Vellu also chided the media for reporting that the construction cost of party-owned Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) had ballooned, which he said was untrue.
He explained that there were four stages of construction, with the first stage costing RM235mil. The cost at the final stage, he said, stood at RM485mil. AIMST university, which is in Kedah, was officially opened last year. MIED runs AIMST through MIED Capital Sdn Bhd.
A furious Samy Vellu challenged the media to look into their account books, stating that “every cent is accounted for.”
“There is a project manager and a quantity surveyor to oversee the thing. We do not call for tender; the quantity surveyor calls for tender.
“The newspapers should have more responsibility. They should ask us,” he said, adding that they were planning to take legal action against a news agency which first stated that the cost had ballooned.
Samy Vellu said that it was impossible to build a university for RM265mil as “even the government university cost’s RM1bil.”
When the controversy broke out, Samy Vellu had asked MIED chief executive officer P. Chitrakala Vasu to go on leave. He also issued her with several show-cause letters which she had replied to.
Last week, a former MIC member lodged a police report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, alleging that he had evidence of alleged mismanagement in the awarding of construction contracts for AIMST.
Last month, MIC vice-president and MIED director Datuk Seri S. Sothinathan had lodged police reports over missing MIED files.
Last December, Tan Sri M. Mahalingam, a signatory of MIED cheques, was removed as MIC treasurer-general by Samy Vellu who said the move was part of an MIC rebranding exercise.
I just posted a news excerpt on RM0.9 Million PJ Mayor's house and another news is circulating in the Malaysian blogosphere that Abdul Hakim Borhan, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur city (DBKL) is a frequent flyer (frequent traveler).
There is no big deal about being a frequent traveler, except that Abdul Hakim Borhan excursion was paid with duit rakyat (i.e Malaysian taxpayers money) and the amount is a staggering RM1.5 million spent in 20 months.
His overseas trips include places such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Shanghai, Beijing, Perth, Stockholm, Helsinki, London, Dubai and Istanbul, besides travelling to South Korea and Japan.
Further reading (from other blogs):
* PakatanRakyat WP KL: Study trips to Germany and Canada under fire - The Star
From TheNutGraph: KL mayor a frequent traveller
21 Oct 08 : 8.57PM
By Elizabeth Looi
elizabethlooi@thenutgraph.com
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Oct 2008: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Mayor Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan spent close to RM1.5million for 11 official trips overseas in 20 months, the Federal Territories Ministry revealed.
In a written reply to Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras), Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique said Abdul Hakim made seven trips last year and four trips this year, which cost a total of RM1.46 million.
The most expensive trip was an 11-day excursion for five participants from 29 May to 8 June this year to Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, which cost a whopping RM370,315 with RM19,873.50 for allowance.
The trip was to accompany Zulhasnan to study and compare the mechanism of the federal state entities and federal territories as well as local government's law management and administration structure in other countries.
Abdul Hakim also went to Shanghai and Beijing with his officers this year and spent a total of RM62,904.04 with RM8,621.21 claimed for allowance.
Last year, Abdul Hakim and his officers visited Perth, Stockholm, Helsinki, London, Dubai and Istanbul, besides travelling to South Korea and Japan. The total cost to taxpayers, including allowances, was almost RM989,000.
Met at the lobby later, Tan said the expenses were "ridiculously high".
"No wonder he is nicknamed the 'frequent traveller' in DBKL," quipped the MP.
malaysia ~ If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
The Paya Indah Wetlands finally opened its gates to the public on Oct 20, 2008 – over two years late. Actually it a reopening but PERHILITAN called it "Soft Launching".
According to Sun2Surf website, RM88 Million was dumped into this wetlands project. Initially RM68 million poured into the project but the government pumped in an additional RM20 million to salvage the venture which was doomed from the start.
With the alleged total investment of RM88 million and RM10 entrance fee, Paya Indah Wetlands need to have 8 million visitors to break even. Let us say that there are 500 daily visitors on average visiting PIW, it would roughly takes 160,000 days (or 5,333 months or 444 years!) to recoup the cost.
It is really dumping millions into the swamp.
Related posts:
* Shock and awe of Barisan Nasional typical economy
From TheSun
Flawed from the start
by Terence Fernandez
YESTERDAY, we opened another monument to mismanagement and overspending. The Paya Indah Wetlands finally opened its gates to the public – over two years late. After pouring RM68 million into the project, the government pumped in an additional RM20 million to salvage the venture which was doomed from the start.
It is going to take decades to recoup our losses. The RM10 entrance fee will only go so far in getting back the people’s money which was spent on the project – another mega brainchild of the former regime, with Malaysian Wetlands Foundation CEO Muralee Menon as the runner.
To date, no one has been made to answer for the million-ringgit fiasco. Muralee was even appointed to the Sports Advisory Panel.
An expose by this paper’s special reporting team over a year back revealed serious flaws and breaches of financial standards and accepted norms in transparency and accountability, where the CEO was allowed to be the sole signatory to cheques of over RM80,000. There were also cases of changing horses mid-stream, where consultants and contractors were hired and fired as often as one changes his briefs.
An RM800,000 restaurant is another testimony to the extravagances with people’s money.
So, while we can thump our chests and say we have yet another "world-class tourist attraction", we must not be blind-sided by the fact that a lot of money has been poured into a failed project. Yes. It is a failed project if close to RM100 million can be spent on a scheme that could have been realised for less than RM10 million.
And while taxpayers lost out, there are several individuals who have laughed all the way to the bank, thanks to the folly of some who got their positions not on merit but by having the right connections.
malaysia ~ If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
The Royal Malay Regiment tour of duty at Buckingham Palace has ended and upon their return to Malaysia, those soldiers will be given goodwill payment.
The British royal family are also too gracious and too courteous for commended the Royal Malay Regiment for their successful completion of the two-month public duties there.
And how convenient could it be that Najib was also at Buckingham Palace to see RMR last guard duty before flying back to Malaysia. What a waste of public fund for Najib to fly to London and see a bunch of brass band soldiers ended their guard duty.
No RMR soldier was killed or maimed during their tour of duty at Buckingham Palace and Najib must be proud of their mission. Well, I'm not.
Related post:
* Malaysia sending army for vacation to London
If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
British royal family happy with our men
By CHOI TUCK WO
LONDON: The British royal family has commended the Royal Malay Regiment for their successful completion of the two-month public duties here.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this was conveyed to him by the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, during a tea reception at Buckingham Palace.
“I understand from the prince that the royal family was very proud with the regiment’s performance,” he told Malaysian journalists before witnessing the regiment’s final changing-of-the-guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace yesterday.
The regiment will take part in another ceremonial duty at Windsor Castle today, before flying home on Sunday.
A total of 122 personnel, including a brass band, from the first battalion had arrived in April to perform public duties, which also involved guarding Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St James Palace.
Najib also announced a special £200 (RM1,300) token of appreciation to each of the members as goodwill payment for their successful stint here.
“You have all performed with dedication and professionalism in upholding the image of Malaysia as a modern, progressive and peace-loving country,” he told them at Wellington Barracks.
On Tuesday, the deputy prime minister opened JomMakan Restaurant – the first quick service restaurant under the Malaysia Kitchen franchise programme – in the heart of London’s West End.
He said the first JomMakan speciality restaurant had been launched in Tokyo while more outlets were expected to open in the United States and Australia.
“Malaysian food has the potential to become a global cuisine that could help put the country on the world map,” he added.
Najib said he had always wanted a quality Malaysian restaurant in London, and not one that was “tucked away in some back street in the capital”.
“And I’m so proud that I am here in this restaurant in Pall Mall, strategically placed just outside Trafalgar Square,” he said to applause from those present.
On talk of Malaysian becoming the new Thai in the London food scene, Najib said Thailand had developed a head start with many more restaurants than Malaysian ones in Britain.
He, however, believed it was never too late for Malaysia to promote its cuisine which had a lot more variety as it included Malay, Chinese and Indian food as well as those from various states.
He hoped more Malaysian entrepreneurs would apply for loans to open franchise restaurants overseas such as in London where the people liked to eat out.
More revelation how the Zahrah Kechik and the previous committee of Balkis spent the fund meant for welfare and charity purpose. RM279,000 or more was spent to buy clothes and apparels for themselves and their spouses.
If the money was used to purchase school uniforms for poor students, then it worth spending.
Related posts:
* Return the money, Zahrah Kechik told
* BALKIS belong to the government of the day
-
If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
Source: sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=22612 (May 25, 2008)
Balkis spent RM279,000 on clothes for members and spouses for sporting event
Maria J.Dass
SHAH ALAM (May 23, 2008): Balkis, the Wives of Selangor State Assemblymen and MPs Charity and Welfare Organisation, spent RM158,000 on clothes for its members to wear to a sporting event and RM121,000 on similar apparel for their spouses of members of the state assembly.
This "questionable" spending was in the list of expenditures that Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim read out to the Assembly yesterday, in answer to two questions on Balkis from Lau Weng San (DAP-Kampung Tunku) and Dr Shafie Abu Bakar (PAS-Bangi).
These clothes were bought at Galeri Balkis Sdn Bhd. Other expenditures pertained to the organising of charity events.
He also told the assembly how much state investment arms and companies like PKNS, Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd and Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB) had contributed to Balkis.
Abdul Khalid also said PNSB had contributed a total RM5,186,948 to Balkis.
The accounts of PNSB showed the company forked out RM50,000 for the officiating of Kompleks Wawasan Balkis and a majilis korban, and another RM50,000 for orphans.
Another Balkis charity programme cost RM250,000, while RM49,000 went for souvenirs, RM22,000 for Ramadan contribution, RM250,000 for a Deepavali and Hari Raya programme, RM100 for uniforms, RM30,000 for food, and RM36,000 for souvenirs for VVIPs.
Abdul Khalid said he would not use the word dissolution on Balkis as the application for dissolution of the society has yet to be approved.
"Whatever action we take on the matter should be done in a proper manner because the people involved should be given a fair chance to respond to the queries that have been raised. One thing is clear, the state government will not continue with land allocation to Balkis for the purpose of transfer to bodies which are not part of the state government. And we do not consider Bakti as a state government organisation," Abdul Khalid said.
Abdul Khalid earlier announced that a Special Select Committee for competency, transparency and accountability will be set up to address misuse of funds.
He said among its first probes would be on the expenditures of Balkis and the usage of the whole RM29 million allocation for 2008 for state assemblymen within the first two months of this year.
Speaking to reporters after the morning session of the state assembly sitting today, he said the assembly will move a motion to set up this committee which will be made up of five or six members.
"Four of the members will be from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and the rest form the opposition (Barisan Nasional)," he said.
The people involved will be called up to meet with the committee and the state assembly has the power to compel their attendance to extract information on the usage of funds and expenditure of people and organizations concerned, he said.
It was revealed that 90.16% of the RM29,544,000million allocation to state assemblymen for 2008 was spent before March.
Abdul Khalid said the allocation which was used up within the first two months of the year was no small matter.
"We have of course given more allocations for the new state assemblymen; however we pity the Rakyat because they have missed out of the earlier funds supplied for their benefit," he said.
Dato’ Seri Azalina Othman Said, the Chairperson of Women’s Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFFM) and her kakis, really know how to spend. But of course, using the rakyat money.
Azalina Othman is also a big shot at UMNO Wanita.
Below is the expenses report for WSFFM for last year (details in the second half of this post):
• Grants RM1.18 million
• Meals and Accommodation RM2.1 million
• Media and Advertising RM932,000
• Post and Production RM710,000
• Printing and Stationery RM710,000
• Rental of Equipment RM865,400
• Volunteers’ Allowances RM242,000
• Wages RM117,700
• Entertainment RM1.4 million
• Travelling and Transportation RM858,000
RM1.4 million for entertainment. Those ladies really know how to enjoy. Kaki enjoy knows no boundaries. RM1.4 million is a lot of money and could be spend wisely to help the poor women at the kampong.
And since Azalina Othman is the new Minister of Tourism, just hope she does visit Mongolia often.
If you like this informative post, please subscribe to my full RSS Feed
Extracted from: sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=21506 (Apr 17, 2008)
Song and dance while others suffer
Besides, there’s an expenditure for shirts and uniform. Why should Joe Public pay for these people to strut around in tailor-made shirts? Please tell us why they deserve to be given even clothes!
ON Monday, the sports fraternity, police officers and government officials pored over details on the route the Olympic Torch will take when it arrives on our shores. Foremost on their minds was what to expect from protesters – sympathisers of Tibet and members of the controversial and much-maligned Falungong sect which is banned in China.
If I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t worry much about these groups. I would rather be frightened of Malaysians who have managed to get a copy of the annual report of the Women’s Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFFM), which discloses some sordid details.
Malaysians would rather protest against how their money has been mismanaged than bother about what’s going on in Tibet.
Financial statements published in annual reports never go into details, most of the time, being lumped one under sub-headings; but the foundation’s report for last year makes compelling reading. But before that, something on this organisation – WSFFM.
According to its website, the foundation is devoted to the empowerment of women through sports and fitness. The foundation, the website says, has pursued this goal from 1995 along with “our humble quest to enlighten women on the significance of sports and fitness as a national agenda”.
It also says (reproduced verbatim): The chairperson of WSFFM, Dato’ Seri Azalina Othman Said, is a leader with a distinction, inspiring and is truly sincere in making a difference in women’s life. It’s indeed an honor for the Foundation to have the first woman Minister of Youth and Sports as our Chairperson. Dato’ Seri Azalina has always advocated unity and women empowerment through sports. She has motivated and enabled girls and women to reach greater heights. The realizations of her vision and strategic plans have already begun and been proven.
But looking at the income and expenditure, one wonders whether these goals have been achieved. Let’s look at the income: The National Sports Council gave a grant of RM9.72 million and another RM1.5 million came from the Youth and Sports Ministry. There were two smaller amounts – RM200,000 from the Olivia Newton John concert and RM110,000 from Datuk Dina Rizal’s Sports Unite Sdn Bhd.
No one will complain about that. But when the page is turned and the expenditure is listed out, one cannot but be aghast over how the money had been used. Before even one sen is spent, the question that should be foremost on the minds of the people who are holding public money in trust should be: How will doing this help the sportswomen?
For purposes of easy reading and understanding of the issues involved, here’s where the bulk of the money went:
• Grants RM1.18 million
• Meals and Accommodation RM2.1 million
• Media and Advertising RM932,000
• Post and Production RM710,000
• Printing and Stationery RM710,000
• Rental of Equipment RM865,400
• Volunteers’ Allowances RM242,000
• Wages RM117,700
• Entertainment RM1.4 million
• Travelling and Transportation RM858,000
But before anyone argues that this foundation is a non-governmental organisation and the media has no right to question how it spends money, let it be said that this foundation received more than RM11 million in taxpayers’ funds. Every right-thinking Malaysian must ensure that it is spent prudently and for the benefit of the rakyat and not on self-seeking or syiok sendiri projects.
If meals, accommodation and entertainment accounted for 30% of the expenditure, then something is wrong with the system and no one cared for a basic principle called prudence.
Besides, there’s an expenditure for shirts and uniform. Why should Joe Public pay for these people to strut around in tailor-made shirts? Please tell us why they deserve to be given even clothes! Then there’re payments totalling RM250,000 as “gifts and condolences”. What the heck is this? Why is taxpayers’ money being used to buy such expensive gifts and messages of condolences?
And it cost RM100,000 for the “upkeep of temp(orary) secretariat. What? Then, there’s this payment of RM20,900 as “professional fee”. For what and to whom? What kind of professional services were rendered?
Who did they entertain for RM1.4 million or who did they pay that sum of money for to be entertained? Of course not Newton-John because she performed at Genting which donated RM200,000 from the ticket sales. So, where did our money go?
What could have been done with RM1.4 million? For a start, at least 1,000 of those who live below the poverty line could have received RM100 a month each in allowances for a year! At least 100 children with heart diseases could have gone for surgery without having to go on the streets with begging bowls.
And imagine a handful of people entertaining or being entertained while the poor eat kanji as their only meal or while children continue to suffer, unable to afford treatment. Is it justified?
If there’s nothing to hide, just open the books for public scrutiny. After all, our money was used. And to the National Sports Council: How did you approve such a sum of money for all these luxuries?
Don’t forget, the allocation for sports is not for entertainment, shirts or meals. And the director-general and the board members owe a responsibility to the taxpayers by telling us the truth, but nothing but the truth.
R. Nadeswaran says spending millions of taxpayers’ money on entertainment and food is unforgivable and those responsible should be named and shamed. He can be reached at: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com
Ronnie Liu, the Selangor exco member shouldn't be surprised with Barisan Nasional spending spree. It's their tradition for the last 50 years. After all, it's not UMNO money. It's duit rakyat.
And every time general election loomed nearer, politicians from the ruling government will spend money like nobody business. Even Sultan of Brunei will have his restraints. Not so for the Barisan Nasional. To show off to the rakyat that they care, new roads, new bridges, new mosques, new balai, new dewan appeared from nowhere. Any these project galores only came during the last year of the ruling term. Rakyat have to wait for it for at least 4 years.
To some, it also look like a last minute homework. Delivering projects which are 4 years overdue. That is Barisan Nasional style of economy. To hold the projects until the last time and re-use it as a campaign promise. Why promise the road if they win the coming election when they suppose to make the road 4 years ago. Those sick and old probably died and never see the projects being implemented.
Come election time, projects are awarded and implemented at break-neck speed. Even U.S Airforce F-15 Eagle cannot catch up. Those projects are called Projek Kilat. And during that time, the Class F to Class A contractors will cut-throat and suck the Barisan Nasional dry of money. A RM5 thousand bus-stand will cost RM10 thousand. A RM5 screwdriver will cost RM150 and so on and so forth.
Who absorbed the mercurial cost ? The rakyat. Who overspent it ? The government. Oit, not the Barisan Nasional meh ?
UPDATES:
* Oct 21, 2008: RM88 Million dumped into the swamp -- Paya Indah Wetlands
* Oct 15, 2008: Malaysia RM2.3 Billion Eurocopter Scandal
Extracted from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/14/nation/20080414170238&sec=nation (Apr 14, 2008)
RM27m for Selangor burned up in 50 days!
By EDWARD RAJENDRA
KLANG: The 54 Barisan Nasional assemblymen in the previous administration spent their total annual allocation of RM27mil ringgit for 2008 in just 50 days from the beginning of the year, said Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu.
"There was shock and disbelief when the state executive councillors found out that an annual allocation of RM500,000 each, meant for repairing roads and drains, had been used up by February," he said.
He said the state government would ask all the 36 former Barisan assemblymen and the 28 who retained their seats to explain how the allocations, meant for minor repair works in their constituencies, were used.
Liu, who is State Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman, was speaking to reporters after a visit to the Klang Municipal Council here on Monday.
He said Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim decided last week to seek an explanation from the asemblymen to ensure accountability.
“All the letters to the assemblymen would be sent out within the week and they must give detailed accounts on how the allocations were used and who the contractors were who carried out the minor projects within their neighborhoods,” Liu said.
“We are not satisfied with the way allocations were used. We want to know how the rate-payers' money was used. But for now, we are not going to speculate on their spending trends. We will wait to see the outcome,” he said.
Ronnie said the assemblymen in the current government were now forced to ask for a fresh RM500,000 to provide the necessary services to their constituencies.
“We are going to come out with a new method where every sen spent will be accounted for. Our aim is to provide transparency, so, that the rakyat can check on the government’s expenditure,” he said.
RM2 million or more for sending our army to guard England's Buckingham Palace is an extreme waste of fund when that money could be used to protect our waters and borders. England is not short of protection for their home land security. Malaysia home security is riddled with holes.
Take Sabah waters for example, with rampant entry of illegal immigrants from the Philippines to Sabah, the government of the Defence Ministry is not doing anything to control the problem. Protect Sabah waters instead of sending our army for sight seeing to London.
In another example, the border between Sarawak and Kalimantan need more security to prevent unwanted entry of illegals from Indonesia to Sarawak. Kuching has been hit with spates of armed robberies and house-breakin by criminal gangs with members from Indonesia. Those crimes doesn't seem to be reduced. Why? Because there are still a lot of lubang tikus at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border. And what is the army doing ? Sending their troop for vacation to London.
MD Updates:
* Jun 13, 2008: Royal Malay Regiment tour of duty at Buckingham Palace ends
Extracted from : sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=21370
London public duties
Maria J.Dass
PETALING JAYA (April 8, 2008): The cost to send 122 members of the Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) to serve in “London public duties” in England for two months will be shared with the British government.
A Defence Ministry’s public relations division spokesman said it was a cost sharing mission between the two governments.
“They invited us there so they will bear some of the costs and we will pay the rest,” she said.
Earlier, the Defence Ministry in a press statement had said there were some mistakes in news reports on the cost of the mission. When asked, the spokesperson declined to reveal the actual cost.
On April 7, Bernama reported that the team will depart for London on April 16 and is expected to start their duty on April 18 until June 12. The trip (including insurance, attire, flight tickets) cost almost RM1.9 million, the report said.
The ministry said the cost mentioned in the article was not accurate but agreed that it was for insurance, attire and flight tickets.
The ministry also denied that the team will be attired in ceremonial temperate dress, comprising a red coat, black pants and a bearskin cap as stated in the report as they would be donning their army (Tentera Darat Malaysia) uniform.
The 1st Battalion of the RMR will be the fourth Commonwealth nation, after Canada, Australia and Jamaica, to be "honoured" in performing the Public Duties in England.
One of the tasks awaiting the RMR team is to guard Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British Monarch.
Acting director of the Malaysian Army public relations office Colonel Fadzlette Othman Merican said the idea was proposed by Chief of General Staff of the United Kingdom, Sir Richard Dannat during an official visit to Malaysia in February last year.
They will also participate in the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the forecourt of both palaces, as well as conducting night patrols, guarding the palace's check-posts and be a part of the quick reaction force. The team would be given accommodation in the Wellington Barracks in central London.
What's is wrong with roads in Malacca that the BN state government need RM3.3billion fund ?
Malacca roads including most roads in Semanjung Malaysia are the best in the region. Need over RM3 billion to re-tar and re-seal the already good roads ? This is misuse of rakyat money.
Semanjung has countless superhighway linking states and cities and towns. Multi-tier exchanges, multiple lanes tunnels, 6-8 lanes bridges, Semanjung Malaysia got it all. The luxury of big roads cover the bottom to top of the Peninsula Malaysia. Even the mountainous Genting Highlands have highways. East Malaysian, if you haven't been to Genting, there is are highways in the mountains. Got highways at Baram, Kapit, Kudasang or Ranau kah ?
What do you find in Sabah and Sarawak ? Jalan tanah banyak ler. Jalan lumpur banyak ler. Kalau ada jalan batu, sudah kira nasib baik tu.
The federal government must give more fund to Sabah and Sarawak to improve our roads. Otherwise, it unfair distribution of national wealth. We don't need fancy highways, good roads will be a blessing.
The muted ministers from Sabah and Sarawak are also playing dumb and dare not demand for road projects in East Malaysia. A bunch of yes man MP from East Malaysia. Maybe they have request for it. What we want is for them to DEMAND for more roads and bridges. Our road system in Sabah and Sarawak are the shittiest in Malaysia.
Shame on the work ministers ! Shame of state JKR ! Shame of the local MP for keeping silents.
Typical roads in Sabah and Sarawak
Highway Exchange in Semanjung Malaysia
Related post:
* uchukeling.com - What RM3.3b can do to Sarawak
Extracted from thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/4/7/southneast/20080407105349&sec=southneast (Apr 07, 2008)
Malacca seeks RM3.3b for road projects
MALACCA: A total of RM3.3bil is being sought from the Federal Government for road projects in Malacca under the Ninth Malaysian Plan mid-term review.
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad said the allocation covered 26 construction and upgrading projects involving 439km of roads in the state.
The ministry would consider the requests and decide on the projects based on the budget, he told reporters on Thursday.
Mohd Zin, who is on his first official visit to the state since assuming his Cabinet post, attended a closed-door briefing on road projects here.
He said a proposed 100km coastal road would be given priority owing to a rise in traffic and the state's reliance on tourism.
Road projects were given priority when the volume increased to more than 20,000 cars per day, he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said, besides coastal roads, the state was requesting an allocation for a outer ring road that will better connect the city to surrounding towns.
First thing first, Najib never heard of NASA and thought that Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is an astronaut. Kenot lar. Sheikh Muszaphar is neither an astronaut or cosmonaut or taikonaut. He's merely a space traveler.
And when Sheikh Muszaphar completed his mission (in reality, just a paid space tour), he is being accorded a title Datuk. Dah lah kena sponsor, bagi pangkat Datuk pulak. What the point of spending huge sum of money for this kind of program and reward the person with a title. It's not the first of it's kind among mankind what.
And how much was the cost for sending Sheikh Muszaphar to space ? The cost is estimated to be over RM100 million (over USD25 million). The actual figure is triple but the government would not confirm it.
What's else? Now Sheikh Muszaphar has published a 71-page book. A thin book as a compliment for the wasted RM100 million program. Probably a book without substance and contained mostly personal photo of Sheikh Muszaphar while in space. No research or experiment topics kah ? Well, don't bother, you can read those in the secondary Science text-book.
Back to the amount of money flush into space ... it could have been properly utilitize to fund construction of hospitals, clinics or schools which are severely lacking in some part of Malaysia. Let's take Kuching (the state capital of Sarawak) as a case. Kuching is roughly populated with over 800,000 inhabitants. There is a General Hospital and the number of beds is about 2,000. Imagine 2,000 beds for a population of 800,000.
This is Najib strategy to become more popular when Malaysia politics is in a mess. It's also a veil to distract the citizens of Malaysia while the politics bickering is ongoing from the streets to the Cabinet. He show-off his Kenot program to impress the raykat for his personal interest.
Extract from : http://www.bernama.com/ (Mar 28, 2008)
Astronaut Programme Widens People's World View - Najib
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- The government's success in sending the country's first astronaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, into space last year has brought about changes to the mindset of the people, especially among the younger generation.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said if previously many among them would say they wanted to become doctors, engineers or other professionals, the national astronaut programme, which started in 2006, had widened their world views.
"If previously we have not heard of anyone wanting to be an astronaut, after Dr Sheikh's blast into space, this has changed. Many among the younger generation are now saying they want to become astronauts.
"This is a reflection of the changes in the mindset among Malaysian people," he said at the launching of a book, titled "Reaching For The Stars" written by the late Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al-Masrie, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's younger brother.
Present were Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's parents Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Shukor and Datin Zuraidah Sheikh Ahmad.
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor as well as a Russian and an American astronauts blasted into space onboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft in October last year.
He was at the International Space Station for 11 days before returning to earth on Oct 21.
Najib said the space mission was Malaysia's national success as a developing nation on a quest to become a developed country by 2020.
"One of the most important challenges for Malaysians to realise in our endeavor to become a truly developed nation, is the challenge to transform our mindsets to become winners, doers and achievers," he said.
The 71-page book, published by MPH Group Publishing, tells Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's experience in space.
Priced at RM20 per copy, the book also contains exclusive photographs of Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor in space.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor hoped the book would inspire greater interests towards science and technology among students.
He said the royalty from the sale of the book would go to the education funds of his brother's children -- Aiman, 3, and Balkish, 1.
His brother, Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al-Masrie died on Oct 27 after being in coma as a result of a fall on the day the astronaut return to earth.
