By Shannon Teoh
June 19, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — Lim Kit Siang mocked today Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s defence of the “unquantifiable creativity” behind the tourism ministry’s RM1.8 million Facebook project.
The Ipoh Timur MP pointed out that a Facebook page protesting the project has already garnered three times the support of the Tourism Malaysia ~ Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia page.
“Chua is defending the indefensible. What creativity is Chua talking about?” said DAP’s parliamentary leader of the MCA president’s statement yesterday defending Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
The Curi-curi Wang Malaysia community page has raced to nearly 120,000 “likes” in just five days while the official Tourism Malaysia page is yet to hit 40,000 despite being set up in May.
Dr Ng was reported to have earned the ire of her Cabinet colleagues on Friday, who refused to accept her explanation for the cost of maintaining six Facebook pages over seven months.
Dr Chua defended his vice president yesterday, insisting that one could not put a price on creativity.
“Going by this impeccable logic, Malaysians must thank their lucky stars that they had not been charged RM18 million or RM180 million for six Facebook pages to promote tourism to Malaysia although Facebook pages are free,” said Lim sarcastically.
The debacle over the Tourism Ministry’s Facebook expenses began on Tuesday when Ng’s deputy, James Dawos Mamit, revealed in Parliament that RM1,758,432 had been spent developing six Facebook pages for the ministry.
He had said each of the six pages — Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia, Citrawarna 1Malaysia, Karnival Jualan Mega 1Malaysia, Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1Malaysia, Kempen 1Malaysia Bersih and Fabulous Food 1Malaysia — cost RM293,072.
The announcement drew condemnation from the online community, sparking a spontaneous campaign that same evening which quickly saw tens of thousands condemning Dr Ng’s exorbitant spending.
Her ministry first entered the spotlight late last year when it was revealed in Parliament that she had spent more for her official trips abroad despite slashing the tourism promotional budget.
The Raub MP again came under fire after Tourism Malaysia’s former advertising agency alleged that the ministry had asked for bribes in exchange for a promotion contract.
Lim also questioned whether Dr Chua’s request for Dr Ng to show him the minutes of Friday’s Cabinet meeting was a violation of the Official Secrets Act as they were classified material.
#1 by k1980 on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 3:20 pm
Granny Ng YY just complained to the pm—“Old Long Sick and Ah Chan Choy sapu-ed RM12.5 billion from PKFZ. I sapu-ed less than 1% of that, only Rm1.8 million. Why the big fuss?”
#2 by k1980 on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 3:55 pm
This Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary sure has lots of creativity to be able to fool 28 million Malaysians for so long. NYY should had given the RM1.8 million facebook contract to him.
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Tengku Razaleigh … criticised Malaysia for being the only rice producing country that has privatised rice production and given it to politically-linked Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary’s company Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) a monopoly over the market.
He said: The reality today is Thailand and Indonesia are self sufficient in rice and we are 30 per cent dependent on imported rice. But because it is a monopoly, imported rice is cheaper in Singapore than Malaysia. Privatisation for the benefit of private individuals to profit from such an essential commodity is a clear abuse of power.
#3 by pulau_sibu on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 4:03 pm
The creativity is to make the most expensive Face Book page in record. These politicians are just diverting money to the cronies. I am not sure how much will be kicked back. Why not asking this company to come forward to explain about the cost? Ask it to return the stolen money to the people.
I don’t think if Yen Yen or dollar dollar has any impact in traveling around to advertise tourism. First of all, the celebeties are doing it, paid by the ministry of tourism. yes, celebrities because they look nicer, nicer when compared to Yen Yen. I am not discriminating the old woman, but just telling the truth. No body cares about her title or minister or even prime minister.
#4 by Loh on Sunday, 19 June 2011 - 4:58 pm
///“Chua is defending the indefensible. What creativity is Chua talking about?” said DAP’s parliamentary leader of the MCA president’s statement yesterday defending Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.///
The creativity lies in spending 1.8 million ringgit on free facebook page and yet the explanation was accepted by the Cabinet. It is a creative defense on the indefensible. I suppose the 1.8 million ringgit was paid for the intellectual property in the form of the content of the facebook. That is creative outsourcing!
#5 by Bunch of Suckers on Monday, 20 June 2011 - 6:22 am
He implies creativity started in bed when he had been caught with his pants down in hotel for “bugi-bugi” and shake-shake! That’s really creative away from his home and life companionship!
Yes, sucker! You’re really creative in cheating, and sucking off Rakyat Tax Payers’ money…
Keep sucking! Yeah, babi, your sucks are really good! You will be caught soon, suckers!!!!
#6 by dagen on Monday, 20 June 2011 - 9:25 am
As a responsible government and in dealing with public money a government does not and cannot go into financially unquantifiable undertakings and exercises.
#7 by ktteokt on Monday, 20 June 2011 - 11:06 pm
NYY is still beating around the bush, using all sorts of bombastic jargon to try and hide her walloping of RM1.8 million in conspiracy with her crony! This is especially after her deputy gave “concrete” figures, correct to the last ringgit, in parliament! It either goes to prove that his deputy was sleeping or that he did not consult NYY before announcing these figures!