Parliament as “House of Leaks” – why Samy Vellu did not foresee it after dramatic inspection 2 years ago?


New Straits Times front-paged the latest scandal of Parliament as “HOUSE OF LEAKS” — barely two years after spending RM90 million to renovate Parliament House.

Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, after a dramatic 45-minute inspection yesterday, said about the condition of the roof of Parliament House:

As an architect, I can tell you it is very bad. I don’t want to hide anything from you. There is a lot of work to be done here,” he said at a press conference in the lobby of parliament.

He said the repairs would involve removing concrete slabs, waterproofing the roof and installing concealed ceiling equipment for heat protection.

“The plastic pipes will have to be replaced with class-A cast iron pipes.”

The damaged pipes had resulted in water not flowing off the roof.

Samy Vellu said there was a pile of rubbish, mainly construction waste, on the roof and this had to be removed.

He said there were leaks in five places.

“These could increase to 10 or 15 in the future if nothing is done now.”

Who is at fault?

Samy Vellu said everyone was to be blamed for the leakage.

NST reported:

“The Public Works Department is in charge of public buildings. They should have acted and advised the government to carry out repairs.

“The parliament maintenance crew also appears to have been negligent.”

He said a paper on the maintenance work and repair costs would be submitted to the cabinet.

“After this repairs, I want to make sure there will be no more such complaints for the next 20 or 30 years.”

However one party is conspicuously absent from the list of those who should be blamed for Parliament earning a new infamy of “House of Leaks” — Samy Vellu himself.

Why didn’t Samy Vellu, who prides being an architect, foresee the “very bad” condition of Parliament roof in his very dramatic inspection two years ago when Parliament first leaked after RM90 million renovation?

I don’t have to say that in developed countries, Samy Vellu would have already “sacked” himself, if the Prime Minister had not done so earlier, after such a catalogue of defective structures in government buildings and public construction projects.

Why isn’t Parliament renovation under purview of the House Standing Committee which had been formed with the specific responsibility of overseeing “all matters connected with the comfort and convenience and services and amenities available” to MPs? What is more basic to the comfort and convenience of MPs than a Parliament which does not become a House of Leaks after a RM90 million renovation two years ago?

And what is the cost for the repair of the Parliament renovation and who is going to bear it? Again the public as the eternal suckers?

  1. #1 by Jan on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 1:10 pm

    Why is it Samy always have so much problems? It seems to me if he has done his job properly in the first place he wouldn’t be in this position.

  2. #2 by Jonny on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 1:13 pm

    General Election approaching. Perhaps the govt looking at every opportunity to siphon $ out?

    I doubt Sammy would keep his promise in 20-30 years from now. What is his age now?

    Even Tun may not live to see Vision2020. With things going aground like now, is maybe better not!

  3. #3 by Libra2 on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 1:24 pm

    I have been paying income tax for 30 years and it pains me to see that my hard earned money is being thrown to swines, robbers and plunderers.

  4. #4 by pwcheng on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 1:54 pm

    How to have any anything done properly when there are so many sub contractors involved. All these close tenders, close one eye, and the PM closing his mouth and two eyes and having a durian feast which are flown in by helicopters from Balik Pulau, Penang and cost a whopping RM26,000 for the 200 fruits. About RM130/fruit. And yet he has the cheek to tell us to tighten our belts. It’s a real shame and a real sham. We are only closing in to make Malaysia a third world country. But what do they care because with problems comes money into the pockets and this it has helped to enrich all of them and their cronies. The more damage, the bigger the contract which means more money into their pockets.

    We have to believe what Samy had stressed about the extreme bad condition of Parliament. This is an indirect way of telling/warning the people of the impending big budget. His version that it will last 20-30 years after the massive repair can be easily said because he knows he won’t be around but even if he is around, nobody will be blamed for any eventualities and the rakyat is always made suckers.

    I really do not understand why there is no “credit and debit” type of control in this bodohland. Whatever happens, even if all the buildings in putrajaya were to collapse it is always credit to them as ultimately money will go into their pockets. Going along with the Chinese sayings, whether the grandfather dies or the grandmother dies it is always money into their pockets.

  5. #5 by Loh on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 2:06 pm

    RM 90 million lasted only two years; it is RM 123,000 a day.

    Samy Vellu spent 45 minutes and he saw all the problems. He would have saved the RM 90 million had he spent that amount of time before the last renovation. His inspection then would have been worth RM 2 million a minute. Why did he not use his professional skill before the last renovation? Was it because the project for the last renovation had been negotiated without his inputs, or the contractors was too big for him to object?

    The total cost of construction for the parliament complex was about RM 30 million (?), but three times that amount were spent for a roof that last only two years. It is a joke that the renovation to stop leaks does not meet the primary objective. And yet the two lewd MPs thought it proper to stoop that low to lend their support to the BN, and we now know the standard of the DPM in his appreciation of what he considers humour.

  6. #6 by boh-liao on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 2:34 pm

    Another leak! Leak here, leak there, everywhere leak!
    The ruling politicians make sure that leaks occur constantly in all fields – to ensure constant expenditures by the government and constant easy income to selected, privileged individuals and companies.

    Nothing to get excited about. Remember, what we get is what we voted in. Remember the last GE?

    KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones) – Malaysia Proton Leaking Cash; Faces Bailout If Tie-Up Fails

    Malaysia”s Proton Holdings Bhd. (5304.KU) is fast bleeding cash and may need a government bailout if talks to sell a stake in the loss-making carmaker continue to falter, according to people in the company, fund managers and auto analysts.

    Proton’s cash has dwindled from MYR3 billion at end-2004 to an estimated MYR500 million at present – just enough to cover its short term debts.

    “Proton burns MYR300 million to MYR500 million of cash a year and could be in cash deficit by end-2008 if it continues at the same rate,” said an auto analyst with a foreign research house who didn”t want to be named.

    Malaysia’s government has a history of bailing out ailing companies. In December, it said it spent more than MYR11 billion to save seven privatized state-linked firms that ran up huge losses and debts between 2001 and 2005. The costliest was the MYR7.7 billion takeover of two troubled light-rail-transit operators followed by the MYR2.8 billion to rescue Malaysian Airline System Bhd.

  7. #7 by madmix on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 2:34 pm

    Samy blames PWD and parlimen maintenence crew. But is the original construction work and design done to proper standards. Did the contractors use cheap sub-standard materials? I would blame the Contractors and engineers rather than any body else. If work is done properly, very little maintenece is need for a roof.
    it seems that contractors are free from blame and get compensated, not punished, when they botch up. These UMNo guys get compensated even for business loses like those proton dealers who close shop getting 300K each.

  8. #8 by ahkok1982 on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 2:35 pm

    Good calculations Loh. RM 123,000 a day… Uncle Lim, I think these figures should go into the newspapers for all to see.
    Well, this is a good idea to cause SV’s blood pressure to rise again; since he is such a loud mouth to say that he is very transparent and will disclose all gov tenders if asked, then ask him to disclose the tender of RM90mil 2 years ago. Since it is work done, it should just be a simple work of extracting the files and disclosing it. it should not take more than an hour to do so unlike the EPU where they will have to make up numbers from scratch.
    i would really like to know if the parliament roof is gold plated.

  9. #9 by Kingkong on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 2:58 pm

    A classic showcase of the incompetence of Malaysian government has been displayed to the world. Thanks to the internet!

    RM 90 million renovation work on our parliament lasted only two years. Samy, Works minister, disgracing the profession of an architect, shamelessly told all that was very bad after the effect. Come on! Any Tom, Dick and Harry know that that is very bad now.

    Our two MPs could only utter three words “Menstrual periodical leaks “in the debate of the issue in our distinguished parliament.

    Kit, please advise us in steps how to vote these clowns out!

  10. #10 by Cinapek on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 3:10 pm

    “Samy Vellu said there was a pile of rubbish, mainly construction waste, on the roof and this had to be removed.”

    There is also a pile of rubbish inside the building such as Jasin and Kinabatangan that also has to be removed.

    RM123,000 a day?! hmmmm!? 200 durians from Balik Pulau at RM26,000 to belanja PM Lee. Malaysia not only boleh but ada style pun.

  11. #11 by pongsakling on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 3:28 pm

    As an architect, I can tell you it is very bad. I don’t want to hide anything from you.
    He is an architect? What type of architect? Architect bocor or architect sumbat? From which U? Please make sure our children don’t go to that U! Siah Suih Lang, yet Shame Vellu still feel very proud to say he is an architect.

  12. #12 by democrate on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 3:43 pm

    #Parliament as “House of Leaks” – why Samy Vellu did not foresee it after dramatic inspection 2 years ago?#

    Very Simple, the man who oversee the job must be a close one eye crook or the tidak apa attitude man . and if ask , he will say no leaking mana ada lagi duit kopi! Samy should know the root cause of the leaking b4 contract being given out for repair.
    Looks like Samy and the contractors are on the same boat.

  13. #13 by HJ Angus on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 4:09 pm

    The botched-up RM90m renovation of Parliament House is a symptom that the corruption in government tenders has now reached all aspects of government.

    If such a project can be so badly handled with apparently no one held responsible for the fiasco of “not providing water-proofing” in the contract it only shows the utter incompetence of people we have in the government.

  14. #14 by gerald on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 4:55 pm

    It is again everybody’s fault except SV’s fault. Another 10 of millions would be required to rectify this probelm, for which SV is definitely 101% not responsible. How can you ask him to resign when it is not his fault?

  15. #15 by kurangajah on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:10 pm

    Are you sure Samy is a qualified architect? Which semi value university did he graduate from?

  16. #16 by Godfather on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:13 pm

    Can you imagine Semi Value rubbing his hands with glee each time there is a major problem in government facilities ? His eyeballs will be twinkling with dollar signs.

  17. #17 by winc on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:13 pm

    Something missing throughout – accountability

    Fingers are being pointed at all possible parties but no one is made answerable to it; whatmore be responsible for it.

  18. #18 by democrate on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:29 pm

    Samy is a an Architect or not is not a issue. He like to twist his tongue and never admit mistakes.

  19. #19 by smeagroo on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:31 pm

    Semi Dummy will not use “stay-free” but opted for something cheaper to handle leakages.

  20. #20 by smeagroo on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:33 pm

    And that “Stupid Tunnel” is so chaotic. The roads leading to it is like we are living in the 25th century already. Criss-crossing here nad there. And it is so narrow leading into the tunnel. I wonder if it will create more jam for road users in days to come. BUt of cos that is what it is supposed to do. More traffic jams, more users for that tunnel. KACHHHIINNNGGG!!!

  21. #21 by tc on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:49 pm

    Without going to the roof top of parliament house,I can imagine from Samy Vellu’s description that the roof is a flat roof with waterproofing membrane and with precast concret slabs(maybe 2×2 in size laid on top of the membrane and waterproofing compound laid at the joints)
    So,the architect is suggesting to remove the concrete(which is the precast slabs),lay new waterproofing membrane and lay the same precast slabs back and infill the joints again.Make 100% sure that the waterproofing membrane is laid to fall (i.e slope)For the plastic pipings,that should’nt be a problem.Most likely the part protruding the roof slab are being broken by human traffic and the rubbish dumped there.(It is obvious that the parliament maintenance crew are not doing their job)The rubbish also causes the rainwater to stagnate and form ponds on the roof top and water thus flow down through the broken pipes where they protrude the structural concrete slabs.
    Why he suggested Class A cast iron pipes?Cast iron pipes rust very badly.Maybe can last 20 years.The existing plastic pipes with reasonable wall thickness is definitely good enough to drain off rainwater only.No need to change!
    Dont worry taxpayers, it will not cost 22 million ringgit.
    These leakages are not big problems.Most waterproofing specialists in town can do the job and provide the government with a standard minimum 10 year guarantee and if required even up to 20 years.But of course if it goes through today’s direct award procedure it may cost millions over and above the actual cost.Simply because somebody will say that the award for the repair works cannot go through the normal procedure as it is very urgent and must be awarded fast.As a matter of fact,it will take 7days for a competent roof specialist to start work.1 day site inspection,1 day costing,2 days evaluation and appointment and 3 days mobilisation.
    Of course dont take 3 months to prepare a paper on the maintenance work and repair cost and yell that the work is of utmost urgency later.

  22. #22 by jochen on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:55 pm

    what kind of management?
    leader/architect with quality?lolx…shame shame shame…
    let me felt that kopi-license, with kopi-degree?
    this kind of things keep happened in Malaysia Boleh land..
    Boleh in the sense of driving backward?

    somemore all minister with irresponsible attitude? only push the resposible with TAI-chi?

    With good excuse, so all’s whose fault? citizen?poor citizens lead by
    useless leader..our TAX waste on useless building..driving backward to create COWBOY country…

    2020 , i think 202020 also wont achieve the wawasan…

  23. #23 by ikanmasin on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 5:57 pm

    The next thing that may be in the planning is that the contract for the inspecion and repair is given without open tender. Some goons will lobby and get the job with a promis of kick-backs.

  24. #24 by Jan on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 6:19 pm

    Datuk Samy is a Part II Architect if I can remember correctly.

  25. #25 by Bobster on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 6:44 pm

    Dear Fellow Malaysians,

    Something SERIOUSLY WRONG THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT. After spending a whopping RM90 MILLIONS of taxpayers money, now telling us Parliament House is in SERIOUS CONDITION which need critical repair failure which there will be more leaking or collapsing may be in the near future. One fine day the roof might be coming down and buried all the cronies.

    Come on BN, thought few days ago Semi Value and Nazri kept denying and telling us fellow Malaysians what so big deal about roof leaking in the Parliament House! After being pressured now telling us Parliament House is in serious condition. What is what actually, we are confused?! These two fellows just shot their own feet. Didn’t even know the condition of the Parliament house and dare to shout! Can’t even take care of the the Parliament House how do we expect them to handle the national issues.

    Dear Semi and Nazri,

    If you fellows still have some dignity from the RAKYAT, PLEASE STEP DOWN IMMEDIATELY! TOTAL DISGRACE TO THE WHOLE NATION to have these kind of LEADERS who only know to shout and talk till throat running dry BUT can’t solve a simple problem.

    This is certainly not a technical problem, more likely human error or what we call negligent. Before the major renovation work, according to proper construction procedures, consultants and architects should have advised what are the major defects in the building that needed to be rectified. If JKR failed to listen to the consultants, then the directors should be sacked! If the consultants failed to advise in accordance the contract, they shall be shot also. If the contractors failed to carry out their duty and use the right material in accordance to the specs, then, the government shall impose law suit and recover the cost. If the Parliament maintenance team failed to carry out their duty then the whole team should be replaced and director to be sacked since the same problem has be surfacing time after time without any solution. If the ministry overseeing the Parliament House failed to penalize all the above parties, then the Minister should STEP DOWN as simple as that! If not, the same problem will continue to surface, one after another even after spending millions or billions of ringgit. The root of the problem will continue to corrode the nation and being destruction in the end!

    Why shall be we TAXPAYERS paying for the negligent of the above parties?

    COME ON FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, how long do we want to be the SUCKERS, Maltrade, MRR2, Court House, Immigration Dept …… that’s the way the ruling party have been ruining the country. What is the Principle of Good Governance they are preaching all this while. This Parliament House leaking case for some might be just minor defects, but bear in mind that it has come to the stage that meeting has been called off due to roof leaking and Nazri can still say all building got defects.

    I would say this is ABSOLUTE DISCRACE TO THE NATION, I too shy to shout Malaysia Boleh!

  26. #26 by Bobster on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 6:56 pm

    Datuk Semi if I remember correctly was just a draftman (no offence to all draftmen) initially. How he got his architectual ‘degree’ nobody knows? No surprise if he bought it from some where. Similar to Datuk Z started as a railway boy .. and the stories go on and on till the nation being ruined by these kind of JOKERS in the Parliament.

  27. #27 by vckc72 on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 7:01 pm

    SOMETHING FOR OUR PEOPLE TO REFLECT ON…

    THE LEAKAGE PROBLEM OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE

    Something is very very wrong in Malaysia Political Scene! If you are a politician, especially you carrying a porfolio and who is now reading this blog. I urge you, have you ever thought of what the real responsibilities of a Prime Minister? Is there a division of work happening in the Government System? Examine it?

    Why on earth, the parliament leakage problem have to be addressed and commented by the Highest figure of the nation? What happened to those who knew and directly involved in such mishaps?

    This problem should be responsible by the Project Manager but not a Prime Minister who has to play a more important role for the interest of the nation as a whole.

    Where are the authority or the body take charge and maintenence of the Parliament House and its day to days affairs? What are the Directors and staff are doing? Why cant this group of personel take full charge of such incident?

    If such incidence need our Prime Minister’s intervetion, it in a way reflect on how bad our Goverment Department and it’s working attitude.

    In silence, it means no one cares, none take full responsibility, everybody push aside the problem until it goes up to the top for solution.

    Malaysian , oh Malaysian, the way to the developed nation status is still far away if the attitude of the servants of the country are still pushing away responsibilities that are consider so minute. Perhaps, we can declare to become the Developed Nation later but only on paper wise.

    Prime Minister, oh Prime Minister! Why do you want to comment such a incident? In the eyes of the Rakyat is not for you to say anything, your man or even people below them should fixed the problems even before it reached you.

    I agree with YB Sammy’s comment that leakage problem happened anyway in the world and the press has sensationalised it. Think about it, if Prime Minister and it Ministers were never involved in the incident, the press has nothing to be sensationalised. It was sensationalised beacuse it involved our people representatives, Orang Orang Besar, orang kenamaan, Politikus. Manakah akhbar mahu melaporkan perkara yang cuma melibatkan orang tiada Pangkat?

    Mr Prime Minister and your Ministers you have a more important Mission to accomplish. Such as diminishing the Corruption and Nepotism in the country.

  28. #28 by HJ Angus on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 7:11 pm

    Guess with so many leaks in “important” buildings we should change the phrase “Malaysia Boleh!” to “Malaysia Bocor!”

    There are definitely massive leaks whenever multi-million ringgit projects are dished out without competitive bidding.

    The worse part is that the people getting the projects do not even bother to ensure that a good job is done.

  29. #29 by sammyvellu on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 7:50 pm

    SV is a Part 3 architect, not a full fledged one.

    That means that his archipektural qualification is by work experience, not uni degree.

    That’s probably the reason why the explanations he gave is half cooked. BTW it is not the archipek’s subject matter expert on roof leakage!

  30. #30 by accountability on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 8:06 pm

    “…repair so that it lasts another 20 years…”

    Semi-Value, you should lose your architect’s recognition or certificate (which i doubt you have)!

    nobody in their right frame of mind would want to build something that lasts so briefly, especially large structures/buildings that houses people!

  31. #31 by atrulymalaysian on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 8:52 pm

    This so called professional can’t even differentiate “Chengal” & “Merbau”.So what can u expect from a draftman who “eventually” graduated as architect but never practise?

  32. #32 by DewnAsing on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 9:06 pm

    atrulymalaysian Says:

    May 18th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
    This so called professional can’t even differentiate “Chengal” & “Merbau”.So what can u expect from a draftman who “eventually” graduated as architect but never practise? – Unquote:

    What kind of akitek is this? Useless idiot, his profession must be from kopi-o tin. Why not look for other source, like perhaps having aluminium sheets place beneath the roof structure. Whatever leak will be stopped. samy, semi or chuni.

  33. #33 by oct on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 9:38 pm

    It is clear cut nobody do QA on the roof. That is why you see the pile of rubbish on the roof. It is typical of the contractor. So if the rubbish is the problem, get the contractor of the roof to rectify. Now SV is talking about issues that should be in place in the beginning. What logic is there to build a roof that will leak eventually? No wonder pipes burst, ceiling falling, pipes not suitable etc. It is because no one is responsible to QA the finished job. Those who signed off the job are doing it blindly. After all there will be emergency fund to rectify any problem like now. No need budget but someone will get rich by rectifying problems which shouldn’t have happened in the 1st place.
    What are the tender specs for? It seems no tender spec is followed else this won’t happen. Bolehland contractors build as they deem fit/. After all they won’t be prosecuted because everyone has a hand in the kitty.

  34. #34 by ihavesomethingtosay on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 10:04 pm

    Semi is a PARIAH Architect.

    IF you can’t do your job, resign and let someone capable to do it.

    resign lah semi, for the sake of your soul.

  35. #35 by HJ Angus on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 10:20 pm

    The government is really showing signs of extreme fatigue.

    It is time voters gave them a rest so that they can rejuvenate and improve themselves for the next round.

    We have become a nation of NES for Never Ending Scandals.
    http://malaysiawatch2.blogspot.com/2007/05/even-house-of-parliament-has-become.html

  36. #36 by Loh on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 10:38 pm

    Let’s see whether the same contractor will be awarded the contract. According to Samy Vellu’s assessment, the cost would be much higher, having to undo the renovation of two years ago.

  37. #37 by Oldman on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 11:02 pm

    The problem with the government of the day is a blatant lack of accountability. Everyday we see and read of various projects seemingly undertaken by qualified contractors not meeting the expectations. Extensive amount of re-work have to be done. Meanwhile no one stand accountable; only mere excuses after excuses are given. The nation is tremendously blessed with untold riches and we seem to squander them away. The mentality of doing it right the first time never did exist and yet the goverment of the day talks about driving quality programs. It baffles me!
    Of late lots of essential goods have gone up in prices. The goverment has been asking its people to spend prudently eversince the petrol hike last year. Yesterday I read in STAR newspaper with great horror that the government airflown (helicopter) 200 durians from Balik Pulau in Penang to Langkawi to entertain the S’pore PM and his entourage at a cost of RM26,000. Wow each durian is RM130. Where lies the credibility of walking the talk! I hope to make it worthwhile they also eat the seed and the skin as well.

  38. #38 by sheriff singh on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 11:31 pm

    Is Samy a magnet for bad news? Why is it that everytime he brings bad news he is seen smiling? And the bad news requires big, big efforts to correct and involves large sums of money? And nobody is ever brought to book for all the mess?

  39. #39 by Rocky on Friday, 18 May 2007 - 11:52 pm

    who is going to resign for this?Nazri or Samy? No way!!! It is the opposition fault there is a leak. BN Gemilang!!! Dacing bocor, otak sudah tak ada.

  40. #40 by ahkok1982 on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 12:09 am

    ok, Sami quoted RM90mil to repair roof. I dont even need to have any knowledge of architecture or engineering or buildings. Right from the top of my head, I will quote them RM80mil. RM 10mil less than botakchi’s offer, i can then sub contract the job out which will definitely cost less than RM20mil and then keep RM60mil.
    Come on, the roof is leaking. every bloody idiot can see it. If there is water, it is leaking. Why hire someone to inspect it? Tear the whole junk out and replace it with a new one. You need to inspect the conditon of the already well known leaking roof to tear it out?
    It is a bloody roof! Not a bloody Istana! RM90 mil? GOLD PLATED is it? Your head is shiny enough, dont need gold plated roof!

  41. #41 by yccheok on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 1:20 am

    Samy Vellu should feel ashamed of himself. He should act like a man, admit this is his fault and resign from current position. Yet, his current talk and act, show him that he is just a chicken but nothing. I really cannot understand how can this third class quality leader, can remain in cabinet for such a long period.

    I just cann’t wait for the general election come, to kick the ass of those third class quality leader out of the parliament.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._Samy_Vellu


    Datuk Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu (Tamil: சாமிவேலு சங்கிலிமுத்து) (born March 8, 1936), better known as S. Samy Vellu, is the longest serving president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) . He has held the position since 1979, for the 10th consecutive term. He is also the Works Minister of Malaysia, and the only Indian Malaysian minister in the Malaysian cabinet.

  42. #42 by ACERMIND on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 2:01 am

    GOD IS GREAT TO TELL US THAT HE “BOCOR” SECRET OF SAMI’S MIS-DEEDS IN WASTING MILLIONS OF TAX PAYERS’ MONEY IN ALL PAST BOCOR PROJECTS BY WAY OF SHOWING THE PROOF BOCOR – LEKAGES HERE AND THERE OF MANY GOVT BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE LATEST CONTROVERSIAL OF RM90 MIL RENOVATION WORKS FOR THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE. SAMI CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM THE GOD’S EYES AND PUNISHMENT WILL BE COMING SOON.

    [deleted]

    LET ALL MALAYSIAN VOTE THESE THREE BIG “BOCOR” JOKERS OUT NOW! BRAVO…MALAYSIAN BOLEH!

  43. #43 by WFH on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 5:18 am

    Sing this, all, to the tune of “Old Macdonald”….

    Samy Vellu had a plan
    E-I-E-I-O

    And on that plan
    He had a roof
    E-I-E-I-O

    With a roof-roof here, roof-roof there
    Here roof, there roof
    Everywhere roof, roof

    Drip-drip here, drip-drip there
    Here drip, there drip
    Everywhere drip, drip

    Samy Vellu had a Plan
    EEE – III – EEE – III – OH!!!

    “I am very transparent”…..?
    Yeah, SV, Can prove it?

    Just disappear.

  44. #44 by AsIseeit on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 8:32 am

    As I see it, the blame game is always on in Malaysia with no one taking the blame! Excuses after excuses will be given.

    As for me, I would like to know the name of the main contractor who is responsible for the renovation, and who are the directors. This company should be held accountable and be banned from having further contracts.

    Will SV please give details? The public has a right to know.

  45. #45 by tsn on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 10:35 am

    Samy is so used or numbed with all sort of bombardment. The real picture is he was just taker of small %, tuan-tuan with much bigger share are spared from any trouble. Just imagine Works ministry is such a big piece of juicy loin meat, but it has gone to an Indian minister for ages. Everyone should know the playing behind scene. I TAKE THE SHARE YOU TAHAN THE BOMBARDMENT,what to do you I am such a poor chap, worthwhile to be a shield but can be a filty rich in turn.

  46. #46 by ProMalaysiaNotBN on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 11:00 am

    Samy has a habit of declaring himself to be what he’s not – an architect he ain’t. He has a building tech or science diploma only. An honorary membership with PAM doesn’t qualify him as an architect. Well, what he is or isn’t professionally isn’t important. It’s the way he represents the Government to pull wool over people’s eyes on the question of defective works. Isn’t there a contract with terms that require the contract to do a good job for what he’s paid for? Why should the Government, as the Employer and client, pay the contractor to remedy / rectify shoddy / defective work which should be the contractor’s obligations – unless there are leaks in the contract itself!!!! Yes indeed the raykat has been taken for a ride all along since independence day. Who is to rectify the governance of the country by politicians who only care to spend and spend and spend without getting value for the tax payers money?

  47. #47 by paix on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 11:41 am

    What’s happening to the House of Leaks is just a precursor of what’s happening to bodohland. The country is crumbling before our eyes. Starting parking your money on higher ground (foreign banks).

  48. #48 by Jan on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 12:50 pm

    This is my understanding of a Part II architect.
    An architectural draftsman who works on minor projects for a certain no. of years in a particular town council can apply to the same town council as a part II architect i.e to be able to submit plans on behalf of house owners in lieu of professional architects and only work in that town council. But such an allowance has been stopped a long time ago. I don’t recall Samy having gone to any university so he must be a draftsman in his younger days.
    It’s quite an achievement for somebody so lowly to climb up to be what he is today. Same goes for Datuk Zakaria too.

  49. #49 by Jan on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 12:58 pm

    As a professional working in the construction industry I do not understand why Samy quoted off the hat RM22 mil just to inspect some buildings. That’s an incredible amount of money for so little work.
    I wonder how much money he’s going to quote to repair a leaking roof, tens of millions? Why replace when you can repair especially when the roof was recently restored?
    There seems to be some hanky panky going on, I hope LKS can pursue this matter on behalf of us taxpayers.

  50. #50 by Jan on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 12:59 pm

    All these “hanky panky” happening so close to a general election, sometimes you wonder if they are connected.

  51. #51 by sheriff singh on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 2:04 pm

    Don’t forget. Samy is “unsackable” according to the previous PM. His community put him there and he represents them.

    A very shiny example and role model. An archeeteck par excellence.

    A huge pile of rubbish and construction waste up on the roof that contributed to the major leaks? Who put them there? Why didn’t the contractor remove them two years ago? Who was the person who gave the OK for the job “well-done”? Did he inspect the previous works? Shouldn’t he be brought to book?

  52. #52 by justice_fighter on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 4:43 pm

    Such leaks will never happen to his own ‘pocket’…..what a shame as the most useless Works Minister…..that we taxpayers have to bear all the costs due to his blunders and yet he is unsackable!!! Vote BN out!!!!!!!!!!!!

  53. #53 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Saturday, 19 May 2007 - 9:34 pm

    SAMY – we want the bald truth, pure and simple. THe problem with Samy is: “the truth is rarely pure and never simple!” ( to borrow Enrest Hemingway’s expression).

    This SAmy Vellu has such a slimy, sleek and slitted tongue!

  54. #54 by edmondyjh on Sunday, 20 May 2007 - 12:35 pm

    Its not the Samy Vellu forsee..is a purpose so that it got a chance to pocket the money again. We all know that each time that some repair is done, then only got commision.

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