by Richard Teo
When 28th November comes, the 3rd Monsoon Cup will once again begin in the east coast state of Trengganu. The Heritage Bay Club Marina and Resort in Pulau Duyong, Trengganu will once again become the focus of international attention as it will be hosting the final of the 10 International Legs.
Once again the people of this state will be treated to an extravaganza costing about $250-$300 million. The foreign sailing fraternity will be feted and pampered by the Monsoon Cup organisers namely Patrick Lim and Khairy, the son-in-law of the P.M.
Luxurious bungalows costing few millions await to shower the foreign sailing dignitaries with comfort and luxury that only locals could only dream of.
For the next few days, the organisers will spare no effort to regale and entertain the mostly foreign participants. Sumptious food and drinks will be served while the local populace can only watch in awe as they bear witness how their oil money previously ear-marked as ‘wang Ehsan’ was to be spent.
The rally at Batu Burok was just the awakening of the people’s consciousness as to what is happening in their state.The PM and his son-in-law with the connivance of the local UMNOPUTRAS and cronies are in town to rip off the people of Trengganu with the annual grand Monsoon Cup.
The incident at Batu Burok was an expression of that anger and if that current state of disenchantment continues BN will suffer an ignominous defeat in the coming general election.
Sadly, history always seems to portray its past in a contradictory manner.It was in Trengganu that Pak Lah sealed a massive victory which saw him capture the state from the opposition PAS. Now it will be in Trengganu that Pak Lah will also face his Waterloo. It will predictably be in Trengganu that this Islam Hadhari leader will face his most ignominous defeat and return the state to the opposition PAS.
For Pak Lah and his gang of cohorts,it will be the last Monsoon Cup.
#1 by smeagroo on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 1:22 am
May your wish be granted and let us all pray that the ghosts will not make their way there during GE.
#2 by hans on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 4:21 am
i support your opinion dear sir,the things is..a lot of people money will be waste upon the word ‘to show malaysia to the world’,what good for the malysian if it takes a lot of money to be used just to entertain other strnger by the one who manage this event.
i maybe not qualified to talk about this topic,but it comes to my sense when i read the article that you had wrote.Supposely,all the money that gonna be used for the occasion must be use to lower
the burden that is being held by the people of terengganu,from all the rumors i’ve heard since long time ago…the events that is held at terengganu isn’t gaining any profit for the local..eventhough,still the event is being held over the years in order to show malysia t the world…well this is my little point of view..so hope people of malaysia will open their eyes upon this matter…
#3 by Godfather on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 7:42 am
Patrick Badawi the organiser, Maya Karin the ambassador, KJ the paramour, the taxpayers the suckers. Yes, Trengganu will revert to PAS and then Idris Jusoh will be out of a job. He may even be the fall guy as Sleepy Head will probably not want to take any responsibility.
#4 by sotong on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 7:59 am
Great opportunity to make lots of quick money for those involved – directly or indirectly……uncontrollable greed and bad role models are doing damage to the country.
#5 by Justicewanted on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 8:02 am
Yes, let Badawi be the first one term PM and one term Umno President in the history in Malaysia.
Vote 4 anything but BN.
#6 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 8:07 am
The think about Monsoon Cup is not just about money wasted as it is more about the bankruptcy of ideas. When you spend a lot of money and its either enjoyed or benefited just the privilleged in a sea of low income, then it is against the sensibility of everyone but more so in heartland Terengganu.
The people of Terengganu already puts up with big projects that many do not benefit from for decades, to take it to another height of obcenity just don’t make sense to them.
However, like everywhere else there is two faces of Terengganu, one is the elitist new UMNOputras that has a very firm hold on the election machinery and the other those who are not privy. The division of Malay society is very pronounced in Terengganu. So its too easy to say that those who are not benefiting and resentful will win.
Morally sure, the PM does not have a leg to stand in Terengganu but technically, he is far from threatened and Monsoon cup is how he does it.
#7 by Libra2 on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 8:07 am
“BN will suffer an ignominious defeat in the coming general election.”
By right that should be the case but Malaysian electorate being real “sucker” prefer to be just that.
As for the anticipated defeat, I am not really sure as the Election Commission is there to pump in postal and phantom votes and double voting to ensure a BN victory.
#8 by Jimm on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 8:53 am
Trengganu are given some priority treatments because of our King.
Moreso, all these events are put in place to shower our King’s land with funds flowing into and then backdoor ‘taken back’.
I believe BN have ‘decided’ to keep another term with this state in this coming GE. Deployment of massive BN voters have been carefully arranged since 3 years back.
It’s also a good way for them to control the King and his personal interest.
So, don’t cry for this state…. they have taken control of it now.
#9 by ChinNA on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 9:16 am
Can we publish the audited balance sheet, P&L statements of the Monsoon Cup? So far, the conjectures could not be proven.
But then again, there was a previous article on how we are losing accountants.
There accounts and accountants. If possible, that should promote accountability…… and there is the Enron meltdown.
#10 by g2geetoo on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 9:39 am
The people of Trengganu will decide their own fate in the next GE. Monsoon season is a time where the fishermen are facing hardship, thinking of thier rice bowls but then our PM and his SIL is reaping thier fruits of loabour for their own benefit.
Merry making, drinking and feasting while the poor farmers are dead worried about thier next meal on their table. In short is like making fun at the farmers.
Think of something which directly benefit the poor during this monsoon, instead of just rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.
Orang Trengganu, don’t vote for BN again. It’s better to be poor and not being made a monkey by the baboons in UMNO!
#11 by peterlsc on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 10:00 am
any contract for me kah? i can sing, dance, cook, clean, etc
#12 by pulau_sibu on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 10:21 am
>Trengganu will once again become the focus of international attention as it will be hosting the final of the 10 International Legs.
is it truly international? just putting down international in order to make it appear BIG?
#13 by Jimm on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 10:21 am
Everytime when BN brought investment into any state under the federal status, most of the initial level of ‘people’ have already make their cuts from the projects thus leaving behind some small tokens for the local councils to do best with the budget.
Just imagine when those ‘people’ in the councils also want to make a cut out of each project, what is there for the contractors to survive on.
The Ketuanan sad episode will continue to be ‘taken for a ride’ and with their ‘hyped up contended’ mindset about their leader’s help to bring their rights back on track. It’s going to be a long summer dream eventhough monsoon are brewing up.
#14 by k1980 on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 11:26 am
What’s next, the Badawi Cup sampan-rowing ‘regatta’ in Kepala Batas?
http://the-malaysian.blogspot.com/2007/11/anwar-predicts-snap-polls-next-month.html
Anwar said the most likely date for the elections would be December, but he did not expect a free and fair poll. “Just one week of campaign, I don’t call it an election. I call it UMNO-controlled elections, no access to the media, not a general election,”
#15 by Godfather on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 12:18 pm
Anwar is right. Elections are likely to be in December as they can no longer defer the price hikes on everything from fuel to sugar to flour to tolls.
#16 by anak_malaysia on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 - 4:24 pm
the internet wave of blogger and international news is a big sweep to the stability of the UMNO in malaysia.
phark lar is losing the sight and control of the country. the more he control, the more it gone wild. look at the news, and you will see what i mean.
december is the final month that phark lar to make the move, else coming to Jan/Feb, more price hiking will be expected and it is very bad to the BN. either he suffer big losses or he will suffer humongous losses.
phark lar, choose one.
#17 by akarmalaysian on Thursday, 22 November 2007 - 2:16 am
now they hv already spent hundreds of millions for a monsoon cup…will all the invoices of the expenditure be announced to the public?or will they be prohibited under OSA?
by the way….wat is phark lar?