Screenshots

"The best solution"? Far cry from the way The Star report on the Kuantan Port fiasco. Yet another major cock up, yet another "Best Solution". Guess who is laughing to the bank. Sad state of affair indeed.

There's nothing we can do about it. No matter how much we protest something, nobody is going to listen. We've got a govt that does things that is in our "best interest". If they think spending RM100 million on something that is non-existent, so be it.

Mahathir should be the one and the only one to be responsible for the mess he created when he unilaterally awarded the "crooked bridge" contract to Gerbang Perdana in August 2003 (just before his retirement in Oct 2003).

As usual, he will not take responsibility for the cancellation of the bridge project and will blame everyone but himself.

Do the present govt (PM Pak Lah) and the rakyat want to pursue further on this matter ? I am afraid NOT.

As usual, case closed, "Semuanya OK" and lifes goes on.

____________________________
Malaysia goes ahead with bridge project to replace Causeway

http://www.mca.org.my/story.asp?file=/articles/news/2003/8/4/17183.html&sec=In+The+News

____________________________
Crooked Scenic Half-Bridge - why taxpayers must pay RM100 million bill to Gerbang Perdana
Time & Date: April 15, 2006 @ 10: 48.25

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/?p=442#more-442

____________________________

This is a "100 million ringgit lesson" to learn by Badawi. There are more, of course. He is fresh, only 3 years in this job. Tun M didn't mentor him. Not like Singpoare, LKY constantly being a mentor. Badawi only have Najid beside, who is equally fresh! Then behind him is his jumbo cabinet that also helpless. He is really in needs of help...

On the other side of coin, he is extremely smart and intelligent to make such a decision. And nobody else ever expect what is in his mind and what he is going to do next.

Which side do you think our Badawi is? Like playing Black & White Chess game, dont' judge the game by its current position. He is still a mystery guy...

Whoever he is, if he has problem in management and making decision, please admit and seek advices from the rakyat. Learn how to access Internet and read JeffOoi's blogs. :-)

A true friend is one that maintain a distance from you.

Don't be afraid of change. Change always bring good thing and get us progressive. Make a different in March 2008 election. Good luck Malaysia.

This is a "100 million ringgit lesson" to learn by Badawi. There are more, of course. He is fresh, only 3 years in this job. Tun M didn't mentor him. Not like Singpoare, LKY constantly being a mentor. Badawi only have Najid beside, who is equally fresh! Then behind him is his jumbo cabinet that also helpless. He is really in needs of help...

On the other side of coin, he is extremely smart and intelligent to make such a decision. And nobody else ever expect what is in his mind and what he is going to do next.

Which side do you think our Badawi is? Like playing Black & White Chess game, dont' judge the game by its current position. He is still a mystery guy...

Whoever he is, if he has problem in management and making decision, please admit and seek advices from the rakyat. Learn how to access Internet and read JeffOoi's blogs. :-)

A true friend is one that maintain a distance from you.

Don't be afraid of change. Change always bring good thing and get us progressive. Make a different in March 2008 election. Good luck Malaysia.

i am confuse with this whole damn issue. Can someone please summarise this event. Thanks.

Strangely, I have looked at it in a positive spin - that is you have two junctures: to proceed or not. To proceed, means paying RM1.8B and in the worst case scenario, Singapore will not build its portion. Not proceeding means that the worst case is paying RM100Mil which is still one hell lots of money. AB should find a way to make it much less. But in the end, AB administration will no seen as 'sufficiently firm' in decision making. This could be not very good

in msia whatever blunders the govt makes the rakyat has to pay. even local councils' blunders the rakyat has to pay via higher assessment rates. when TNB cant perform up to expectations, tariffs are hiked. rakyat pays. we hv nvr seen any heads rolled b4 for any blunders that causes man to suffer. u will find ppl saying if u sue us, we hv to increase assessment rates to cover losses. only in msia and some said selangor.

Just like the Bar Council started an OnlinePetition on the setting up of the Police commsiion (thingy), I suggest another body like Federation of Consumers Associations (FOMCA) staring a similar petition protesting full payment of RM100million, perhaps restrict it just to payment of ACTUAL WORK DONE capped at maximum of RM50million. Pak Lah needs a demonstration by Joe Public behind him for him to now ACT WITH FIRMNNESS against buddy businessmen/cronies of the deprated/departing regime. I wonder where DPM and Foreign Minister truly stand on thiis issue because until just days back, they said it WAS FOOL STEAM ahead. Ooops, sperring is FULL steam ahead, butt with such kepala around, fool is NOT too bad a substitute!:) We do have so time/dime for h(R)umour, NO?

I think Tun Mahatir should come out of retirement and form a new political party, (like Sharon left Likud to form Kodima). Of late, there have been a number of issues that has annoyed him: APs, Proton,MV Augusta, Scenic Bridge. It would not be difficult for him to find supporters of his views.There's no need to hide his sadness. Be the voice of those people who cannot be heard. We would then have a very strong opposition front indeed. Afterall, the Tun has already mentioned that the present government's 92% support is too much. I think if he did this, he would at least die happy and proud, not forgotten and ignored like now.

the government must be thinking that there is about 25million population in malaysia. All we are asking the general public to pay only (100,000,000.00/25,000,000.00) = 4 ringgit per person right?

Guys! U know what to do in the next election? In corporate world today, if u make a loss of 100million in this kind of investment, take a guess what happen to your job?

FIRE this incompetent A**H***.

This is real shit... worst than anything else.

As a malaysian, i'm rejected the requested from singapore...but i'm fully supported the building of bridge. Don't forget, when the bridge is done, more ship will stop at Johor Ports rather than Singapore Ports.

i dont know, maybe thats part of the 4billion ringgit budget? you got to start spending it somewhere!

so that if someone ask about the 4bil, they can answer 100mil to buy that 2 pillars, and buat tak tau for the balance.

I would suggest GPSB dismantle one batang and leave the other one there.

That one batang left is symbolic of the "middle finger" pointing towards Singapore and would have more lasting effect on the type of neighbour Malaysia has.

PM,
i'm rather bz now. so, i'l keep it short and simple. instead of just compensating the contracter RM100millions for doing nothing. why not ask the contracter to build 2000 low cost house (assuming each RM50k) that can put in abt 10000 ppl (2000 x 5), or building a few new hospitals that can serve the people in that area, or building 20 more new schools in order to get his RM100millions. Therefore, it's fair as the contracter will earn for the work he put in, the workers will get employment, more family members will get to stay in new houese, better healthcare for the rakyat, better schools for the children...and the government will be able to show to the rakyat that the government can at least 'negotiate' with the contracter for change in contract conditions after the failure to negotiate with Singapore.
Trust me...this is the best PR you can get, after your approval rating crashing like President Bush. Regarding your spin doctors, i think you better fire them all, they're a joke to the spin doctors by making you look like a fool.

As a singaporean, it amazes me to see how much clout Dr M still has in malaysia, which may or may not be a good thing. Nevertheless wrt the bridge issue, I say that it's a give and take one...win some, lose some...

KJ wrote an entire column in yesterday's NST on the matter. But he failed to highlight the key factor - no one seemed to have nailed the absolute need for legal due diligence before even cooking up the idea of a new bridge.

How could the go-ahead be given without factoring this critical matter, given that tumasikland has the propensity of throwing their monkey wrench into anything Malaysia does?

This inability to find out, think through and scenario all possible options before striking costly decisions is one of the weakest aspects of this country's administration.

And Badawi & co. better get up to speed on that - the rakyat are still seething over the InventQJaya and the Agusta financial bombshells than to have this ridiculous outcome.

Not too long ago i had written to be careful about what people will do just before they resign.

Be assured that more of such financial ruin will surface in the coming months. Then they will say the multibillions for the 9MP aren't enough, and the affirmative policies must be enlarged in the 10MP, 11MP etc. For heavens sake, spare all the rakyat such slimeball talk. Get your act together Umno.

But in the interest of Malaysia, the next time those pathetic species of mankind in tumasikland ask for our langit and bumi, we should also ask back the same - we want airspace overfly rights over their island for our RMAF and we can sell them sand provided they do not use it to occlude the gap between johor and singapore. If they can't agree to both, exposeth their malfeasance.

At the end of the day, both sides should take a stronger reality check and get back to the talking table for some serious pow-wow. If Sg is attacked, would My be spared? If My is attacked, wouldn't Sg face the same result as had happened during the war? In this case, defending planes that have to fly at right angle paths will lose vital seconds. By both. Secondly, the economic, geopolitical tiffs don't do both sides any good; the endresult for such foreign affairs myopia is people suffering everyday and weekend for no better reason than the pride of two bunches of politicians. One should ask them to come out on tv and answer - how do you see this part of the world in say 20 years time that will evince higher confidence for a more co-integrated relationship?

Bottom-line, it's unhealthy, and silly, to have two unhappy neighbours living next to each other. Short of a major earthquake, their houses can't pull legs and walk apart, can they?

Neil is still neil. Oh where is she?

Mahathir now wants a memorandum over the bridge. In otherwords he is not satisfied by the cabinet decision to call off the bridge. Now, when he was ruling when people wanted to protest something he sent in his FRU and police to wreak havoc. Now he wants a memorandum. Maybe he should be pulled in under ISA!

Anyway, is it possible to sue anybody here for making us all look like fools and the butt of Singaporean jokes? I pay my taxes not to become a joke but to make sure learned people with head on their shoulders to sit as MPs and Cabinet Ministers and Prime Ministers too. But what we seem to have is a bunch of idiots who more often than not behave like total fools!

Observer,

Mahathir suggested that a referendum (not memorandum) be held to determine the views of the Johor people (not the views of rakyat Malaysia) regarding the government's decision to cancel the crooked bridge project (to be paid by Malaysia taxpayers).

I think he is irrelevent now as he is no longer the PM. He should spend his time to prepare for defamation suit by Anwar.
Or is he trying to divert the public attention from this suit?

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=191738

April 14, 2006 20:47 PM

Tun Mahathir Pleads Qualified Privilege For Remarks Against Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is being sued for defamation by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for accusing his former deputy of being a homosexual, said he relied on qualified privilege as former prime minister in making his statement.

The remarks were made at a conference organised by the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) where qualified privilege was applicable as spelt out in the Defamation Act 1957, he said in his statement of defence filed at the High Court registry here Friday.

He also said that the Sept 9 2005 remarks were made in the interest of the public and it was his moral duty to inform them of Anwar's misconduct.

"I had a social and moral duty to inform those attending the press conference and through them to the people of Malaysia," he added.

Dr Mahathir said he made the remarks to clarify media misconception on action taken against the former deputy prime minister where some media had claimed that Anwar had been axed mainly due to his outspokenness on some of the government's policies.

He contended that Anwar's action was wholly misconceived and untenable in law and was an abuse of the process of court and should be dismissed.

The statement of defence was filed through Datuk V. Kanagalingam from Messrs V.K.Lingam & Co.

Anwar filed the suit through Messrs S.N.Nair & Partners on Jan 27 claiming that Dr Mahathir's remarks were highly defamatory.

In his statement of claim, Anwar said that Dr Mahathir was fully aware that his remarks were mainly aimed at humiliating him in his personal and official capacity as former finance and deputy prime minister and that they would be published in the local and foreign media.

Besides general and exemplary damages, Anwar is also seeking an injunction to stop Dr Mahathir or his agents from uttering or publishing such remarks in future.

-- BERNAMA

lighten up ppl. just subscribe to malaysia boleh jokes and it will surely cheer you up.

today's joke:

Mahathir: "Just like the case of our money in the CPF. It is our money ... but we do not ask (for the money) back, we are good people". [The Sun, 14-04-06]

Syed Hamid: "I was told that only five Malaysians have savings in the CPF". [The Star, 16-04-06]

CPF is no longer an issue ?
Only 5 Malaysians still have savings in CPF?
Singapore has solved the problem for Malaysia since 1995 by amending its laws that no longer requires foreigners to contribute to CPF?

Is this the first time our Foreign Minister Syed Hamid disclose to Malaysians about the resolution of CPF issue?

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/printable.php?id=191853

Not Many Outstanding Issues After Bridge Episode - Syed Hamid
General
April 15, 2006 17:57 PM

KOTA TINGGI, April 15 (Bernama) -- The water issue and several trade agreements with Singapore are the only outstanding issues remaining after the government's decision to scrap the Scenic Bridge project to replace the Johor Causeway.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said on Saturday the Central Provident Fund (CPF) also no longer an issue as in 1995 the Singapore government amended its laws that no longer requires foreigners to contribute to CPF

"I was told only five Malaysians who still have savings in CPF which is equivalent to Employees Provident Fund (EPF)," he told reporters here.

The CPF was a bone of contention once for both sides as thousands of Malaysian workers couldn't withdraw their savings worth several billion Singapore dollar although they have stopped working in the republic.

He also urged the public to stop debate on the matter as efforts had already been wasted on the negotiation table whereas there are other issues like development in Johor that should be given priority.

-- BERNAMA

Dr M should have made the decision to go to ICJ for arbitration instead of awarding the "crooked bridge" contract to Gerbang Perdana in Aug 2003. This is the right thing to do in bilateral relations when there is a dispute and disagreement on the causeway replacement project.

http://thestar.com.my/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=/2006/4/16/nation/13975190.asp&sec=nation

The Star Online > Nation
Sunday April 16, 2006

Dr M: We could have gone to ICJ

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia should have brought the dispute over the construction of the “scenic bridge” to the International Court of Justice if it has legal implications, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister believed many Malaysians wanted the bridge and he proposed a referendum to get public views.

“We backed off from the project as if we have surrendered. I was told we couldn’t carry out any projects in the Tebrau Straits even if it is on our side.

“I was involved in the (bridge) project from the start, and I know our position. When Singapore did not agree to a bridge, we decided to build a crooked one,” Dr Mahathir said after visiting the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex here yesterday.

He added that the relocation of water pipes was not an issue as the cost would have to be borne by Singapore if they were given six months' notice.

“We should have referred the matter to ICJ, just like how we handled the Sipadan and Ligitan islands.”

In Kota Tinggi, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said there was no need to publicise the discussions on outstanding matters such as water price.

He said with this approach, negotiations and its solutions could be achieved in a rational manner.

Syed Hamid, who is Kota Tinggi MP, was speaking to reporters after a Majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat at Felda Lok Heng Selatan yesterday.

He added that the Central Provident Fund (CPF) was also no longer an issue as in 1995 the Singapore government amended its laws to exempt foreigners from contributing to the CPF.

“I was told that only five Malaysians have savings in the CPF which is equivalent to our Employees Provident Fund,” he said.

http://www.mca.org.my/story.asp?file=/articles/news/2003/8/4/17183.html&sec=In+The+News

Malaysia goes ahead with bridge project to replace Causeway

For the benefits of all readers who wish to know the background of the bridge project, Star has a report dated 13 Apr 2006. Mahathir retired at end Oct 2003.

http://thestar.com.my/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=/2006/4/13/nation/13948245.asp&sec=nation

Chronology of events of bridge project

cftung,

I am amazed you still believe that huge contaner vessels can passed between the columns of "scenic bridge". If it can "squeeze through", it certainly wouldn't pass under the 2nd causeway. Besides, certain parts of Tebrau Johor is very narrow and shallow.

Despite Tanjung Pelapas (30% owned by Dannish's Maesek Line and 20% by Taiwan's Evergreen) which has handled abt 4 million TEU (20'containers)(slight increase from last year based on two shipping lines' volume), PSA of SIngapore handled 22.4 million TEU for the same period, making PSA the world busiest container port, leaving HK on the 2nd spot. Thus, there is little competition since Maesk and Evergreen left.

The Scenic bridge is meant for pleasure boats and small boats to pass through. And waters under the bridge.

http://www.internationalpsa.com/factsheet/singapore.html

Mahathir calls for referendum on issue in Johor

April 16, 2006
The Straits Times

JOHOR BARU - IN AN open attack on his successor, former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad yesterday suggested holding a referendum in Johor to see if there was backing in the state for the government decision to cancel the bridge project.

'Let me say it frankly that I do not agree with the government's view that the people do not want the crooked bridge,' he said while calling for the referendum at a news conference here.

Malaysians, particularly Johor residents, had rejected only Singapore's demand for sand and airspace in return for agreeing to the bridge, he said.

The rakyat, or citizens, had not rejected the project, he said. 'The people certainly do not agree with the two conditions, but this does not mean they do not agree with building a crooked bridge.'

Regarding Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo's remark that the question of who won or lost did not arise in Kuala Lumpur's decision, Tun Dr Mahathir said: 'Singapore will surely think it did not win but Malaysia lost.'

Asked to sum up his feelings, he told reporters: 'I am hiding my sadness because if I were to cry like I did when I announced my resignation, I will embarrass you. So, I laugh. This is because I cannot believe that before I die...the sovereignty of our country can be violated so easily. We retreated as if we surrendered our land to others.'

Malaysia had lost a little of its independence, he said, because it was unable to do something like building a road and bridge within its own territory.

He also insisted that Malaysia had the right to relocate the pipelines supplying water to Singapore for specified reasons after giving about six months' notice under a bilateral agreement.

Some reports have said a possibility that Singapore might not agree to the relocation was among the reasons behind the bridge decision.

'We know where we stand' on the pipelines, Tun Dr Mahathir said, adding that the agreement even required Singapore to be responsible for the cost of any relocation of the pipelines. -- Bernama

I think we need a better negotiator...

Let me recap some important events before referring to Dr Mahathir's latest initiative for a Referendum :

1. The Bridge project was conceived during former PM Dr Mahathir's time, and the contract was awarded before Pak Lah took over.
2. Dr Mahathir had had his bite as NegaraKu's CEO for 22 short years; if that was not short enough, he should have retired in 1990 and given Musa Hitam/Anwar IbrahimPak Lah a byte at the durian?
3. Pak Lah inherited many other Mega-Projects before assuming office Nov 1, 2003, but thanks to longer-term decision-making, he scrapped several.

Question now arises: Dr Mahathir in his short 22-year reign NEVER did once call for a Referendum, which can be a "sort" of vote-of-confidence; and there were many issues that could've demanded such a Referendum -- Amedning the Federal Cosntitution; Sacking of Top 5 Judges; bailouts of many Billion-dollar projects -- MISC, MAS, Perwaja; Bakun Dam(ned!) ...I think nausea would set in if I add: ad nauseum...?

So why do the Retired PM think he has good rationale to call for a Referendum for this "Bridge to NOwhere" imbroglio that was actually of HIS own making.
Pak Lah is now dealing with Realpoitik, national, but essentially UMNO-politik, olde guard-on-the-wane Vs new guarde on the rise.
This CitizenJoe has tasted too much of murky, shitty water flowing under the Bridge, not just over the Jogor Starits, but under many bridges, smaller mayhaps, thoughout this Lucky Land we call Malaysia.
I'd put my bet on a GOD-fearing PM.
May God Bless Him and Malaysia.
I:
S:
A: men.

Folks

Is it true our clever Govt and Umno-controlled Cabinet already paid RM 100 million to a contractor to build the now non-existent half-bridge.

And the taxpayers cannot recall that money or part of it.

I wonder which UMNO crony won that RM 100 million contract.

Folks

Can someone find out which CONTRACT got the RM100 million cash from the UMNO-controlled Govt/Cabinet.

Don't be surprised if that company(ies) have the famous son-in-law Khairy sitting as a board director, shareholder or his cronies in Umno Youth.

How about our journalists doing a due diligence exercise, since the Govt will definite hide this part of the fiasco.

Folks

I thought the sarcastic humour published on the internet and quoted in Spore and JB as quite funny which was linked by Jeff.

Here it is :

Half bridge over troubled waters

The images this conjures up simply boggle the mind

I HEAR that talks are still underway between Singapore and Malaysia regarding the building of a new bridge to replace the Causeway.
.
In fact, if Malaysia proceeds and Singapore does not, the impression out there is that we may have either an incomplete bridge or one that is crooked.
.
Singaporeans are rightly concerned about it because here, we like things straight.
.
Half a bridge is enough to make any country sian jit pua (literally "bored by half" — Hokkien for very dissatisfied).
.
Someone online remarked that if the Malaysian side of the bridge is crooked — sorry, bent — sorry, scenic, and the Singapore side is straight, would that not create the shape of a question mark?
.
Another online "forummer" asked if the Malaysian side of the bridge is finished first and Singapore side is delayed, wouldn't it be better to call it a jetty?
.
Yet another pointed out that an incomplete bridge sticking out like this would look vaguely phallic.
.
Visual imagery aside, I was more concerned about the new RM20 charge that Malaysia will levy on Singapore cars going into Malaysia. If the bridge is only half done, could we get a discount first, and pay RM10?
.
Singapore should consider building our side of the revised Causeway to go all the way to Bangkok. We may as well, since we don't like to do things in half measures. Want to build a bridge, we should go all the way, right? Let's be the Bridge Hub of Asia!
.
We could let the new Singapore Scenic Super Pan-Asian Highway Bridge reach Bangkok. Japan would be nice. It would be a bridge that would be Uniquely Truly Asia. Johor Bahru can then be an off-ramp exit from our new Super Bridge.
.
But I am an optimist. We can always find a way to work things out, I am sure, so that we can avoid drastic measures. We are neighbours and friends, Malaysia and Singapore. It can be done!
.
Either that or we can find a way to make the best of things.
.
For instance, an incomplete scenic bridge can only mean that Singapore cars coming back from JB will no longer have to worry about jams. Once you clear Malaysian customs, you just drive straight into the Straits of Johor.
.
No need to worry about being held up by cars clearing Singapore customs. Sure, it will mean the small inconvenience of having to do some swimming, but better than being caught in the infamous Causeway snarl, right?
.
The Malaysian side of the Scenic Jetty could also be a great tourist attraction for families who want to fish. Witness how popular the Bedok jetty is for fishing and walks.
.
And if this Scenic Bridge is going to be sloped, we could hold Extreme Sports competitions here. Skateboarders will have a nice long ramp to pull off their stunts. They just have to make sure they do not overshoot and fly into the loving arms of the sea.
.
TV companies could apply to film car stunts on the Scenic Ramp. Maybe the Sepang F1 circuit could be extended there too, so that more people can watch the race (Woodlands HDB dwellers will be most happy).
.
But Malaysia will need to create a small U-turn on the Scenic Detour or else many Formula 1 cars will need spoilers the size of wings, so that they can fly.
.
Here is another idea — The Scenic Car Park. Shoppers can park their cars on the incomplete bridge, and walk to the lovely shops in JB, without having to worry about dealing with jams along Jalan Wong Ah Fook.
.
One blogger I read questioned the choice of the word "scenic" to describe the Malaysian effort.
.
Actually, his exact words were: "Scenic bridge, my ass lah. What's there to see?"
.
Methinks he was being a tad negative. If I could stand in the middle of the Straits of Johor and see all the clear blue water and quaint container ships ambling by, it would be a photo opportunity indeed.
.
Anyway, I am kidding lah. Of course the bridge won't be hanging in the middle of nowhere, even if Malaysia builds it alone, because their new half will turn and rejoin the old Causeway.
.
All this reminds me of an old joke, where an official announced that in order to build a tunnel to replace the Causeway, Malaysia will start with a spade on one side, and Singapore will start with a spade on the other. Then the two diggers will dig till their tunnels join up.
.
The reporter asked the official, "But what if the two tunnel workers do not meet up in the middle?"
.
"Then that's even better!" said the official. "Then we will have TWO tunnels for the price of one!"
.
See? There is always a positive way of looking at things.
.
I say forget this bridge thing. Let's hand out the spades, and meet our northern neighbours for makan soon.
.
mr brown is the accidental author of a popular website that has been documenting the dysfunctional side of Singapore life since 1997. He enjoys partaking in the varied movie fare available in JB.
The images this conjures up simply boggle the mind

The mentality of our present leadership is at stake.Initially,he gave the go ahead for the scenic-bridge project.Now when something gone wrong somewhere,he asked to put a brake on it.Why? This is to show that we are only capable of doing things without using our brain.No wonder people used to say that we have first class infrastructure but third class mentality.

who the hell is the one who agree for Government to pay RM1 million for every day delay in the project????

This is so one sided to the benefit of the contractor!!!!

the shape of the bridge is so typical of the mega project we all are forced to pay though our taxes/epf etc - crooked!!!

By comparison, Linkedua was built without much ado, and is providing much needed modern land transport communications between Singapore and Malaysia. The difference? It was agreed to by the relevant parties before any work started. That sounds like a pretty good way to do such things, in comparison to the latter project.

Kit Siang already called Mahathir to clarify the matter since Jan 99.
http://www.limkitsiang.com/archive/1999/jan99/sg1476.htm

folks

It is mega project fiascos like this undertaken by our UMNO-controlled Govt and cabinet that makes UMNO cronies multi-millionaires OVERNIGHT.

Yahya Jalil is the Managing Director of Gerbang Perdana, the contractor-company that gains RM 100 MILLION from taxpayers for non-existent bridge.

You can find out by googling "Gerbang Perdana", to find out who are owners,beneficiaries of Gerbang Perdana. If not UMNO and UMNO Youth cronies themselves, it is UMNO or UMNO Youth to fill their political war-chest.

If Tun can call for referendum if he thinks that many johoreans are unhappy, why not call for referendum for so many corruptions cases to be heard as many malaysians are unhappy too? ECM libra, APs, etc.

Folks

Dr M will oppose virtually every other policy decision made by Pak Lah or cabinet.

When you have nothing else better to do after 22 years as PM, criticising others holding your previous job is the best retirement hobby.

Dr M has long memories. Remember that Pak Lah backed Tengku Razaleigh against Dr M in the struggle for power.

Its Payback time.

Anyone here play texas hold-em poker? The turn was dealt, Singapore called our bluff. We folded.

Our whole strategy was based on raising the stakes so that S'pore will meet us in building the bridge. That did not happen. A loss of RM100m is still less than if we went ahead and built the bridge. I'm sure most civil engineers would agree that a crooked bridge is in no way an epitome of cost-effectiveness; likewise most economists would agree that the NPV of the project is nowhere near financial viability.

The 100m cost was sunk. It sucks, but it was the right decision, at the given moment.

FYI, most of this company HAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO SUSTAIN 1 year if no money inject into it. The government can simply buy the share out of the F*CKING GP company with less than 100 millions and lapse the contract.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Since we have so much ID10T in gahmen making stupid decisions.

Oh yes, since it is so close to the TAX MONTH. The gahmen can simply send an auditor team and audit the company account and make them spit out at least RM30 millions from income tax.

No wait, this is bolehland, something is boleh and something tak boleh.

Frank&Honest, somehow I gotta agree with you. Yesterday, we read of calls from our great ex-PM, TDM, for the Malaysian Govt to goto the ICJ. One then wonders why he had not chosen the path before when he was in power? Surely he knows that there was no way in hell that Singapore would ever have agreed to a bridge which brings much convenience for Singaporeans to come across to Malaysia. Did TDM harbour any hopes that Mr. Mentor would go senile before he does and sign on the dotted line? TDM should just seriously consider doing an Anwar for the time being. Shut up and go about his retirement in silence. All the things which he has done for Malaysia during his 22-year reign is slowly but surely overshadowed by what he is doing and saying today. TDM is flushing whatever respect he has earned, down the gutter.

ha ha ha.. there you go,our money..go on with the project, we have to pay.. cancel the project, we have to pay also.. so.. sape yg untung sebenarnya?

Guys,

We do not only have 1st world infrastructure and 3rd world mentalities, but also 1st world grade country, but 3rd world GRADE PRIME MINISTER and POLITICIAN.

Airsnort,

I think you mean third world ex-prime minister.

Even without consult their counterpart, without study on legal, economics, cost and return, justification, rakyat viewpoint etc, he bulldoze his way and contract for the CROOKED bridge, Bakun Damn, Double tracking rail, National car, Perwaja, EPF bailouts of tycoon (working class to bail out mega-rich? wtf?) etc etc.

What can you do if you found out, for the issue at hand, that it is contracted for but at the same time not viable?

To be or not to be? Both you get scolding from blogs like this. But i would rather scrap it.

What a bunch of ungrateful citizens you all are..Is it too much for ex-PM to make a little money on the side. Come on, give him a break for once. What does an ex-politician have to do these days to get a little respect (and make a little money in the process)?? Don't u know he's building a mansion in Cyberjaya overlooking Putrajaya. That way he can keep an eye on his ex-cronies easily. AAB will have to keep looking over his shoulder too...

Hello there!

Only "crooked people" built crooked bridges!

On whether there is a chance for talks on the bridge issue to resume without giving Singapore sand and airspace, Mahathir said there is no reason for Malaysia to give both as part of the bridge is on Malaysian territory and it is the country's sovereign right to do what it wants on its side. He said by not building the bridge, Malaysia was giving up its sovereign rights.

All in all, a waste of time and money. There already is a causeway there. A straight to the point bridge. Who in the world wants to waste petrol and time to take the "scenic route". I mean what is there so scenic bout it? Its just a scam for Gerbang Perdana and Dr M. Which by the way i think is going senile. Just look at whats he saying nowadays!