Screenshots: Boat Rakyat, Monsoon Cup, Elite Yacht, and Cobra Sultan

UPDATED VERSION. The north-east monsoon is on its course, gathering force. I was back in Terengganu for the second time in two months, to see the folks and life there in a different light.

They told me this year's monsoon is somewhat delayed, but the waves were at their peak in Batu Burok, Kuala Terengganu, on December 18. Local folks were traumatised by the possibility of the repeat of the 1986 big floods that wreaked KT, Sinar Harian reports.

MONSOON WAVES... Batu Burok beach, Kuala Terengganu, Dec 18, 2006.
I was the photographer in the middle, retreating from the surprise long wave.
Picture courtesy OT Ch'ng

While in KT, you don't seem to miss out the remnants of the Monsoon Cup signboards to remind you of the 'luxury yacht for the elite 50'.

And on the day I was there, December 18, Rocky's Bru posted a RM30 million blog entry that warrants the Prime Minister to issue a rebuttal from a a far-away land in Caracas, Venezuela.

It's a December 17 report in Hurriyet, a Turkish newspaper, which said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had -- en route Venezuela aboard "a private jet that belongs to Malaysia Airlines" -- made a transit to Bodrum, Turkey, to see his RM30 million boat "which he ordered four months ago".

On site to welcome our Prime Minister was Malaysian tycoon Ananda Krishnan, who was in the company of a yacht-making firm, the Hurriyet said (See PDF here).

"Badawi and his friend Krishan went to Gokova for fishing with a luxury motor yacht belonging to Kremala Holding, which was brought over here (Bodrum) from Malta, the newspaper added.

The Hurriyet also gave a description of the boat, branded as Cobra class, that the PM had purportedly ordered some four months ago and due for delivery in 12 months -- 44 meters long with a capacity for 14 people; and it is to be made of "Akaju, Maun, Sipo and Brimanya's tree which is imported from South Africa". The pricetag: US$8 million (RM30 million).

In a response datelined Caracas yesterday, Abdullah explained: "I was in Turkey but did not see the boat."

But Rocky's Bru thinks Abdullah should do more than that as "this matter involves the integrity of the PM".

Meanwhile, here's a picture of Boat Rakyat which I took at the Lasir waterfalls, Kenyir Dam.

It's peanuts compared to Cobra Sultan, the latest RM30 million poser for Malaysia.

Interestingly, is AK standing in the path between absolute truth and relative truth if Harriyet is accurate?

But if the Hurriyet report is true, then Pak Lah has certainly taken his penchant for fishing and yatching to a greater height.

Whether luxury yachting is a pompous or tasteful hobby is best left to the individuals to interpret, but journalists in the league of Wong Chun Wai certainly can testify that, way back in 1993 (See picture left), Pak Lah has already cultivated this yachting hobby, cruising the Mediterranean Sea.

The context, as Aisehman has put it very nicely, is this: "I long to see us having a "commoner" for a Prime Minister. We have never had one before."

And the rate it goes, we may never have one in years to come.

Meanwhile, the Terengganu folks, despite the petrol money, retain their pristine selves.

Which is not too bad a thing, come to think of it, seeing how pockets of East Coast piety can still withstand the onslaught of materialism, power, wealth and greed that have come to shroud many a Malaysian politician.

(We will upload our Terengganu pictures in LensaMalaysia, rather slowly as we are recovering from the fatigue. But let me tell you this, despite the politicians, Malaysia is beautiful.)

Comments

Boats aside, no pun intended.

The water in the pic looks so beautiful with the waterfall in the backdrop. It's emerald green!

And the Malay ladies look so gentle. Malaysia is truly paradise, lest we forget or worse do her into the ground.

I am homesick

Posted by: Attila the Hun | December 21, 2006 10:10 AM

I watched the denial over TV3 news yesterday.

The look on his face was obvious. He is a lousy liar. I am not saying whether he bought the yacht or not, but the face showed that he was telling only half truths.

Posted by: arb_ok | December 21, 2006 10:18 AM

he said bush called him, hmm...maybe they really are planning for a big fishing trip.

and yes, he is a lousy liar and a lousy p* too. and like bush, his premiership will ends one day....

Posted by: lovehurts | December 21, 2006 10:22 AM

"I did not see _the_ boat."

Which boat? If he does not own a boat, he should have state so.

A lot like Bill Clinton,

"I did not have sex with Monica Lewinsky."

JEFF OOI says: Clinton has another famous line: "I smoked, but I did not inhale".

Posted by: Hansac | December 21, 2006 10:22 AM

get someone who can analyse facial expression and he/she can tell you if our PM is telling a lie or not. BUt looking at his facial expression and movement, i can say he is not telling the truth.

Posted by: groo | December 21, 2006 10:27 AM

To my knowledge Abdullah hasn't told an outright lie yet, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, until someone catches him red handed.

Posted by: cic_lemur | December 21, 2006 11:20 AM

What in hell is Dollah doing in Turkey?

Kalau Mahathir pergi Kutub Selatan atau Utara, it is shown in TV, him with family, Datin Seri Hasmah, even Marina was there, shown on TV.

Tapi Dollah Badawi pergi Turki sengap sengap, sampai terpaksa buat denial dalam TV pasal ada ke tak bot dia kat Turki.

[ DELETED ]

Posted by: Hansac | December 21, 2006 11:43 AM

The pic shows a sailing yacht. You may require a crew to man these yachts. It may have an auxiliary engine and a diesel generator for air-conditioning if sailing in our weather.
The other prominent person to buy a yacht of similar stature was Tajuddin Ramli. He found the cost of maintenance too prohibitive and duly sold it to MAS after acquiring the company. MAS offered the yacht as a golden holiday package to langkawi until recently. So those out there thingking of buying a yacht, just take a MAS holiday package. It is hassle free and cost only for the time taken. If you are still keen on sailing using wooden hull, you can get one from Pulau Dungun in terengganu. But a cheaper alternative would be to build one in Sulawesi (those elegant single sail ones) build to load cargo to these very day, so it can be rather crude. Or better stil get a used yacht and save millions.

Posted by: sydput | December 21, 2006 12:53 PM

heheh....chun wai in his leaner days...before the double datukship
pak lah too.

Priceless picture that...But the boat rakyat picture touched me with its beauty n humility.

Posted by: dansemacabre | December 21, 2006 12:57 PM

heheh....chun wai in his leaner days...before the double datukship.
pak lah looks more kurus too. big man, big hobby eh?

Priceless picture that...but the boat rakyat picture touched me with its beauty n humility.

Posted by: dansemacabre | December 21, 2006 01:00 PM

whose boat is it then?

Posted by: art chan | December 21, 2006 04:06 PM

What is 30 mil for a boat for the CEO of Malaysia ? Come on people you have seen more like the palaces in Putra Jaya meant for the ruling elite!
A Town councillor (only mind you) already owns a mansion for a home that is easily worth $3-5 Million
I say give him the boat its not much considering the responsibilities he holds vis a vis the town councillor !

Posted by: richL | December 21, 2006 04:41 PM

guy...guys..

Come on...the boat is necessary! It is needed in case Putrajaya or whole of Malaysia is under water due to banjir(like johor now) then our friend can say he can live on board and run the country from there. I mean it's either a 30 million ringgit boat or a billion ringgit plane ala Air Force 1...

Posted by: kokster99 | December 21, 2006 05:54 PM

Air Force is necessary should the country come under attack, what good is Cobra Sultan? Hide inside "monsoon" drain when enemies attack?

Now that he has denied it I am sure the more he wont be able to use it openly. Let it be a white elephant to him then. Maybe one day he will say he got it as a Xmas present from Kamaluddin or it was 1 of the 180 ships his son has.

Posted by: groo | December 21, 2006 05:59 PM

Folks,

I was watching the news just now, and the flooding in Johor was really serious, especially in Segamat. What really made me felt so disappointed is that the DPM has to make statement on tv that the PM has called and told him that he is very sad about it. All this while he is busy holidaying. If he had cut short his leave and come back to Malaysia to attend to the urgent situation of the flood would have salvaged some of his fast deteriorating reputation. Now, whatever things to respect him has fully evaporated.

If only we can have a way to tell [ DELETED ] that he is not wanted anymore! Forget about the GE, it is too far away and who says he will not retain his position, for all our frustration of the current administration.

Posted by: twotablet | December 21, 2006 08:39 PM

frankly, what can aab do even if he is around in johor? what can all these polticians do amidst a crisis? all just show face and take pics while the neglect thru the years are left unchecked.

Posted by: groo | December 22, 2006 03:01 PM

AAB should have said, "Look, I work hard and today I buy myself a luxury boat. And I want all of you could do so one day. You deserve the reward for the hard work that you put in. So stand up and let's work together to make this country a better place. Be with me, work with me, to make this country a better place, and we ALL share the success together."

Posted by: patriotic1994 | December 22, 2006 03:12 PM

sorry..this is off topic, but I just want to know why UMNO Youth is so quiet about mobilising force to help thoise affected by the floods, but ever ready to create race problems, legitimiaing Mat Rempits etc.

NO glam in helping flood victims or is it dirty work?

Posted by: art chan | December 23, 2006 10:16 AM

so ... this is why 'turkey' is not halal?

Posted by: mat | December 24, 2006 12:04 AM

INTERNET does not operate in a legal vacuum.
Read this before you post a comment in this blog!

Screenshots

Thinking Allowed. Thinking Aloud.

Boat Rakyat, Monsoon Cup, Elite Yacht, and Cobra Sultan

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