(Adam doing his impression of myopic Malaysian leaders.)UPDATED. SEE BELOW.
Did you see the artist's impression of the soon-to-built new Istana Negara? It’s on the front page of The Star Tuesday 14 November, 2006
When I first saw it I thought I was looking at some Arabian stud farm. I don’t know why I thought Arabian stud farm but I did. Also it looks like it is set to be built in the middle of some arid wasteland to rival Putrajaya. If you look at the photo of the model you will notice the bare landscape but of course just like in all Malaysian architectural endeavors, in this model there are actually little shrub-like things that we are supposed to think of as trees and greenery.Reminds me of a time when a Singaporean friend laughed at us Malaysians. “Wah, you flers very optimistic leh. You plant those pathetic twigs in the ground and pray that they will grow into real trees issit?” We do that don’t we? Cut the big old trees down. Plant little saplings and then water them with hope and neglect. Okay la these days they have somehow taken to planting palm trees instead. Don’t look good. Don’t provide shade. In other words, worth shit to nobody. Anyway, I am digressing. Back to the Istana Negara baru…
I have never been good at math. But this really confuses the hell out of me la. Okay, the 9th Malaysia Plan has been allocated RM200billion or something like that, right? And I read today that that amount has almost been spent! Okay, that money is for doing great stuff. Eradicating poverty, building schools, hospitals, infrastructure. You know, stuff that help to take us towards that Vision 2020 dream of becoming First World. And when you come to think of it that way, RM200billion ain’t a lot of money these days. Especially since our Ringgit is worth close to horse manure outside of Bolehland. So when I read that the government was planning to spend RM400million to build a new palace to house the Malaysian king, the Yang Dipertuan Agung, I was a little peeved. Wouldn’t you be? And the news of this latest Bolehland effort to throw more of the taxpayers money down the toilet came too close to the debacle of the Klang flers and their million Ringgit mansions.
The reason that the Klang fler gave for building his horrendous mansion was that he had to house a rather large family. 11 children and 11 grandchildren or something like that. Oh yes, he also said that he had included a surau in the mansion which he fully intended to let his neighbours, who were all living in less than shanty town conditions around his edifice, use 5 times a day for prayers. In this respect the Klang fler had more reason for his folly than the government for spending money on large buildings. Approved or otherwise. Why? Read the reasons given for wanting a new Istana Negara.
“We need a new palace with bigger space. Currently, the Balai Rong Seri of Istana Negara is also used as dining and meeting rooms. One room for multiple use is just inadequate”…Works Minister, Datuk Seri Samy Velu. Why???
The Balai Rong Seri is being used BOTH for meetings and dinners? Yay! Great. Maximise usage. Save money. I am sure that palace officials who are worth anything will know not to plan dinners and meetings at the same time. Actually, why not? Dinner meetings or meetings over food has been a Malaysian thing since Parameswara and his members sat under a tree chowing down and decided to make Melaka their home.
And unlike the Klang fler’s mansion I don’t think the neighbours are going to be allowed to take their evening stroll on the grounds of this place.
And in the photo of the launch which had the PM and the DPM present even the King appears to be telling old Samy that the place is too big.
“See? We cut it in half like this. Save some money for the rakyat, Samy.”I wish it was really funny. But it isn’t.
What is happening to my country?
And why are clowns getting away with murder?
UPDATE Monday November 27, 2006
Just so the Malaysian rakyat do not feel left out of the goodies handout, good old Samy has just announced that toll rates for five highways will go up on Jan 1 next year. Why? The government can no longer afford to subsidise toll increases. Surprise! Surprise!
Maybe the money saved will be used to help those 1,555 schools in the rural and interior areas of the country that still do not have water and electricity.
I know. Sometimes I am an optimist.
78 comments:
Oh no..another world's stupid record in making. Can we really afford such excessiveness? Why are all the spenders of tax-payers' monies obsessed with wasting money? Seems like BodohLand suits this place better.
So much money for a new place because the one miserable room in the current palace cannot be used for both dining and meeting. The Works Minister's words were hilarious and sounded shallow.
I hope someone who could make a change, reads this and give the plan a second thought.
I do not like to see the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer.
By the way, my ambition's to become a politician. Because being a politician, I can have a huge house and lots of money without having to work my ass off. *peace*
I tell you, soon we'll be ending up like Indonesia, the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer, like what ml said.
This is soooo seriously insane. That amount of money could be used for other great useful purposes.
Oh my God, I just cant accept the fact that my money, your money, and everyones money are being controlled by total idiots. Then later you could hear them complaining the country is cashless, and u could see them chasing after you and you and you hastily to pay for your tax!
(=_=)"
Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki warn in their new book that the middle class is disappearing in America. They say soon there'll just be Very Rich Folks and Very Poor Bums. And I thought, "nah, that couldn't happen in Malaysia".
But Calvin's Girl is right. Sooner or later politicians are going to burn our money (which isn't exactly in the clouds now anyway) and then we'll become Bodohland.
Woohoo! What's next, a new Kediaman Menteri Kerjaraya? Renovations to Seri Perdana because meetings with bigshots of differing status are being held in the same room (heaven forbid)?
Malaysia mana BOLEH?!
I read this a couple of days ago and this is where our taxed money goes huh? not to mention i have inside news a few years back that our money in KWSP is also used to make silly moves like these.
Remember during those times where people had invested dunno how many years in KWSP then when wanna widthdraw money, they only give back with hardly any returns? they said that it was the financial planner who is not savvy in investing our money? well my source said that it's due to our goverment got no moeny therefore borrowed money from our very own savings...
grandmother's money also wanna steal, so inhumane. but then again, it's malaysia, so what the heck, we should have known better
This sort of news always give me stomach upset and an acrid taste in my throat.
The officials are so quick to approve this mega hardearned-taxpayers Ringgit which only benefits the very rich and selected few elites.
When it comes to improving the lives of the ordinary rakyat, like building double-track railway system across every town so that we don't mati katak in the annual festive culling event, or building more vernacular-type schools, hospitals, disable-friendly infrastructure, or giving the police force their well-deserved salary hike, the officials are so SLOW, dragging their feet and giving all sorts of excuses...
Why? Because projects that really benefit the rakyat does not benefit their pockets!
Our country is bleeding profusely, the policy makers are rotten to the core and now this? Another project to further siphon our money?
Bumped into your blog and loved reading it. I wonder if them architects, land-lords, and feudal kings will resort to burning their palm trees when they get bored. After all, tree burning, is a life style is it not?
I am do not support spending for “royalty” cause it reminds me of a exclusive caste system that excludes the commoner. We create a title (king, sultan, dato, tan sri, etc etc) that is controlled by a few, but whos expenses are borne by all. How unfair, and unjust!
Hurray! No money to improve our water, roads, air, electricity, scream-ass, etc!!!! Ooo..wait..still got money for palace. Sure got somemore rasuah-money flying around during tender bids..wahhh....rich n fat, rich n fat....RICH N FAT!
They are all falling over each other to plunder the coffers because when the oil wells dry up there be nothing left for the late-comers.
Anyway, they don't and won't be bothered what the rest of us say; so Patrick, next time when I'm in PJ we'll just buy a couple of pints and rant to each other...sigh.
"We need a new palace with bigger space. Currently, the Balai Rong Seri of Istana Negara is also used as dining and meeting rooms. One room for multiple use is just inadequate”…Works Minister, Datuk Seri Samy Velu."
Not enough space - dunno how to extend ah?? Make another room lor! The Istana does have lots of space wat! It will be cheaper ....
And don't forget to submit plan for approval to DBKL ah!
"What is happening to my country?", you asked. Nothing. Nothing is happening. Nothing at all. Happenings are elsewhere - in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc, but not here. Come on, Patrick, do I really have to mention Singapore too? I am sick of people comparing us endlessly with Singapore, that "not so real" country. Sick from jealousy.
it's becoz we allowed those moronic farkers runs the country, dats why. ther's no such thing as public opinion, contract granted onli then press release. dis is not sick, dis is total mother of god sick busturd. sori pat, cannot tahan marah anymore
Dont forgt the CCTV focusing on your legs cos u knowlah.. u dress wrong, mean u kena....
What was wrong with the WHOLE of istana negara... and sorry ah.. why must be only arab design?! the price tag is ridiculous..and in the meantime, schools are falling down cos tiada $$..
Im very irritable this week, lagi read newspaper, want to SMACK them...
and yes, my english has gone down with the rest of them LOL
“See? We cut it in half like this. Save some money for the rakyat, Samy.”
You kidding or what? More like "I want these trees planted straight ah, Samy or I'll stick one up your arse"
Tsk tsk, perhaps to build that "expensive istana" would probably cost a mere of RM200mil... the rest are into thier pockets!! Really, I agree with cuddly, I do feel like smacking them left and right, upside down, round and round!!
On second thoughts, perhaps the King didnt even wanted a new Istana, maybe to have an extra renovations to his castle. BUT the ministers all take this chance to sapu money into their pocket by tendering a new caslte for him... WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA , shit this one lagi make me angry...... now i seriously regretted why i didnt hope to be a politician when i grow up....... dang!
In the next election, elect those who are already rich, so that nobody will say that they want to get more money from us. But I may be wrong, look at Bush family.
Maybe let the candidates have IQ tests before being considered, only smart people will get the job.
Malaysia is a country not a kampung (village) stop manage our country like managing a village.
Back to the new istana issue, the main reason it is expensive because the interior will be coated with real gold.
Bring in top accountants, they will be able to reduce it by at least 50% and may also discover that the spider web contractors are actually linked to a handful of individuals.
so all we do is rant about this. well i also rant about it all the time, so who's up for coffee time and rant all we want? :p
Adam's a dead ringer of Lim Keng Yaik..cute as a pie!
Bolehland is sick with powers in the wrong hands. One day before this news appearred in The Star, there was another piece of news in Star Metro on bungalows builts for Selangor State Exco members, and RM20million was the price to build the "gated community" with club house and pool two years ago. Till now, less than half of the bungalows are being occupied by State Exco members, and some of those occupied are actually used as holiday chalet, or even for relatives to stay. The concept of having all State Exco members to stay near to each other is to allow for meeting without delay in time of emergency as this concept was proven succuessful in India. But again, how many times in a year will Selangore state in such "emergency" scenario? As reported in the article, the clubhouse was only used for several occasion in the past two years, while the pool is basically deserted. Again, taxpayers' money being flushed away for idiotic "white elephant" project.
they 'get away with murder' because they think they can. their actions are often not questioned, or if they are, they're swept under the carpet.
the only way for them to take notice of any complaints is if there's pressure from forgeign media, or questioned by media sources that aren't within their control.
it's likewise in the education system, several teachers tend to loathe students asking the question 'why.' (speaking from experience of course) and i think that applies to several leaders of our nation as well, they simply are used to their actions not being questioned, more over, they just don't care.
it seems the only way to blurt out the truth is via the internet and foreign press i guess?
They dare to do all this because they know that there is no known way for them to be kicked out of office. How do we get rid of our ineffectual leaders, who have all the power, but absolutely shit of the responsibility? And I thought that leaders were there to serve the people, not the other way around.
Have anyone seen DBKL... in KL? Since when they renovated the place?!?! Freaking looking posh from outside...
this place is getting a bit ridiculous lately..
Something from today's Star (Nov 18, N8, page lead):
"All schools yet to receive power and water supply will get them by the end of next year -- 13 years ahead of schedule.
"Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said this was following an order from the Prime Minister.
"The Umno Youth Chief, in his winding-up speech, said the move was to bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and prevent students from dropping out."
"About 1,555 schools of the total 4,000 in the rural and interior areas of the country still do not have water while 800 are without power.
" 'Most Malay children are from lower-income families in rural areas. We want to defend them,' he said."
/continues... deals with other stuff.
Not reported if Minister mentioned total cost of service provision, or if expense has been budgeted under last year's Supply Bill or the 9MP.
Patrick, excellent post as usual. I am glad to note that after all these years Samy Velu seems to be spending as much on hair weaving treatments as ever. I mean, that is one lush hairpuff. All you vigilant taxpayers out there, you might want to take a look at that because it might be costing you just as much as the bloody Istana in the long run.
Oh yes and very sorry to misuse your blog for my own not-really-nefarious purposes, Patrick, but:
U-En, you're not from Ipoh by any chance, are you? You have an unusual name and I used to know a U-En (and his brother) in Ipoh in the 1980s so I was wondering.... Of course I've no idea if you're even going to read this, so I'll stop now.
Ah Samy's hair. That deserves a general assembly show on its own.
Hi U-En. A moment of sobriety eh? LOL. That fler,like all politicians, slips things in which surprisingly goes over the heads of most of his audience. He banks on that happening. All the time. Otherwise he'd have been out on his ass a long time ago. Pedigree notwithstanding. You're from Ipoh?
KY, a bit ridiculous lately..where have you been living?
Hey cyber, what about DBKL? Tell us more please.
Swallow, vote them out of office. That's how. Don't swallow their ejaculates all the time. Su-ann is right. We have the power to change things. We just don't use it often enough or effectively enough.
BTW, Adam has been in a blue funk since reading that he looks like Lim Keng Yaik.
Calv's girl, you're right. Someone should ask the King if he wants a new house. Well, this one doesn't and the new one does. Who knows. Can you imagine the Brits wanting to build something new to replace Buckingham Palace. Or Dubya wanting to move out of the White House?
Anonymous, nah that can't be the caption. That king is on his way out. Actually he's out already. And what an ignominious farewell with only the IGP to say goodbye and thank you.
cuddly, it would seem that our government officers cannot stand to see a bit of flesh for fear of turning into sex monsters. Maybe it is their way of getting back at the system which makes them endure those ridiculous uniforms. Shirt, tie and jacket in a tropical country.
daniel, tell me when and where.
astrorat, I'm all for having a king. I am just not so keen on spending our money where it is not necessary.
Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
George Orwell (1903 - 1950), "Politics and the English Language", 1946
Hello Cheese With A Spoon. No, I'm not from Ipoh, nor do I have a brother. But it's kinda vaguely comforting to know there is another U-En. I always thought I was the only one.
I was just curious as to how the current administration building a RM400mil palace when there were schools without power & water. More a question of strange priorities (election coming, schools issue is a gold mine. Palace is not.)
And I suppose that if the PM didn't make a fuss about this those kids would have had to wait another 13 years to wash their hands an turn on the light.
Oh well. Now I am waiting for my water pipes to burst so Syabas can give me that strange argument that a court injunction prevents them from buying new pipes.
It's amazing isn't it? Where all our taxpayers' money goes to? Building this palace is yet another prime example of how screwed up the priorities of this country is.
Apart from DBKL, has anyone seen MPSJ? It's massive and it's pretty posh too! I haven't a clue why they need such a large place with such fancy interior. Esp considering that they don't actually hold that many meetings or events in the building.
I used to work in a company that dealt with MPSJ quite extensively, and "meetings" were always held outside of MPSJ, where we of course had to pick up the rather massive tab!
oh and you forgot something else ... we penang ppl are getting a bridge!! and if i'm not mistaken, it costs RM4billion!!! more expensive then the palace huh!? perhaps its something that the penang ppl should be 'happy and proud' of?!! then again, maybe 1 issue is forgotten ... is penang really that unaccessible that we need 2 bridges, 1 ferry system, and an air port?!
Snowy, I have not been following the Penang bridge issue too closely but when I read the story in The Star the one thing that struck me was that the 2nd bridge is going to be built in almost the same place as the 1st. In the south-east corner of the island. So traffic going to the tourist belt of Batu Ferringhi will still have to drive through traffic choked Georgetown. What is there in the south-east that needs another bridge? Industry? What industry? Seriously. Can someone enlighten us?
Hi Natasha. Can somebody tell me what is the deal about the DBKL building? Have they done anything to it? Looked the same the last time I drove past it which was yesterday.
U-En, typical Bolehland politics la. Announce RM400million to build a palace and the very next day reveal that 1555 schools still do not have water and electricity. And nobody asks, if we could spend RM400 million on a palace why that is so. "Ah? My son's school got what. Yours don't have ah? Oh too bad la."
note this:
if i see PM, i'll boo him. that if, he can handle it.
otherwise, i'd be ISA'd lah kan?
bo0o0o0o0o0o..
Read this ... what Australia thinks of Malaysia ....
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/while-malaysia-fiddles-its-opportunities-are-running-dry/2006/11/14/1163266550487.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
http://www.michaelbackman.com/Malaysia.html
that's what exactly I wanted to say.
I was in a taxi from KL back to PJ and the driver told me (in Cantonese) that this country of ours is in deep shit, and that it would be better for me to get the hell out of this country - for good. From astronauts spinning tops and serving teh tarik in space to white elephant mansions, there are many donkeys in the government who truly deserves the name "bodoh"!
Like buying a year supply of 'XXXL' sized condoms hoping their barangs will grow longer with age!
These 'leaders' are living examples of men not getting wiser as they grow old.
Clowns are getting away with murder as no one is doing or saying anything to make a statement saying STOP NO ISTANA, next able capable people like your self should be in politics , people who have Malaysia's best interest at heart.
You have my vote !
patrick,
What is there in the south-east that needs another bridge? Industry? What industry? Seriously. Can someone enlighten us?
It links to a place called Batu Kawan, there is a massive project called Bandar Cassia township develop by jointly by PDC and Abad Naluri Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Equine Capital Bhd).
May not be the main reason perhaps just a coincidence. Macam main tikam or bingo.
Rod Stewart sang "Some guys have all the luck"
THE SUN - Finally, a flyover is about to be in place.
Thursday 03 August 2006
By OPALYN MOK
PENANG: The construction of a 23.6km second bridge linking Batu Maung on the island to Batu Kawan on the mainland might start by the middle of next year. Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the bridge's engineering design is being drawn up and should be completed by the end of this year or early next year. .
Koh said the state would assist the federal government in land acquisition which will only involve minimal private property. "The project would occupy much of government and reclaimed land," he told reporters after launching a housing symposium yesterday.
The prime minister announced on Wednesday that the Cabinet had approved the construction of the monorail and the bridge which is estimated to cost RM2.6 billion. It was also announced that the UEM Group was the appointed concessionaire to build, manage, operate and maintain the bridge.
Way before the second bridge site was identified, the state government via the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) started the development of Batu Kawan in the 1980s, which was then virtually oil palm and rubber plantations. Over the next 20 to 25 years, PDC and Abad Naluri Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Equine Capital Bhd) will jointly develop the 2,560ha Bandar Cassia township to accommodate a population of more than 150,000.
The Star,
Monday November 20, 2006
Equine Capital score hat-trick of wins in Terengganu
KUALA TERENGGANU: Equine Capital Berhad’s team, who used the services of one of the world's leading sailors, Peter Gilmour, were all dominant in the Terengganu Cup Sailing Championship at Pulau Duyong here.
In the two-day championship, which began yesterday, Equine Capital shrugged of challenges from five other teams and scored a hat-trick of wins. The Terengganu Cup is the curtain raiser for the Monsoon Cup.
The Monsoon Cup, which made its debut at the same venue last year, is part of the World Match Racing Tour international sailing circuit.
If only Tun Mahathir can come back to rule....sigh!
YEP~!! That one i truly support, Terry!!!
DBKL, MPSJ... thats nothing compared to Putrajaya.
Terry gallyot, i think you fail to see that all the sh!t surfacing now are the result of our good Dr's acts.
In my opnion, the sh!t load is just too everwhelming for the current pm to handle. That's why he leave some of the things to his son in law to run.
Patrick, "but yee ngor dei che ba ler..."
(Sorry folks, private joke between me and Patrick)
Maybe what I'm really cheesed off about is the fact that we work our asses off for every cent we earn, while 'they' just sit around and expect to enjoy larger returns, simply because they think they're 'superior'. But apparently life doesn't work that way, so they're constantly working on how to take that money from us.
That's why so many people are migrating from this place. Time to find someplace that appreciates our contributions. And uses our tax dollars more sensibly. The economy will just keep slipping if the most valuable resources--human resources--cannot stay, bringing their talents and know-how with them.
sigh.
is there hope for malaysia?
i thought i'd be coming home someday. now i'm not so sure.
Australia may have one of the highest tax rates in the world, but at least we actually get it back in health and education benefits. Migration benefits?
ditto vagus, ditto.
i've always said that i would go back one day but the more i see what's going on and the more i compare malaysia's policies and actions to where i am at the moment, the more i shake my head. so, i think unless you're in the upper middle class and above, life is going to be tough for the general public.
i was at the malaysian consulate here a few years ago to renew some official documents and i got to talking with one of the officers there. she told me that life is better here and if she could, she'd like to stay here with her family permanently. she proceeded to compare some of things like education for her kids, who are schooling here at the moment, to standard of living and lifestyle. i found it quite interesting because with our government giving so much privileges to bumiputras, i've met a few that prefers to stay abroad. maybe the government should ask themselves why even the bumiputras are leaving?
on a different note, we keep forgetting that singapore was once a part of malaysia. look at what they've achieved. it's truly incredible. we can argue that they're small, easily manageable, strategic and sh!t but we've got oil (what's left anyway). Truth of the matter is that they had a vision and they went about executing it while we're still dreaming, bickering and coming up with this plan and that plan about 2020. dude, singapore's achieved the status of a developed nation years ago while we're all sitting here questioning if 2020 might be too optimistic. we can't even get basic infrastructure like transportation and roads right. maintenance people, we need maintenance. how can we be efficient if the people can't even get to work on time? if lee kuan yew had the vision to do what he did, i'm sure there's somebody that is capable of doing it in malaysia but there's too much of, 'you scratch my balls and i'll scratch yours', going around. if the leaders don't start pissing a few people off and start focusing on doing what is right, we'll get nowhere and it's the people in the end that will suffer and if the bumiputras still get privileges when times are tough, guess who will be bearing the brunt of the pain?
I agree flamingo.. seeing the headlines this morning, u think.. geez.. they cant afford the subsidies?? then why build a RM490million sports complex in bloody England or that matter build a completely new istana tm RM400million?!?!?! refurbishing the original istana makes sense to me.. dis is ridiculuous... everyday got some more rubbish.. there was a letter to the Sun yday written by a malay professor in UM... worth checking out (nt sure got link).. he said many truthful things i reckon..
cos I think folks from ALL walks of life are getting more concerned, esp with the rhetoric now being used, and yet they remain unchecked, barely a slap on the wrist... but what can u do...that is the question.. what CAN we do? Quick to be accused of "perkauman" if anyone asks any questions, but if they dismiss or talk about others, it's ok.. since when!??!! I dont ever remember this kinda rhetoric as a kid or a teen even (and that was a long time ago LOL)..
What legacy are we leaving to our children? That is the curious question...
My sentiments exactly when I decided to browse through the stupid papers that day. I mean... WHY do we need another big-ass istana for? It's not like it can be seen so wonderfully through our haze filled skyline... which will get progressively worse, whether we like it or not.
biatchi, it isn't even that we don't need a big istana or not. But the reasons for wanting to build a new one to replace a historic one.
cuddly, please don't forget we are also spending hundreds of millions to send some clown into space for a vacation. Astronaut my ass, he's going to be nothing more than a space tourist. Of course, some minister has said that the project will result in transfer of technology from the Ruskies to us. What technology? We just using their space technology to send our clown for a joy ride. With OUR money!
flaminglambo, what you related is a sad reflection of what is happening which our leaders either don't want to acknowledge or are totally clueless about. There's just been too much of this patronage system and the gimme gimme syndrome for too long.
vagus, is there hope? There is always hope. But hope must be tempered with strong will and hard work.
Ben, you're damn right. Sigh...ngor dei che ba le. (say it in Cantonese and if you're over 35 you might know what this joke is between Ben and I.)
Terry, Tun M back to rule? 2 things wrong with that statement. First, I don't want him back. Second, rule??? We the people are the ones who rule. They just are our appointees to manage for a while. Sooner people get the equation right the better for us.
The market rate for a space visit is only US$20mil; not even RM80 mil (A quick check using Google can verify this). Yet, here our super effective government paid RM95 mil. Ridiculously, this was on top of the billions ringgit purchase. How do we know the fighter jets were not 20% above the market rate, as in the case of this space-taxi service?
Patrick,
I don't have US$20mil. Given a chance, I also want to visit the space. Ask me to play donkey-seremban also I willing :P. So, I spare the poor-but-fortunate astronaut.
Just for the record, I think these deals were done during TunM's empire.
RM400 TRILLIONS for a toilet also we should be proud to spend, IF WE ARE THAT RICH TO AFFORD IT. But, here the poor commoners are perpetually being squeezed as we struggle to make honest living. WHY? WHY?
oh yeah I had forgotten about our "space traditional game player" ... maybe I wanted to forget that all that money is for him to spend... playing.. some traditional game that prob nobody played or how to do teh tarik in space.. Its not like we dont have smart people or worthy experiments.. Malu only lah... folks will laugh at us wei.. Jaguh kampung mentality?
and letters in the paper now comment on how schools are increasing the marginalisation.. How lah like that?
but I love my country a lot.. but lately.. faith drop a bit in how things are going to be for its future.. I also dunno what to say anymore.. What alternative do u have (other than migration)? Opposition? (seems inaffectual etc) Dunnolah..
we must stand united against this perpetrator, yes they are the real perpetrator swindling our money, our hard earned money. while we worked our ass so hard to meet ends, this assholes would just walked away liked nothing happened and laughing all the way to the bank. and if you question or criticizing them, you'll be labelled as unpatriotic or ungrateful bunch! lets vote them farkers out!
The Star : 29/11/2006
Kuala Lumpur - NGO makes report over Kit Siang's Istana query.
a NGO has lodged a police report against the statement by DAP chairman Lim Kit siang in the Dewan Rakyat questioning the proposed RM400mil new Istana.
According to the NGO's secreatriat director, Dr. Izham Nayan,Lim's statement seemed to reveal an anti-royalty sentiment & questioned the right of the Yang Di-pertuan Agung. (??!!)
"It is regarded as rude, insulting & challenging the credibility of the people ..."
What? u think we are 3 year old kid ah?? Very dissappointed lah. This kind of people saying this kind of things .....
fengshui,
I am not sure this bunch represents any credible NGOs. Can somebody enlighten us here? It's weird that so-called NGO representatives have no common sense and have no idea of what accountability is all about.
What Lim Kit Siang asked were as following:
1.RM400 million new Istana Negara in Jalan Duta – (i) whether this was a departure from the administration policy not to build prestigious projects; (ii) why no tender was called; (iii) why was the project awarded to Maya Maju Sdn. Bhd and what is its background and track record and (iv) why the 2007 Budget had estimated the cost of the new Istana Negara as RM500 million.
(source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/?p=842#comments)
WHAT IS WRONG HERE??????
To me, the only problem here is the problem of ACCOUNTABILITY, if the administration fails to answer those questions responsibly.
Are we seeing another WAYANG KULIT at play?
tYPICAL mALAYSIAN STYLE, "nEVERMIND ...i PAY i PAY..."
the gist of the story is in BODOHLAND
'tak ada project mana ada duit pocket ,brother'
to CALV:
EPF money is for bailing out purpose,thinking of retiring?with 4%return per year work your ass to the istana ground
PETRONAS money,now this is one great genie,with the recent surge in oil price,windfall abundance....................get to taste it?CALV u are not the priviledge one
I have been living overseas for nearly 20 years with a yearly visit to see family and friends. It worries me that soon I will have no kampung to come home to! It saddens me that the Malaysia I knew no longer exists. So much of blatant corruption. I feel sorry for the poor who are caught in the vicious circle of poverty whilst the ones in power are getting greedier and more corrupted each day. RM400m to build an istana? Such a shameless and vulgar waste of public money when there are children, women and men starving in the country! Malaysia memang BODOH !!!!
you know what? well put it this way. the current Istana has no place and spaces because the numbers of people going in during the birthday are increasing rapidly. So tha's one of good reason for the King to demand another Istana. Say, will we have a new makeover of the Ringgit note? I remember the old RM5 uses Istana Negara as its picture..
habis-habis, membazir duit buat istana. macam tak ada benda lain dah. ini mesti nak lawan sama the mansion of the Klang council there..
may be they will spend another RM100m to print new Ringgit notes depicting the new istana? Another money laundering opportunity to be nation proud, money in the Cayman Islands and nothing in the akal. Who says Malaysia tidak boleh? Malaysia semua semua boleh. May be we can use the McMansion in Klang as the new istana and save RM400m?
ikanbilis, the king did not demand another istana. at least i didn't think he did. anyway, he (whoever he is) is only going to be there for 5 years. So who needs a bigger prison?
daredevil 8 petronas money isn't from a bottomless well. it is projected to run out very soon.
you're right mnuts. i too have been getting laughed at by people once they find out i am malaysian. i hate that especially when it involves Singaporeans:-)
feng shui, i too got really sad when i read about some MP fler making a police report against Lim Kit Siang for asking questions about the proposed 400 million istana. Straightaway, it is questioning and challenging the rights of one race and being rude to the King of Malaysia! actually how do you do that ah? they rotate the fler once every 5 years until you also don't know who is on the throne.
yeah la gundu, they want us to be silent, obedient sheep before they label us patriotic. they sure have done a good job with the education system so that it churns out sheep year in year out.
just like you cuddly, i love my country. it is the only one i've got. that's why i voice my opinions and make myself heard as far as i can. i will question and i will demand answers. i will not let anyone fuck up my country without a fight.
hasilox, for a long time i have been saying to people that we should stop calling the clown they are going to send into space to play games an 'astronaut'. he is going to be nothing more than a space tourist on a holiday paid for by Malaysian taxpayers. And sadly, on this purchase the Malaysians didn't ask for a discount.
mr teoh, how did you know abt this 75m (dollar or rm not sure) astronaut clown program scam which did not comes free from the military project in collaboration with russian government, which one respective minister farker laudly announced it openly in the daily newspaper and mainstream tv as a free trade-of?
oh btw, to be an astronaut, u've got to be a very experienced pilot (fighter pilot ideally) to control the vehicle in case evrythings failed, or a scientiest in special fields, perhaps geologist if u wanna land on the moon. so nak letak kat mana 'astronaut' kita tu, dan apa yg dia nak dan boleh buat kat dalam tu? please not roti canai oh teh tarik, enough of the embarassments. vote these farkers out
can't agreed more.get your arse up and register,make your vote counts.Please do not get taken in by the next round of propaganda vote fishing.
the more u guys think of easy way out by migrating the worse your brethren that stays back suffers
You know what's funny?
Tony Blair's apartment in Downing Street looks like the size of a typical KL cheapo semi-d house. You don't see him him asking for a darn huge mansion or land or what nots.
And here I thought our country was running out of land, hence the rising property prices.
Anyway, cheers to you Mr Patrick for your blog - it's always a joy to read your direct views on things. Saves time on the frills you get in the 'news' today.
oh please.why do malaysians always seem to want the grandest of things???? the canadian prime minister's house doesnt even compare to some of the bungalows in damansara heights and he doesnt seem to be complaining!!!! Half of that money would be better off spent for education purposes(and many other much much much more beneficial things rather than building a freakin huge palace :P ).And probably increasing the students' allowance over here cos we're worse than the homeless people of Ontario--LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
ugh.sorry for ranting.but i'm pretty pissed.
Everything possible in the Bolehland....
I think Malaysian are being brainwashed with all the patriotic songs, u know made it as if we owe the govt instead of the other way round....ever wonder why the independence team is 'KERANAMU MALAYSIA" for years in a row????
and our media is not open and transparent enuff...and we have 'MALAYSIAN MUDAH LUPA' attitude where when there is is an issue, it will be big but but once it subsided, it's just gone (refer case tabung haji bldg scandal for instance)
now rich are getting richer and otherwise...man just need to 'ikat perut' to survive nowadays
ps: Can i be proud of the tallest twin tower when my stomach is grumbling???
Talking bout people power, i'm still sceptic with our EC fellas. They're pretty much UMNO pukitras fellas. And there are so many people who don't give a damn abt their voting right, so bloody ignorant. The kampung, the estate as well as the bukit folks; most of them are still in their dream thinking how gr8 our leaders are. And would tell you straight in your face 'U shud be lucky to be Msian, what if you live in Ghana or PNG..'. You don't have to go far, ask our youth and you'll be surprised how ignorance most of this age group of people. They're the one who'll shape our future direction.. it makes me chilleD!
Dear Mr Patrick Teoh,
It has taken some 30 over years for you to finally read one of your many fans in your once upon a time pop show which I have forgotten its' name but not what you always said. " Blue skies and everything nice ". As a primary school girl then, I remember writing once to you and asking for a song to be dedicated. But there were so many other fans whom you had to answer. But every weekend, I was one of your faithful listeners. Yes, you did not read wrong. It was over 30 ( thirty )over years ago. Now I know you will read me because this is your blog. I count it almost a miracle that somehow finally I get to write to one of my favourite DJs then. It is by chance that I surf into your blog. I was wondering whether this is the same Patrick Teoh, the DJ whom I once knew. I did not forget you all this while. When you first appeared on the T.V. and I was so excited that I finally know how you look like. Back then, you sound so friendly and so different from other announcers. This is my very first visit to your blog and hopefully not the last. Please to " meet " you, Mr. Teoh.
Dear Anonymouns, it is indeed an honour to make your acquaintance after all these years. Truth be told I too have forgotten the name of the radio programme mentioned in your post. I am glad that you visited my blog and hope that you will come back to visit often. I must apologise that I have been less than efficient in updating the blog of late. This is due to a) too much wage paying work and b)too much despair and frustration from watching and reading about our Bolehland antics. It is a pleasure to "meet" you too.
"...the King appears to be telling old Samy that the place is too big." No, it is clear from the photo the King is complaining to the others that the garden is too small and he wants it to be widened by another 1,000 hectares...after all, it is not his money.
Nah! I don't think that King would be saying that, anonymous. He doesn't look like that kind of guy. Rais seems to be thinking where he'd like to build a tower with a revolving restaurant. Pak Lah is thinking what he's going to do to restore the rakyat's confidence in him.
Im so saddened by the destruction of Bok house.. my cynical side wonder if its cos it's a chinese tycoon's old haunt.. they could have done so much with it.. and the excuses they gave, hurmph.. so pathetic..
such a beautiful building, all gone.. used to makan there too.. athought it wasnt supposed to be sold/destroyed? (terms of will).
soulless.. we are b/c soul less.. (will wallow in pessimism for a min)..
For those who still quote Singapore malays are victim of Singapore should feel shame.
This is biggest joke, when Malaysia malays think that they are fighting the right for Singapore malays and use this as an excuse to fulfill their greediness. Yet Singapore malays look down at Malaysia malays. They are proud to be Singapore malays.
Hahaha. Yes, again biggest joke is, they control almost every resource in Malaysia, and practicing daytime robbed, yet someone still quote Malaysia malays can get what they want if other race agreed.
This is what we called, Dr Spin.
Don't you know Umno strategy? Keep the malays forever dependent on them so that they can stay in power. There are many capable malays but they are so used to crutches that their muscle are dystrophic. It is like the doctor (no pun intended) who prescribes his patient an addictive quick fix so that they will keep coming back to him/her.
The fact that Mahathir may be more "modern thinking" than other malays, many may not aware, could be due to his training in Singapore!
Malays from Singapore just far outclass the malays from Malaysia in terms of knowledge and capability. But we have this "katak bawah tempurung" who thinks "don't becoming like the malays in Singapore"!
Friend, you are just far from them! You are just losing out! The poor deputy minister can never be as good as the Singapore malays in this life! And he never thinks to be like the Singapore malays to excel from the competition! Need to say more?
I too was fortunate enough to have a father who was farsighted enough to send me off to Singapore to be educated, some 10 years ago. Just like him, I will also send my children to Singapore one day, as I believe that their education system is far more superior compared to Malaysia, and to prepare them to face the future challenges in this competitive world.
It is not the race factor that makes Singapore what it is today. It is the system. Singapore is very wise and very careful never to mix religion/race with politics. Anyone irrespective of the race gets severe punishment if involved in religious or racial slur.
Their work ethics and accountability of their leaderships/heads and every civil servant based on merit rather than skin is so glaringly obvious. In Malaysia we are exactly the opposite in almost any area one can think of.
I really doubt many Singapore malays would like to move to Malaysia which obviously the Malaysia government would be too happy to grab them. Yet this is never an issue. It is not happening. Why?
This same goes to the Singapore Chinese. The Chinese there are more advanced than the Chinese here in Malaysia.
As a Chinese, I have to admit it and I really hope Chinese in Malaysia to start opening their eyes and learn the lessons to be more outward looking, improve themselves like learning more English and not dream that the next decade is easy going or get frustrated by the NEP.
We should first start by inculcate into our children from now on these values. There will be difficult times ahead and unless Chinese they make themselves competitive now, Malaysian Chinese will fall behind and be history.
Just like the NEP cannot bring an entire community to overcome their economic weakness overnight, so is the Chinese need to forge ahead to remain competitive cannot be achieved overnight. Start the ball rolling now.
To this end, I ask all Chinese leaders to lead and there are opportunities beyond the shores of Malaysia. We have to help ourselves because no one will.
If you are to make too much money in Malaysia, how the heavens can the malays catch up and give up NEP when the percentage of their economic cake will remain the same or stagnent?
So the solution for Malaysia is to increase the malays national wealth and the non-malays to increase their wealth globally - and keep it there. Right? This is open for dispute.
It is cool, Singapore malays achieved such feat because of the system, but the system was helped tremendously by the fact that there is no race issue.
I have friends in Singapore who are malays and they never consider themselves as malays. They always call themselves Singaporeans, something a country like Malaysia will never be able to achieve with the malays having the ketuanan attitude.
If only we have more people like a farsighted malay, Malaysia would be as progressive as Singapore. In fact with all our natural resources we could even be better than Singapore.
Our government is wasting money on subsidy to the malays when it should be teaching them to be independent. That is why today we see a lot of malay children too lazy to work and spend most of their time on drugs and become mat dull.
Slowly the Indonesians are coming over to take all their jobs and eventually they will be beggars in their own country.
There is plenty that I do not agree with the Singaporeans, their "one party state" for example, and their serious curbs on freedom of speech. But there is also plenty that we can learn from the good points of other nations as well, may it be the US, UK, Australia, even China.
But the underlying issue here is that a system based on mutual respect, meritocracy and equality work. Singaporeans have reach great heights in the international scene despite being very limited land, natural resource poor and limited population.
Yet their formula is a good example of a system that works. Every person benefits if they are willing to work hard and aim high.
Or would you rather Malaysians stay ignorant. "See no evil, say no evil, and hear no evil." Think about it……….
I have suggested in the past that Chinese Malaysians should just gather their wealth and leave Malaysia and let malays them become backwards.
Singapore is desperately looking for skilled foreign workers due to dwindling birthrates. Many Indians are working over there. Seriously Chinese Malaysians should look into moving to Singapore.
I am sure China can make good use of the wealth of Chinese Malaysians. Is there any policy the China government have enacted to encourage overseas Chinese to come back and make China their home once again?
That will teach the Malaysians a lesson. Their economy will crumble and will put them back 30 years.
The Chinese are not in control of the economy at all. Consider this:
Tenaga, Telekom, Proton, Petronas, Maybank, Genting accounts for more than 50% of the market capitalization of KLSE.
So basically malays already control more than 50% of the economy.
But problem is, only a few malays enjoy ownership of the economy and businesses while the rest are bleed dry. These people are millionaires and billionaires man. That is where the lies about the Chinese controlling the economy comes in, to keep themselves in that position.
So the ordinary malays are angry because they feel the Chinese stole their money. The Chinese and Indians and others are angry because they feel they are further discriminated on top of discrimination.
Non-malays on the other hand owned only 10-20% of such equity.
People like the Robert Kuok group were so pissed that the government pressure them to sell their business, they shifted their headquarter to Hong Kong. But when we want the world to see that one of the richest tycoons is from Malaysia, when we want fame, we said Robert Kuok is from Malaysia, not knowing that he has long gone.
What minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said is absolutely true. It is a simple fact. The Chinese and Indians have been marginalised since 1957, so what is new?
While the Chinese have been economically strong, the Indians have been lagging behind, simply by being a minority race in Malaysia and by being led by a complete moron for the last three decades. What is Najib so upset about?
Prove your worth as a race that can stand on theirs own two feet and succeed and you will have our respect. Until then, please just stop making a complete idiot of yourself and shut your gap.
This goes for the entire Malaysia cabinet. You are all a disgrace and a bunch of corrupt hypocrites! Malaysia would have been much better off if it had remained a British colony. Only then would there have been equality.
The malays are fall into the trap of other Umno-malays should treat like shits in Malaysia. When we demand over basic right, they always like to quote Singapore malays on not holding public position……….Please la, Singapore practise the real meritocracy, not the fake one like Malaysia.
Do Singapore systematically marginalised the malays there, the answer is definitely no, do Singapore practise discrimination on education or limited their entry to university, do Singapore limited the critical field business license to the malays, do Singapore force the Singapore malays sold off their business to the Singapore Chinese, the answer is again a big NO.
And this make Singapore malays stand high when compare to Malaysia malays.
What make the Malaysian Chinese not happy is, we already being discriminated by our home country, when anything go wrong in Umno or in malay community, the Malaysian Chinese will be the target - for shooting or divert the attention to their own problems.
Have you wondered why there are fewer Indians than malays in the general population in Singapore, that there are many more Indians than malays in high positions in politics, medicine, law, business, and many other fields that require talent and hard work in Singapore!
In Malaysia, there are tongkat or crutches available, but in meritocratic Singapore, even the smaller minority Indians outperform the bigger minority malays.
To Chinese, education is the most important thing to their next generation, so don't ask me why Chinese insist to have own stream of education until today.
To tell you frankly, I feel much comfortable when I move to UK, after few years I know they will offer me citizenship being a professional here. And as far as I know, there isn't a classification on the citizenship, I will get equal treatment as others fairly.
Obviously Singapore is also advancing much faster than Malaysia who is losing its best talents to Singapore. Malaysia's loss is Singapore's gain. In the end, as the Malaysia nation goes down the drain, it is the ordinary malays who suffer the most.
It is obviously time for the ordinary malays to get rid of the Umno thugs who is in reality robbing them of the kind of prosperity their Singaporean cousins are having.
Malay leaders in Malaysia like to see their folks contained in a chicken coop. They tell them that they are free and yet to be beholden to them as they are the ones providing them their feed.
They even believe that if they left the coop, they might be eaten up by the wily fox, and that they might otherwise starve to death.
The Singapore malays is in no illusions and they know they are out of the coop. They got to find their own nourishment and they got no leader throwing in the crumbs to them.
If they don't want to labour for their food, they can always go across the causeway and be given citizenship rights and take advantage of all the crumbs thrown at them. But most of them will not.
Of course the chicken shit from there have all long crossed over. But the rest have a little more dignity and stay on to show what they are really made up of.
I respect the Singapore malays for that. It does not matter that they have made a lot of wrong turns or that they have hardly a fighting chance. But they got more respect and dignity than their kinsfolk from over here Malaysia.
This is what half-past-six ministers that we have in Malaysia. Even comparison between Singapore malays and Malaysian Chinese, Singapore malays are never discriminated by their government based on equality.
I have so many Singapore malay friends from school mates, college mates to business partners. Penang malays would be so glad if they are treated like Singapore malays. Just ask the Singaporeans……….do they want to be back to Malaysia?
The problem with the Malaysia malays is their jealous attitude. If they are left behind, they will prevent others from moving ahead too! And sometimes even sabotaging others, and some resort the use to cast spell on others.
Not only the laid back malays are preventing their own people from being successful, but other races too. We also want the malays to be successful by creating value in the society so that everyone benefit but not by taxing the non-malays then give contracts to the malays, who will then deliver half-past-six service.
Change your own attitude first through value creation using your own tears and sweats!
As said before, had Malaysia been managed by Lee Kuan Yew and his colleagues for the past 40 years, Malaysia would have been much better off today, including all the malays! 95% would have owned a house, and no such rampant corruption!
For the malay ultras, facts speak louder than your bigotry cries, wake up, grow up, be men instead of sissies!
You see the problem here - the malays just cannot face up to their main problem - laziness. This shows how thick-skinned and self-deluded these people are.
Malaysia is a multi-racial country. Jika kamu tak suka, kamu boleh blar……….tiada orang larang kamu.
The fact is malays you are the biggest loser! I am trying to wake you up instead of using the way like what our government is practice to provide NEP even though it is proven NEP is a failure in the past 30 years. Keep on dreaming if you think Malaysia could achieve Vision 2020 with your kind of attitude!
Majority of the Penang big government contracts is being awarded to the malay firms. What else you want! They get the same as other malays in Malaysia. The only different in Penang is, the Umno guys cannot tap the government fund into their own pocket, as other state Umno did. This is the main reason why they raised this issue.
Speaking without substances and distorting facts seems to be the good old habitual ways of Malaysia malays, which is probably inherited by their much loved masters, the "malay killers" - Umno.
To add to this, constant distorted facts with regards to the situational state of the Singapore malays remains among the commentators of Umno. It is hard not to see that some people really need to see the situation and know it first hand before dishing out their empty vessel mentalities.
Anyways, good thing you be it Malay, Indian, Chinese in Singapore is open to competition, and cherish diversity. Not like the radical son of terrorist we can find many in Malaysia.
Most malays in Malaysia hate diversity and discontent to the minorities, especially the Chinese. In blog, radical malays can be either extreme or pretentiously diverse-minded. Very few is genuine.
I do admit there are lazy malays that depend on handouts, but this kind of malays will be phase out and this kind I would say hypocrite. They tend to claim they work hard to achieve success, in fact they relaying on government support. I myself despise this kind of human being.
Little do they realize this safety net is fast disappearing because the government is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain the system in the face of global challenges! But these handouts have become an addiction. Refuse the junkie and you get booted out of power.
It is the malays themselves that must come to realize the damaging side effects of the NEP. For someone who wants no better than to see his own race succeed, this must be painful.
And you can often see the malays are usually envious of not only the non-malays, but of their own successful malays as well.
Malays failed is a fact. What make non-malays not happy about their failure is, they fail despite get ample help from the government.
And they continue putting the blame on their fail to, especially the Malaysian Chinese. This is why created so many issue and argument here.
But those greedy Umno guys keep emphasis the NEP, how many percent of the country wealth belong to malays. In fact, those Umno guys having super good life by easy way.
And they keep on demanding, not really review what was wrong with it, putting the blame to non-malays, to stir the racist sentiment in the country.
If present situation continue, even the malays get 60% of the country wealth, majority of the malays will still munch.
Simple solution - come to Singapore and see for yourselves even if you want to guise that our Singapore malays are in lesser numbers on success than the Malaysia idiotic counterparts - our Singapore malays are based on merit and not on such keris wielding Umno policies……….are you proud of that?
Once again, in a subtle and indirect manner, this forum has proven how naive and "katak bawah tempurung" a Malaysia malay can be. Blame who? The Umno policies.
Yes, start collecting the achieves with regards to moral degradation among Malaysia malays. Look at the Umno ministers when they speak on national TV. Qualify or not become ministers with such low reactive capabilities?
Some Malaysia malays saying Singapore malays quota should be more in the Singapore cabinet if compared to the Indians. First, Singapore government is based on merit system and not like you bunch of racist morons here. That is why Malaysia is so backward if compared to Korea and others.
Not many Malaysia malays can survive if they go oversea because they are slow and lazy and that is why they can't compete with the competitive market out there. Normally they will end up hiding their head in Malaysia with the protection and biased system by the Malaysia government.
Come on, man. We do not have time to argue the truth of your on and on talk about "not all malays are spoofed, not all malays are lazy". Like we are dying to argue that when we already know it is true.
It is human nature to blame everyone about their plight rather than blame themselves. The majority of new generation of malays in Singapore is educated, unlike their parents.
Please read the comments made by Singapore malays why they can hold their heads up and be proud as a Singapore malay and then maybe it will sink into you.
Muslims everywhere unless they are the minority, cannot tolerate people with different religions. The Singapore government handles the situation rather well as they handle their malay community with kid gloves.
wow... steady on there... Quite the debate!
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