Contract Award of West Coast Highway is a Sham
Richard Teo
It is disconcerting to learn that the West Coast Highway mooted in 1996 but put on hold because of the Asian financial crisis will be given to the original contractors awarded 11 years ago.
A project awarded 11 years ago certainly has no justification to be given to the same contractor unless the project was awarded in an open tender in 2007.
Cost of labour and price of material fluctuate over time and can bear no relationship after a period of 11 years. So on what basis was the Highway contract awarded to the same contractor?
How did the estimated cost of $3.12 billion been awarded to the contractor if there was no competitive bid for the project?
Surely a project of such magnitude would demand greater transparency and accountability.
The concessionaires for the project include Kumpulan Europlus Bhd and the contractor is Konsortium LPB Sdn Bhd.
As taxpayers whose money are being used for this project I think we are entitled to know how and on what basis this contract was awarded and who are the principal beneficiaries of this Highway Project.
#1 by Loh on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 7:59 pm
When the project was awarded in 1996, we know whose crony got it. When the same group gets the contract, it means that the present powers-that-be is trying to appease his old boss. Both parties get what they want, at the expense of the rakyat! And yet BN is certain to win in Machap!
#2 by k1980 on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 8:20 pm
Hope some MCA or MIC apologists might care to comment on some comments about our blighted country which I took the liberty of extracting from https://www2.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=26580957&postID=4592558266001285192
When I was in lower secondary at a government-aided school, I was wondering why only the Chinese pupils had to buy textbooks and pay the monthly school fees. Some others had it all free. I didn’t know the rationale then but could only envy them.
Later on, I was surprised when two malay classmates were selected to proceed to do the then Higher School Certificate (Form Six then) although I had far superior academic results than both of them. I missed the selection.
Every Monday morning we stood shoulder to shoulder at the school assembly and sung the same national anthem with the same gusto and yet we were treated differently. Again, I couldn’t understand all that.
I had at great expense to my parents, to do my HSC at a private college before embarking on my tertiary education overseas (you guessed it right – I was rejected by the local universities).
If we read the Malaysia Federal Constitution of 1957, we will not find the word “bumiputera” – hence some would say the origin of the word is grounded in the political agenda of some politicians to discriminate against citizens not of malay ethnicity. In short there is no constitutional legitimacy in the use of the term “bumiputera” except for its purpose which is to discriminate for the sake of discriminating.
If you want to talk about fairness, then look at the titles that have been given to malays who had not done much at all. The round-the-world sailor who had to be assisted by the Royal Malaysian Air Force with an expenditure of about a million ringgit and the swimmer whose feat is not accredited by organisations monitoring English Channel crossings.
What about the first Malaysians to make it up Mount Everest, where are their ‘Dato’ titles? Perhaps a title for the medical student who crossed the English Channel in almost half the time of the former ‘hero’?
I know of malay students in University Malaya. I know them well. You see, I didn’t get the chance to do a proper science course locally and had to struggle to fund my overseas education by begging and borrowing.
You might also want to find out the real reason why the 128 students were not given medical seats in local universities even though they had very high scores. Are you saying that these students are inferior to the matriculation students?
Do you know the pains of studying in order to score excellent results in the STPM? Please, feel free to furnish me facts so that poor souls like me would be convinced that the policies of this country are just and fair.
If you have ever heard of the simple saying, “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” you will realise that many non-malays have learned how to fish but the government is still handing out fishes to the malays. One day the fish will run out.
#3 by smeagroo on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 9:24 pm
Very out of topic dont you think? But yes again the govt has sown that they couldnt be bothered as to how the rakyat fells or react.
Now the latest sham wont even hurt their pride one bit when you are confronting a govt which lacks in integrity and sincerity. To them it is like so what? It is just another method of appeasing their cronies b4 GE.
Uncle Kit, pls catalogue all these figures and make known during GE time and show the rakyat how much money has gone down the drain and how much could hv been saved if things were done the proper way. Show them how the excess money could have benefitted the rakyat in other areas. List them out one by one.
How come till now AAB has yet to declare his assets and those of his family?
#4 by ahkok1982 on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 9:43 pm
well, maybe soon the malays will all be fish food…
#5 by Libra2 on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 10:15 pm
True. True. But why have the discriminated Chinese and Indians been supporting the Barisan?
Many DAP strongman like Kit, Karpal, Kerk, Dr Chan and others were even rejected by the Chinese community in favour of MCA and Gerakan goons.
Now whom do we blame for this mess we are in?
#6 by hasilox on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 10:22 pm
Highways. Bolehland worst suckers by far. Used to ensure the poor continue to subsidize the mega-rich!
#7 by Not spoon fed on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 10:51 pm
Many voters are not informed of what is happening today to Malaysia government is marginalising Chinese and Indian.
Opposition parties members should do House to house visit to tell quckily and convey the messages of bias government policies which support their new economy policy (NEP).
Thoes politicians of MIC and MCA are strong supporters of NEP because of lucrative salary for being minister.
#8 by HJ Angus on Monday, 9 April 2007 - 11:08 pm
Our PM collects all the asssets declarations from Ministers and files it under a large OSA file.
As for his own assets he files it in his own secret file.
I think the USA system is more transparent and even then hanky-panky occurs. What more with our patronage system?
#9 by Godamn Singh on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 1:13 am
“If you have ever heard of the simple saying, “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime.†you will realise that many non-malays have learned how to fish but the government is still handing out fishes to the malays. One day the fish will run out.”
“….he eats for a lifetime.”
What if he gets into an accident?
“..you will realise that many non-malays have learned how to fish..”
Huh? I think you meant to say Malays instead of “Non-Malays”.
“..government is still handing out fishes to the malays. One day the fish will run out.”
Don’t forget the 18 fishes that have not been caught.
#10 by Godamn Singh on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 1:16 am
“When the project was awarded in 1996, we know whose crony got it.” Loh
I know why cronies get the contracts. It is because the system is chronic.
#11 by fargowin on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 6:23 am
Emigration and migration of human beings is a pre-requisite of human development and progress. Without migration, human beings would be doomed to an existence worse than that of animals. Even animals migrate to seek a better habitat.
Patriotism is not a one-way thing, it is a two-way commitment. If one finds that one’s loyalty and patriotism is not reciprocated as having to live with a corrupt government, discriminatory policies, inhumane and repressive laws etc, one has a right to review one’s commitment and patriotism if one so chooses.
Why would people stay if their talents are not recognised in their own country and they do not have the opportunities to develop their potential? Why remain when they can have these opportunities in another country?
Indeed, it is very fortunate that we all live in this day and age of globalisation where we are free to live and work anywhere in the world as long as we have the skill and talent.
There is much less reason now to put up with bad governments, or corrupt, oppressive and racist regimes, anywhere in the world.
Of course the grass is never greener on the other side. You still need the same energy, enterprise and sometimes luck to make it. But there is no doubt in my mind and in those who have worked here and overseas – the playing field is more level abroad.
Whilst, I may add that most lower middle-class Malaysian citizens and professionals are the main bulk of immigrants to countries abroad. They need to get settled first and have a few contacts to start life anew.
To expect them to be millionaires in businesses will take a generation or more and we are beginning to see that now. If they had not emigrated, they would have been hard pressed to send their children abroad and everybody knows the quota system for universities, jobs, job opportunities and promotions back home.
In Canada, we experience the best there is in life. Every citizen has equal rights. They have done well in every aspect of life.
In the US, anyone whether black, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican etc, has the right to run for president. There are no restrictions, one only needs to secure the votes.
Nobody should operate under the assumption that migration is a bed of sweet, smelling roses. Roses have thorns.
Certainly, migration is not a dirty word. In fact, migration is the reason for this multiethnic paradise I call home today. The question is, can Malaysia retain its talents?
We are simply losing good people to the more developed countries, and this problem is also faced by other countries such as India and China.
Singapore has been absorbing our talents regardless of the medium of instruction they have been taught in.
Perhaps the biggest slap on our face is the fact that thousands and thousands of Malaysians have been recruited to bloom in the Lion City’s workforce, while our own industry leaders have done nothing to help the government keep these investments from going abroad.
Many people leave the country for a variety of reasons. Some leave for economic reason, some for better education, some over concerns for the climate of democracy in their home country.
There is no reason to deride any migrant for their choices in life. Every human being is entitled to the right of physical, social and geographical mobility – you seek your place on earth and call it home.
So leave if you must, go while you can, but don’t give up on the march. That is a worthy sacrifice that requires courage.
Congratulations to those who have found a better future in life.
#12 by kurangajah on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 6:32 am
At the last General Election in 2004, I was holidaying in Melbourne and I very much regretted that I couldn’t vote for Badawi to show him my overwhelming support in weeding out corruption. But I had my computer on the whole night, and every time when they announced the Barisan won, I leapt with joy. I told myself, finally, we would be having a clean government. But I guess I got my spelling wrong, we now have a glean government. They glean and glean, until the people have got nothing left. At the next election, even if I am holidaying in Timbaktu, I will fly a Rocket home to vote.
#13 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 7:21 am
The main cost of highways typically are in earth-moving and building bridges. Otherwise the cost would not exceed RM1million per km. The West Coast Highway is mostly flat with minimum earth moving. This leaves bridges which is easy to estimate. By all accounts RM14.5m per km is a high price…
#14 by tsn on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 8:22 am
fargowin:I though I have gone to wrong blog, instead of LKS blog, I have mistakenly enter into Migration Agents blog.
What you say is absolutely true & right but paste in the wrong place. LKS is trying very hard to woo the general Malaysians to do something to stop the sinking of the country while still possible but you are wooing people to abandon the ship. Different destiny.
The ground ill fact is not everyone who wish to go can afford this avenue. Today migration is totally different from our forefathers migration to Malaysia. The waves of Chinese migrations were closely tight to politcal chaos, natural disasters in China, they did not need any official approval papers, just grabbed few rags and bye bye to theirs love ones and jumped into the boat. But what we have today is “SELECTIVE MIGRATION”. The receiving countries denote what they wants, hopeful migrants are only on complying end. Of course there is always a handful of so call “real talented talent”who will be invited, red carpeted welcomed by 1st world countries. Another hard fact is sickening currency exchange rate. One may be an object of envy back home staying in middle upper class suburd Bandar Utama double storey house, but what you get from your house sale proceed after converting, say Aussie $, probably is only enough for 1/2 rooms apartment in Sdyney.
Today, most 1st world countries are facing -ve growth of population, coupled up with the need of talents to power today knowledge-talent base economy, surely they will pinch our young, bright and able. Knowing all these beyond control repulsing & pulling factors, we should go all out to stop the sinking of our ship. This is the main objective of LKS’s blog.
Oklah, if you vent your anger & frustration little bit here & there.
#15 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 8:41 am
“In the US, anyone whether black, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican etc, has the right to run for president. There are no restrictions, one only needs to secure the votes.” fargowin
Inaccurate, so let me correct it.
In the U.S. to run for the office of president, you will need to be a locally born citizen – not foreign born like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Obama is not a foreign born citizen. His father was a Kenyan from Kenya who returned to serve his people once he completed his studies in the U.S. although he didn’t need to do that – and died there as a result of a motor accident some years later.
#16 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 9:26 am
“Certainly, migration is not a dirty word. You seek your place on earth and call it home.†says Fargowin.
You speak of emigration as if it is as easy as picking out a country from a map and put yourself on the first plane out. By doing so you are underestimating the pain and suffering many of these emigrants are made to go through – because many of these emigrants enter legally but then forced to overstay their visas, so they could work albeit illegally and under the constant threat of deportation.
There is a fierce immigration debate going on right now in the U.S. as to what to do with some 20 million illegal aliens or undocumented workers working in this country. Although many are Hispanics from South America, a larger number is from neighboring Mexico. The U.S. is a magnet for jobs drawing not only these people but people as far as China an increasing number of whom arrived DOA or dead on arrival in shipping containers having suffocated to death. Some are from Malaysia who entered legally on tourist or student visas but then overstayed their visas. Walk into Chinese restaurants or hair salons in Queens, New York City and you’ll know what I mean. I have a friend who has an MBA working comfortably in Kuala Lumpur but then decided to uproot his entire family and move to Vancouver where he opened a sandwich bar. In his case especially the grass is greener on the other side but what he didn’t figure out was having arrived in Canada, life is still greener the other side.
Perhaps you’d like to tell these people, “You seek your place on earth and call it home.â€Â
Malaysia will always be home. Malaysia is still the best place to work and live despite the discrimination.
#17 by lakshy on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 9:52 am
But despite all of this, BN will win in the by-election and the next GE. What can you guys do about it?
Most of you will still vote for BN, when the time comes!
#18 by lakshy on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 9:55 am
He already mentioned that his family does not need to declare their assets because they are not involved in politics.
You guys just forgot him saying that.
Ha ha …guess you guys fall asleep just like him sometimes!
#19 by madmix on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 10:06 am
Is there a QS out there who can give an estimate of how much it cost to build a kilometer six lane high way in the West Coast? Is 15 million per Km reasonable? Being not in the building trade I have no idea on the real costs and I am sure Kit or Richard Teo does not know as well.
#20 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 11:12 am
undergrad2 Says:
April 10th, 2007 at 9:26 am
“Malaysia will always be home. Malaysia is still the best place to work and live despite the discrimination.”
Sorry, that’s just another opinion. My siblings in Australia & NZ are having a great time, are successful & enjoy being citizens there. They used to come back to see the aged parents. But now that our parents are no more…there are much fewer reasons to come back. See?
Others have their happy tales to tell; some invariably will have some sobbing stories too. That’s life. I am inclined to think that those who have good educational qualifications, are high-spirited and enterprising with a drive to succeed will most likely do well
in any of the developed countries, perhaps much faster and better than u would ever do in Malaysia with all its racist problems etc…
However, all hope is not lost for those who stay behind and continue the good fight for your rights and your place under the sun. Insyaallah, if PKR/DAP wins the next GE, I believe Anwar & LKS will do their utmost to stem the rot left by the BN and blaze fresh trails in the paths of excellence. That I reckon is the country’s only hope. If this fails, I think every good man must find his own space in the world and let not borders hinder you. If there is a will, there is a way. Godspeed.
#21 by Loh on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 11:15 am
///Malaysia will always be home. Malaysia is still the best place to work and live despite the discrimination.///
Show us some statistics to substantiate that statement.
#22 by HJ Angus on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 1:16 pm
We could ask Samy Vellu this but the decision is probably made by the EPU that could stand for Everlasting Parasites Unlimited.
The basic need for transparency is so evident that awarding such contracts without open tenders is a good indication of official corruption.
It is time all Malaysians take a bold stand and say “No More!”
http://malaysiawatch.blogspot.com/2005/10/malaysias-yellow-brick-roads.html
Which contractor is going to do the same project after 10 years at the same price unless the original price was w-a-a-a-y above costs?
#23 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 1:38 pm
Once the project gets started, the contractors will quickly ask for cost escalation and the total bill could become RM 8 billion and then RM 12 billion when finally completed.
The usual tactics. The ‘kind and honorable’ contractor was ‘doing good’ for the country but rising costs is affecting the project. So the ‘understanding’ government allows him to increase his price to whatever level that pleases him. In return, he rewards those that have been helpful to him. And so on. Semua-nya OK and above board. And they lived happily ever after till the next bonanza.
#24 by Taiko on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 1:59 pm
Kit, by right, the lack of transparency would be deemed scandalous. In other countries, such a scenario would contribute to the downfall of the ruling party.
We lack the necessary pressure groups in this country. All the NGOs and institutions became tame and meek. The only pressure group left is the DAP.
You’re our only hope.
#25 by achia3 on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 2:19 pm
I work in a multinational company that takes on Lump Sum Turnkey type work. All prices are locked in at time of signing of contract. Clients will not entertain price escalation and Contractors will not entertain escalation claims from their subcontractors. The simple reason is contractor should be professional enough to know the market well before enbarking on a lump sum turnkey work. Profits are already huge with lump sum turnkey work, however a turn in the market or an error in tender price will result in big losses. Contractor should know the risk before embarking on the project.
If Mr. Vellu does not have capable engineers to ensure proper tendering and contracting process, I gladly avail as a consultant to ensure the government save huge money and I will still be able to pocket 10% of the saving.
However, if someone (we all know who) pockets the entire gain (ie wilful misconduct), the word “saving” is just a figment of our own imagination.
Either or…. God is watching… not from a distance but watching intensively over our shoulder.
#26 by k1980 on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 3:13 pm
The Deputy Prime Minister said: “I had met with Malaysian students in Bali and 80 per cent of them were medical students who were of Indian origin. It was also the same in Sulawesi and the University of Crimea in Ukraine. They were all sponsored by the MIC (sic). The position of the Indian community is improving from time to time…”
http://the-malaysian.blogspot.com/2007/04/do-you-believe-this-najib-claim-indian.html
Can the MIC please confirm the above claim that “80% of the Malaysian medical students in Bali, Sulawesi and Ukraine are Indians” If it is true, my whole family is going to convert to Hinduism and vote for the MIC in the Ijok by-election
#27 by nat on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 3:40 pm
I’ve done a little bit of research on this matter here. Thanks, and good luck in Machap!
#28 by HJ Angus on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 3:40 pm
k1980
B4 you all convert, I would like to just share with you this thought:
My daughter went to IMU and during the briefing for parents, there was this advise: “If you think you are going to make tons of money as a doctor you should think twice about attending this course.”
The course is extremely tough and even after graduation, there is the dreaded housemanship period – even in Canada that is very strenous.
Guess one has to be a masochist to enjoy medicine.
Back to the topic of lump sum or turnkey projects. I would expect the Works Ministry to be able to work out major project costs using standard costing methods.
But what is the yardstick for bribes?
#29 by MALAYSIANbukanMALAYSIAN on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 4:23 pm
Abuse of Power by BN.
It’s a pity that many of the bumiputera still does not realise that their own blood brothers are milking them dry so much so that they have to have sambal and rice for all their meals.
How can we make them aware that “bumiputera” and “NEP” are just dirty political words in order for UMNO to use it to their advantage. We should highlight to them that they have been cheated by their own blood brothers.
The rest of Malaysians who can never claim to be the bumiputera despite having many of our generations being born here can always fend for themselves because we do not need the crutches.
Respect the “Constitution”.
DSAI says…….”Time to change”
#30 by alanyeap on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 7:16 pm
Is this another bail out of company EuroPlus + Talam?
Or it’s another way of swindle malaysia money again?
Talam and Europlus has been doing badly in construction. Go to Sunway Toll and look at the sunway perdana 2nd phase hanging there incompleted and now becoming an eyesore to the public.
#31 by izrafeil on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 8:35 pm
ada baiknya kalau kita semua masuk BN dapat projek beb! ini projek tak habis makan 7 keturunan ni… eh tapi aku tengok orang2 kat kampung walhal org2 di bandar yg sokong kuat BN haprak pun takdak!
#32 by shortie kiasu on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 8:52 pm
The ‘Contract Award of West Coast Highway’ to the the same parties, without new tender being called, clearly indicated that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had ‘horse-traded’ with Mahathir Mohamad over the the spat between them, to appease Mahathir Mohamad over his quarrelsomeness recently in the public against Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and to choke the big mouth from further spurting out unpleasant insider stories. There are expected more of such goodies in the pipeline for the very old man and HIS cronies, who had felt left out by the current PM.
#33 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 9:41 pm
HORNBILL: “Sorry, that’s just another opinion. My siblings in Australia & NZ are having a great time, are successful & enjoy being citizens there.”
You’re right – mine is just another opinion. I’m not trying to get converts to my line of thinking. I speak for myself and Loh, I don’t think I need to show you or anyone else proof or statistics.
What I’m saying is that given the choice those who remain in Malaysia would remain. Life is a struggle everywhere one goes. Here too, in the ‘land of the free and home of the brave’, you encounter racism. Remember the race riots in L.A. not too long ago. And now with the immigration debate and with the influx of illegal immigrants (I am a legal migrant) mainly from Mexico ( a much smaller number from Malaysia) demonstrators have taken to the streets and will continue taking to the streets in an effort to stop the brutalizing of many good and law abiding undocumented workers who work at the minimum wage of $7.50 an hour to support their families -without whom large businesses would collapse overnight.
Talking about Malaysia being a ‘nation of body snatchers’, thousands in the United States are being deported back every month to where they came from despite having U.S. born children who are citizens, and despite having carved a life as hard working, honest and law abiding citizens for the last 20 years! The U.S. like Malaysia is today fast becoming a nation of body snatchers.
Talking about racism there is one major difference though which I will have to admit. In the U.S. there are laws and the rule of law offers some hope to those who are wronged to have the wrongs redressed in the courts. Malaysia has laws but weak enforcement, corrupt judiciary and a divided nation only serves to reinforce and augment the problems.
Packing up your bags and head for the nearest exit is easy. But you’d be exchanging one turf for another. Not all of us are rocket scientists or experts in biochemistry. Most of us are ordinary Joes and Janes with ordinary abilities and talents few would take notice of. Many would be left to struggle on their own having left families and friends not to mention parents and grandparents. Their stories have gone untold and unappreciated and so is their pain and their suffering and their loneliness. We tend to glorify the few that made it.
My sentiment is meant to focus on the plight of the silent majority who find to their great disappointment, after having left Malaysia the country of their birth, that grass is still greener on the other side.
#34 by outsider in own country on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 9:51 pm
looks like it’s another Skim-Guarantee-Sure-Cepat-Kaya by the bn for the bn! malaysia boleh!!!
#35 by pamelaoda on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 10:05 pm
To Malaysian bukan Malaysian
“It’s a pity that many of the bumiputera still does not realise that their own blood brothers are milking them dry so much so that they have to have sambal and rice for all their meals”.
The above is very very true especially after watching the live telecast of UMNO’s meeting last year. With the complaints these jokers brought up, you don’t need a rocket scientist to figure out that if the government is giving contracts/huge project or whatever permits to bumis only for the past 50 years, then why are they still so poor or lack behind? Why cant they understand only some selected fews are enjoying the wealth. AND these politician sconveniently point fingers that the non malays are getting all the jobs. While the malays are being spoon fed for the past 50 years and yet still lack behind not achieving the status whereby malays dont have to depend on those special rights, do you think you should start looking at your self, WHY?!?! 50 years is a very long time and if BN is so damn good, Malaysia should be in front of Singapore. Just imagine , we are now behind CHINA (once being laughed at tong san tong san), VIETNAM (oh god such a shame)!
Next, why citizens still vote for BN? Firstly no fair coverage or transparent reporting during election campaign. Citizens not awared of the truth. Whenever if there are any subjects brought up by DAP or other opposition parties, BN is good at manupalating the answer ie classic example whose istana is that in Klang and what about the AP’s issues…Malaysia got a habit of hangat hangat tahi ayam then they forgot the whole issue..no follow up from the press AND of course the press are also controlled by BN. Just look at NANYANG SIANG PAU being played by Mahathir’s dog!
LEast but not least, the May 13 is a nightmare to many and these people are worried if opposition wins, who can guaranteed nothing will …….
I regreted very very much I did not register to vote because my area’s only contender is BN but as I was told by my peer later, if you truly care and to show BN they are not GOD!, vote PAS even if you need to. Only with more opposition representing the people that BN will not be so bold to do whatever pleases them!
#36 by pamelaoda on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 10:10 pm
Oh I left out the important part , for those who thought blog are full of inaccurate infos..especially this blog..just check previous result during GE and see those areas that DAP used to win are quite well to do residential areas and these people are definitely not stupid IN FACT very well informed
#37 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - 10:30 pm
HORNBILL: “Insyaallah, if PKR/DAP wins the next GE, I believe Anwar & LKS will do their utmost to stem the rot left by the BN and blaze fresh trails…â€Â
Yes, God willing justice will prevail. But it is the will of Man that determines the outcome of most things in our lives on earth – not of God.
I am following the Machap by-elections and I see no hope of an Opposition victory. I would like to believe that I can will away the kind of opposition the alliance between DAP/PKR has to face in this and future elections.
I do not think PKR leaders have what it takes to ensure a healthy alliance between DAP and their party, long enough to survive the election campaign. A growing number of urban Malays today who are among the better informed and better educated, I believe, are looking for an alternative to BN but for that to emerge they must first be convinced that the growing influence of DAP will not be used to dilute Malay political control.
Leaders of both parties must accept that perception is what often determines the outcome. The perception among the Malays is, “Yes, we have a broken government but at least it is a Malay government.†This popular perception among the Malay electorate will need to be addressed.
The only hope I see is for the middle ground of both political parties to come together – and for that to happen, the Old Guards of both parties will need to allow the moderates among the second echelon leaders to come forward and show their unity to principles and ideals of their parties.
I just do not see that happening – and happening in time for the next general elections, short of a divine intervention that is. Yes. God willing the alliance between the two is based on firm commitment to principles and ideology.
Ideology? What ideology?
#38 by sheriff singh on Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - 2:43 am
Hmmmmm. So many concerned Malaysians living overseas, still taking interest in local affairs, hoping, wishing, wanting a change and to make a difference. So many votes lost to the Opposition when the elections come about.
How many of us will return to make things count? How can we all really contribute? Or will we all be just shadows in the background?
#39 by DiaperHead on Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - 2:46 am
Not when they are people who insist on getting high over cows’ milk mixed with ginger.
#40 by lupus on Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - 5:55 am
To sheriff singh,
Just that you are aware, oversea Malaysian cannot vote unless they are students or have been sent oversea by the Govt. eg. embassy staff and family. Hence, all the MCA and UMNO oversea clubs in England where their votes counts. I do not know how many people back in Malaysia are aware of this, but if you count the number of oversea Malaysian voters, it may actually effect BN numbers as most Malaysian I know here will vote DAP – but can’t
SPR actually will refuse to register you as an absent voter as you do not fall into :
“absent voter” means a citizen who has attained the age of twenty-one years on the qualifying date and is-
(a) a serving member of any regular naval, military or air force of
Malaysia, the Commonwealth or other country;
(b) the spouse of a serving member of any force referred to in paragraph
(a), who elects to become an absent voter;
(c) in the public service of the Government of Malaysia or of any State or in the service of any local authority or statutory authority exercising powers vested in it by Federal or State law, who is on duty outside the boundaries of Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah or Sarawak;
(d) the spouse of a person in the public service of the Government of Malaysia or of any State or in the service of any local authority or statutory authority exercising powers vested in it by Federal or State law who is living with her or his husband or wife outside the boundaries of Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah or Sarawak at the date of application for registration as a Parliamentary or State elector,
(e) engaged in full-time studies at any university, training college or
any higher educational institution outside the boundaries of Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah or Sarawak; or
(f) the spouse of a person engaged in full-time studies at any university, training college or any higher educational institution outside the boundaries of Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah or Sarawak who is living with her or his husband or wife at the date of application for registration as a Parliamentary or State elector.
If you falls in any category mentioned above, you are qualified to be the postal voters and to be able to register, you can get the registration form form any Malaysia Embassy or Mission at your place.
However, in the Malaysia Constitution
Article 119
119.
1. (1) Every citizen who-
* (a) has attained the age of twenty- one years on the qualifying date; and
* (b) is resident in a constituency on such qualifying date or, if not so resident, is an absent voter,
is entitled to vote in that constituency in any election to the House of Representatives or the Legislative Assembly unless he is disqualified under Clause (3) or under any law relating to offences committed in connection with elections; but no person shall in the same election vote in more than one constituency.
1. (2) If a person is in a constituency by reason only of being a patient in an establishment maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from mental illness or mental defectiveness or of being detained in custody he shall for the purpose of Clause (1) be deemed not to be resident in that constituency.
2. (3) A person is disqualified for being a elector in any election to the House of Representatives or the Legislative Assembly if-
* (a) on the qualifying date he is detained as a person of unsound mind or is serving a sentence of imprisonment; or
* (b) having before the qualifying date been convicted in any part of the Commonwealth of an offence and sentenced to death or imprisonment for a term exceeding twelve months, he remains liable on the qualifying date to suffer any punishment for that offence.
3. (4) In this Article “qualifying date” means the date by reference to which the electoral rolls are prepared or revised, and “absent voter” means in relation to any constituency any citizen who is registered as an absent voter in respect of that constituency under the provisions of any law relating to elections.
The word “absent voter” is defined by SPR and it meant to exclude the oversea Malaysian citizens of your right to a Govt. Is BN so afraid of a fair fight ? If the voters oversea are included, it will give DAP a fighting chance as DAP is actually doing pretty well with the overseas Malaysian. So, sheriff singh, other countries allow their citizens to vote via their embassy, why not ours ? Afterall, we are Malaysian are we not or are we no longer citizens after we leave the country, hence have no longer the protection of the Malaysian Govt? If so, maybe I should start looking for another home.
#41 by Godamn Singh on Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - 6:07 am
Goddamn it!
I don’t trust our postmen. Not too long ago one was caught with tons of undelivered mail in his house.
#42 by MALAYSIANbukanMALAYSIAN on Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - 11:52 am
Tan Sri Chan Ah Chye is the money bag for Tan Sri Muhammad Taib. Otherwise how this chinaman, ex-PKNS engineer can get the Tan Sri title! Bad karma is catching up with this Chan Ah Chye. Ask those who has business dealings with him and ask those who has purchased properties from him!
As long as Muhammad Taib is still active in UMNO, the whole Selangor will be his. Talam Group’s cash is drying up and that’s why this company is being sued letf and right! This money bag has a big fat mouse nibbling into his bag. Guess who?
UMNO way of life……mesti kaya!
#43 by Loh on Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - 5:59 pm
///I speak for myself and Loh, I don’t think I need to show you or anyone else proof or statistics.///–Undergrad2
One to two million who have left Bolehland disagree with you!
#44 by HJ Angus on Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - 7:44 pm
Just read on malaysiakini the SMART tunnel has been delayed for “technical glitches”.
Reasons described as too sensitive.
Hmmmm…. maybe they got it sloping the wrong way?
Watched the documentary on the construction on Discovery channel and it looked quite impressive from the engineering viewpoint but wonder how smart was it to award the contract without a public tender.
#45 by akarmalaysian on Thursday, 12 April 2007 - 4:19 pm
a contract without an open tender which costs millions?mr PM…the words of promises u hv being giving to us fellow malaysians are very misleading.its very disheartening to see wats going on around today’s government fares worse than the previous.how can we people trust u when u wud only come up wif “insufficient evidence” on charges against the people in ur own government?to top it all…even ur men in ACA is so corrupted.words of high flying achievements come fr ur “brain dead” ministers who either knw how to shoe polish or looking for opportunities(if u knw wat i mean).u cannot deny the fact that all these are going on right in front of ur own eyes.maybe its ur incapability in handling these blood sucking culprits or ur “insufficient evidence” attitude dats motivating these useless goons into more corrupt practices.
#46 by FuturePolitician on Thursday, 10 May 2007 - 11:58 am
k1980, though it is out of topic, i been there and took the beating. the situation is worsening right now. We have a crude opposition and a Yesman MCA.. I am in the business field meeting people of all walks of life and the tension is amounting for those involved in big stake games..but the under the big coconut tree where scrubs are growing..have no idea what going on above the coconut tree.. like Katak dibawah tempurung.