Nazri’s open letter to Awang Selamat

Nazri’s open letter to Awang Selamat
By Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz
September 20, 2010

SOURCE: The Malaysian Insider


BUCHAREST, Sept 20 — I have read the comments by Awang Selamat on me in his column. I want to make some clarifications lest readers be misled into thinking what he wrote is correct.

Firstly, I am never afraid to be criticised by the opposition. I would like Awang to come to Parliament and see and hear for himself the vitriol and attacks I received whilst defending the Government on issues related to the Prime Minister’s Office.

In my 33 years in politics, I was never spared by anybody who makes criticisms against me — including the recent comments by Awang. I don’t know about Awang himself, because I don’t even know who he is. I hope he can be a man like me and prove that he is not scared of criticism by coming out in the open and not hiding behind the pseudonym that he uses.

I am also not anti-Dr Mahathir (Mohamad). To me, so far he is the best prime minister I have served. However, as an ex-premier, there is so much left to be desired.

Awang should get out of his time warp and face the fact that I am now in the government as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and not vice versa. So it is Tun Mahathir who is criticising the Government and not the other way round.

Of course anybody, regardless of who criticises the government, will receive relentless attack in defence of the Government by me just as I had done in the past when Tun Mahathir and Tun Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) were the prime ministers.

Having said that, I want Awang to know that I am always sure who my boss is. It’s not (Lim) Kit Siang nor (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) because they are not prime minister of Malaysia, the chairman of BN or president of Umno.

I am not too sure Awang knows who his boss is because he undermines the 1 Malaysia policy of the prime minister and promotes the narrow racism of (Datuk) Ibrahim Ali who is not even an Umno member. Awang should be asking himself the question he posed to me.

Being civil to the opposition is the right thing to do in a democracy, because just like me, they are also elected by the people. Of course, Awang is caught in the time warp of those days where government MPs do not only not engage them but hate and dislike them in all circumstances.

Awang will never understand this because he is not an elected MP, put in the House by the voice of the people. Anyway did Awang ever think of how five PKR MPs could cross and be independents, if not for the civility shown by me to them as parliamentary affairs minister?

The number of crossovers to the independent caucus has exceeded the single MP from Pasir Mas, this so-called Malay Hero worshipped by Awang.

Incidentally, Umno has never asked or needed for Ibrahim to help us but the association with him will only cause us to lose votes.

Tun Mahathir himself told us about his loss in Kota Setar Selatan seat — a 90 per cent Malay majority parliamentary constituency — in 1969 to Yusof Rawa, where it was reported that Tun said he didn’t need Chinese votes. There is a lesson to be learned from this.

Of course, Awang will never understand because not only has he never offered himself as a candidate for the General Elections but readers don’t even know who he is.

Politicians like me who has stood for four general elections and won clearly have to be very careful in what we say and not be reckless like Awang. We need to muster all the votes regardless of race and we do not stay in the comfort zone as Awang does.

He can write and say anything irresponsibly and recklessly, knowing that he will never be punished by the voters.

That is why, Awang, if you asked what my agenda is, I think even school children will know that it’s to win the next general election and that Datuk Seri Najib (Razak) remains as prime minister of Malaysia.

I do hope that Awang also has the same agenda, unless of course his boss is somebody else.

Finally I would advise Awang to stick to what he does and knows best and not try to meddle in national politics, of which he has shallow knowledge and zero experience.

He should concentrate in increasing his paper’s dwindling readership. It speaks volumes of their poor standards and performance when Utusan has to refer to the news report of the new electronic alternative media when it should be the reverse.

That will be his KPI and the measurement of his success in the field that he claims he represent well.

Mine is, of course, to win the Padang Rengas seat for Barisan Nasional in the next General Election regardless whether I am a candidate or not. Until then we shall see.

And yes I am a Malaysian first and Malay next. Does any bigot have a problem with that?

___________________________________________________________________________________

* This letter by Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Tan Sri Abdul Aziz is in response to a Mingguan Malaysia editorial “Alahai Nazri ...” by Awang Selamat. The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and MP for Padang Rengas emailed it from Bucharest, Romania, where he is attending the Malaysian-Romanian Inter-parliamentarian Friendship Group” meet from September 19 to 23, 2010.

***

Spinning on a Saturday

National Service of Death

National Service programme will not be scrapped just because of a few death.

Dying is natural and the service of death is national.

It is the policy that the NS camps must go on despite all the negative aspects. However, to mitigate the death increases, the NS department will impose some rules on participants requiring them to declare that they are healthy and requiring OSHA to certify the camp premises.

It is believed that there would be less chance of death with this proposal of actions. However, the camp is not able to ensure that no one dies as dying is a natural human process and those who had died is itself a national service.

Who says it's not my cup of tea?

Who says?

Who?

It's mine. Come December, it's a dream that turns into reality.


French Lesbian Kissing

This is not a reinvention; it is recycled, says NST today.

It will be the new trend of tomorrow.

Girls, be prepared for the age of new reasons and unreasons.

Men, you can forget about girls and go buy toys.

Saturday's News in Briefs

Correct, Correct, Correct!

The video is correct (authentic).

It's Fairuz on the other phone with Lingham.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam video clip has found that it was former Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim who was talking to prominent lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam on the telephone. The video clip was authentic and that the conversation was true in substance.

Rela officer arrest Pakistan Embassy staff

A Pakistan embassy accountant was detained by Rela officers.

The accountant was traveling on a bus to work when it was stopped by Rela members near Ampang.

As the Rela officers did not recognize Wisma-Putra-issued identity card they asked for his MyKad. Since the officer was not enabled to verify embassy ID, and neither had they seen one, they took him to the Rela Centre.

Selangor Rela Director Khairi Mohd Alwee said his men rarely encounter the Wisma Putra ID and once it is verified they release the Pakistani. Good excuse and great Relawans.


Eat, and don't kehpo!

He was dining at a restaurant and a few tables away he saw 2 men arguing. He must have been curious over the subject matter of the argument.

That angry man saw him watching and asked him to mind his own business.

[...] the angry man grabbed a sharp object and stabbed the diner. He died afterwards.

This incident occurs in Johor Baru. Johoreans, don't kehpo. Eat your food and don't look at others, men or women.

Kiss, and it's never Goodbai

A salesman contacted his ex and both decided to meet up.

At that meeting, he kiss her goodbye.

3 days later he received a bill from his ex-gf husband demanding RM3,600 to be paid within 7 days or else he will take action.

He did not know what to do and seek Michael Chong's help. Michael Chong advised him not to pay as it is an invalid contract which lacks the 5-elements necessary for a good contract. Chong said he suspected it was a scam and told him not to entice OPW (other people's wife) as it can be a criminal offense under Section 498 of the Penal Code for taking away with criminal intent a married woman.

Stabbed at the back

She was walking to work along Jalan Maktab, near the police college in Cheras.

She was senselessly stabbed in the back by someone for at least 4-times.

The police identified her as Lee Hui Fun and she is warded at UKM Hospital.

Her condition is reported to be stable.

It is believed that the assailant was not a gentleman as he/she had stabbed a victim on the back. As Malaysians we believed you only stabbed people in the front and only after giving him at least 3 warnings. Then only you can say you are tuan.

The minister who had a proposal for drug-mules and girls going overseas may want to consider another proposal that all girls cannot be allowed to walk alone and must be accompanied by their father or brother or at least a mother who has karate black-belt.

It will also be helpful if the cabinet would consider registering the robbers and stabbers and certifying them and imposed a rule that they must wear name tags with the profession stated clearly so that the rakyat can properly identify them.

Note: All the news have no source; it's cookies and please clean up your cache.

Shabery Cheek: MSM lost all its credibility

Traditional media such as TV and newspapers no longer has the credibility that it once commanded among its readers and viewers, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek today. The public no longer believed everything they read in the newspapers or heard on television which is known to be controlled or directly owned by political parties inclined towards the Government, he said.

“Times have changed. The public does not believe everything that the newspapers write these days. Unlike before when everything said in the newspapers was taken in lock, stock and barrel by readers.

"Today, the public have become more skeptical. They want to know who owns the newspaper, who the editors are and so on before they decide to believe them. This was not the practice before,” he said after launching the International Development Journalism programme organised by the Malaysian Press Institute and the Media Studies Institute of Universiti Malaya today.

“The bottom line is reputation and credibility. If you have that and you report the truth, based on facts, the people will continue to read your articles. This is the new challenge for newspapers and for any form of media out there,” he said.

Source: Traditional media no longer credible: Information Minister

MSM instilling fears on PAS Islamic govt

This is what TheStar spinned on Sunday print:

PAS certain it can set up Islamic federal govt soon

KOTA BARU: PAS is now confident that it can soon set up an Islamic form of government at the federal level, which it claims is gaining more acceptance, especially with non-Muslims, following the good showing of the Opposition coalition in last weekend’s elections.

Its vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said there was growing support among the Chinese and Indians in various parts of the country towards the party’s political struggle.

“We are now genuinely hopeful of ruling the country soon. We now only need over 30 parliamentary seats to seize control,” Husam said.

Later in the evening, TheStar is forced to make this correction:

Husam clarifies 'take-over' statement

PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa has clarified that his statement on the party taking over the Government at the federal level was taken out of context.

“I mentioned that we are hopeful of taking 30 more parliamentary seats to win power and not about forming an Islamic Government,” he said.

Husam urged the mass media to be careful in its reporting to avoid antagonising anyone unnecessarily.

Note: It can be clearly seen that TheStar is trying to create fear and instill Islamophobias over the non-Muslims. The nation is now in greater danger not because the Malays are getting ultra-Islamist but because we now have The Star and NST instilling fears and paranoias on non-Muslims to make them agitated with PAS and to cause them to hate the Malays. At the same time, we have Bernama spinning May 13 threats as well as Utusan and Berita Harian spinning on threats by DAP & Chinese on issues relating to Malay rights and privileges of which corruption and cronyism is now classified and group as part of Malay rights and privileges enshrined in the Constitution.

Now, NST spin Westward!

Before the general election the NST was spinning news by interviewing Malaysians which shows the great number of people who wanted the BN to continue to rule and how everyone was so supportive of the BN.

Today, NST headlined: "It's a wake-up call to representatives."

and it showcased 8 persons' comments:

"We are witnessing the dawn of a new era. The rakyat have made it clear that they demand accountability from their elected representatives," said Nachiappan.

"I feel the results signify a change for the better," Rina Leong said.

"I personally think it is a wake-up call to the coalition," said Nurilyana Mukhtar.

"I am happy and was caught by surprise at the same time by the election results," said Suria Aziz.

"Personally, I think the results were expected," said Leslie Phillips.

"I am glad for the change..," M. Vellu.

"As a president of an NGO I hope the new government will continue to support our cause and make the rakyat its number one priority," Mohd Yunus Pathi, Pengasih President said.

Why didn't the NST and Star publish such comments before the election?

Mahathir was right when he pointed out this:

“The problem is we have become so arrogant. We suppress any opinion that we do not like and they begin to believe in their own reports which are not actually consistent with what is happening in the country,” Mahathir said.

Indon & Matdon message

Deputy Prime Minister Najib said although Indonesia's print media no longer needed licences to operate, and though Malaysia still have laws to control the freedom of press, the Indonesians should understand that Malaysia is still a more democratic country.

"They should understand the different situation in Malaysia."

"I know the pendulum has shifted in Indonesia but the pendulum is still the same here (in Malaysia)."

"We still have democracy," Najib said. That's important!

The question is how you interpret democracy, and how free is free. We are free, and that we must appreciate. We can walk the town and city, and play football. We can still go karaoke and sing some songs, and sing negaraku. We can criticise freely as long as we praise the government who had been doing everything for the rakyat.

We are a free country, that we must appreciate. If not, how can there be so many of you participating in vigils or demonstration. If not, how can those people go around and steal cars, rape and rob. It shows we are a free country, and we even allow these people the freedom to commit crime, but we have laws to punish them if they were caught by the police. We have enforcement agencies to catch the thieves and robbers and rapist. There are some who may be lucky to escape the law, but our enforcers will soon, very soon, catch them and then sent them to court to be tried. Of course, some we don't need to sent them for trials because we also have laws that gave the ministers the freedom not to put them on trial. But that's freedom too.

We are free! Go round the city and towns and see for yourselves, that everyone is free to walk about, go shopping, and eat. That's freedom and that's democracy! So don't compare us with Indon; they had a free press, but they should understand that they are not free to criticize our system as we are different. We can be differentiated because we have democracy.

UMNO Youth Deputy President and the son-in-law to the Prime Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said: "I do not understand why the Election Commission Chairman is speculating on the election date."

In fact, even he haven't consult the dates with his father-in-law, so how can these other people know.

They had dinner together everyday and yet even he doesn't know, so how can Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman knows. He sleeps with the PM's daughter and if she also don't know, surely he also don't know; so how can Rashid know; unless of course she didn't tell him but told Rashid; but that's not possible because he's the husband and the father of her child.

"Stop Speculating," Khairy asked him and all other politicians.

You see, he never asked him to shut up; but only ask him not to speculate. He's well mannered and humble. So how can you all say he is lansi, and a lansi chai? Please lah, he's humble and he's also jobless; so please have some compassion on him. He's leng chai and only a little bit humsap, and not mayasap, but little only.

ISA was majority wishes

Prime Minister Pak Lah said the ISA and all the measures taken against demonstrators are Actions based on wishes of Silent Majority.

So, we must now understand why the police sprayed chemical water and water canons on the demonstrators because it's the wish Silent Majority.

NSTP and TheStar had in fact revealed that Silent Majority.

Damai Malaysia, an umbrella body comprising 395 non-governmental organizations representing nearly 1.5 million members, was named by the two newspapers as the group representing Silent Majority.

Damai went to the Sg Besi airport and was allowed into the military base compound to hand over a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. These group of people never need to apply for police permit to assemble; they were even welcome to the military base to submit the memorandum. They are not considered as illegal by the police and Attorney-general. And they are the Silent Majority. The memorandum criticised recent illegal street demonstrations, which Damai said had caused problems and created tension among Malaysia's multiracial population.

So, if anyone wants to blame, don't blame Pak Lah. He is a prime minister that acted in accordance with the Silent Majority. But the Silent Majority's memo was delivered only recently on 13th Dec and the actions against demonstrators and the ISA arrest was made much earlier than the memo? Oh, because the PM can predict and forecast, that the Silent Majority would protest against street demonstration and had wanted the ISA used on those who are considered subversive.

In fact, about 1,000 UMNO division leaders and members were disappointed with the government of Pak Lah for being "Too Slow" in using the ISA to detain people suspected of subversion.

According to sources who attended a closed door briefing for some 1,000 Umno division leaders and members at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, party members had voiced their disappointment that the government didn't arrest the demonstrators immediately after their illegal rallies last month.

"Some even used harsh words against the leadership for being too lenient with street demonstrators. They don't want the government to tolerate troublemakers and militants," said a source. (lawyers are now classified as militants and troublemakers??? Bersih can also be classified as troublemakers and militants??? Hindraf is a militant???)

After the briefing, Umno Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, one of the party leaders who briefed the party members, admitted that some members were angry with what they perceived as the government's "slow response" to the problem.

"There were some members who asked why action was slow in coming. It took some time for the decision to be taken because the prime minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) did not want to be hasty in making the decision."

He said the decision to detain the troublemakers under the ISA was only invoked after the government received strong feedback from the public. Sources confirmed that the mood of those 1,000 participants here yesterday was in favour of the detention without trial for the troublemakers.

"It was the will of the people (to invoke the ISA), and not the will of the leaders," Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said.

Do you hear? UMNO was in favour of detention without trial for the "classified Troublemakers"? And it was the will of the people to invoke the ISA and not the will of the leaders? Do you all hear it clearly?

In fact, the Prime Minister was soft and sympathetic to those Hindraf supporters and demonstrators, particularly those who were arrested at Batu cave and charged for Attempted Murder.

The Prime Minister in fact called on the Attorney-General to consider the pleas by the parents of the 31 Hindraf supporters for their charges of attempted murder to be dropped. Prime Minister said the parents' appeal should be considered as soon as possible.

"The Attorney-General told me that the supporters said they had been misled by the promises made by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) and that they rejected Hindraf's activities. I feel sorry for them because they were misled," Abdullah said yesterday.

Speaking to the press after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting, Abdullah said: "I have therefore told the Attorney-General to consider their representations as quickly as possible."

Thirty-one Hindraf supporters were charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Dec 5 with attempted murder of police officer Dedi Abd Rani during the demonstration on Nov 25.

Parents of the 31 protesters then met with MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and requested his help to secure their release.

Observing all the above news spinned by NST, we can conclude that we had a reasonable government, who would not simply arrest illegal assembly if the assembly are deemed "reasonable" (example: Damai Malaysia's illegal assembly at Sg Besi & Khairy and UMNO Youth assembly at the American Embassy at Jalan Ampang). The govt would only act if they consider the demonstrators to be subversive and a threat to public safety; for as long as the govt did not deemed it at such, you can assemble and protest against all others, such as, American Embassy, protest against DAP and PKR or Hindraf, protest in support of government action even though some may think it was wrongful acts or corruptive acts, cronyism or nepotism. In fact, the government warns that they are prepared to take the "necessary actions" using the ISA as requested by the Silent Majority and the 1,000 UMNO leaders; and the govt will heed UMNO petition not to be "Too Slow" to arrest.

For As long as...

Lets be partners of those mold, the Oligarchy; the Zakism, Musasm, Kharism, Taibism, Zamism, Nazism, harlotism (this harlotism is coined from zorro's doctrine)

Hippocretin? Sicko? Eli explains

Today I learn a new English word: "Hippocretin".

I tried to check the dictionary and couldn't find any. Fortunately, Elizabeth had an explanation.'Hippocretin' according to Eli is said to be a cross-breed between a hypocrite and a cretin. Cretin is a stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person. It is believed this new being which resembles a chicken, is easily spotted with its Big Ears, has an IQ of ‘Ling-ling’ and the ability to fall asleep anytime, thus needing constant guidance and prodding from his brood to move around. It loves Nasi Kandar but definitely not floods. It is known to be afraid of crowds.

You want to learn more about it, go visit Elizabeth blog

Do you know that elephants today had to wear boots?

The land is filled with sickos and even elephants had to wear waterproof custom-made Gore-tex booties to alleviate foot problems and aid the healing of lesions on the soles.

Damai represents Silent Majority?

TheStar:

"Silent Majority Has Spoken"?

Silent majority? Are they? What does it mean?

Majority in what sense? Did they constitute majority of Malaysians, or majority from Barisan Nasional, or majority of those ampu kakis?

Damai Malaysia, an umbrella body comprising 395 non-governmental organisations representing nearly 1.5 million members, handed over a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The memorandum criticised recent illegal street demonstrations, which Damai said had caused problems and created tension among Malaysia's multiracial population.

But even if the figures are true, they are representing 1.5mil members out of 25mil population, and not all the members did agree with it. It probably is 395 person, claiming to represent 1.5mil people. What a misrepresentation.

Could we also say bar Council had tens of thousands of law firms representing hundreds of thousands of employees and clients who also employs millions of employees concurred with the Lawyers march? Ya, if we are using the same analogy.

And who are the spokemens of Damai Malaysia? Damai chairman Mohd Saiful Adil Mohd Daud, Damai advisor and Bukit Bintang MCA chief Senator Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng, and Cheras Hindu Youth Organisation vice-president S. Ariivazhagan. ONLY 3 of them!!!

Damai Malaysia representatives also included those from 75 Chinese-based and 20 Indian groups and associations. Do you know how many Chinese-based associations are in Malaysia? Thousands. And 20 Indian groups and associations, not association, and among the 20, only a few associations. But how many Indian associations are there in Malaysia? Check with the registrar of Societies.

What a great spin. Do they think we are brainless guys?

Oh, by the way, Confidence in the military and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi topped the list in a national survey related to trust in political institutions. The survey showed that 76.3 per cent of Malaysians believed they could trust the military, followed by the prime minister with 75.8 per cent. A preliminary report was released by the Asia Barometer Survey in collaboration with the Merdeka Centre during a seminar at the International Islamic University Malaysia yesterday.

About 1,200 face-to-face interviews were carried out between July and August this year. The sample size involved 900 Malaysians from peninsula, and 150 each in Sabah and Sarawak respectively. Among the issues discussed were the Malaysian attitude towards political trust and participation and democracy. It also showed that Malaysians were relatively passive in political participation.

"The survey suggested that 70.5% were satisfied with democracy in Malaysia. However, only 16.5 believed that Malaysia has "full democracy".

Take NOTE: Only 1% of the respondents attended political protests. That means they did not interview any of those who took part in the recent few demonstration and walks. That's survey. That's what the surveyor did. That's what they corelate to represent the population at large.

Would Bersih and KeAdiLan carry out a nationwide survey? Or could we have a national referendum?

Chicken & Duck Talk Cock

Is this Talking about Fruits or Fruitful Talks?

Does Chicken understand Duck Talks about Cocks?

Singapore Lee Hsien Loong said arbitration is still the better solution to the bilateral problems between both countries. HL Lee gave the example of Pulau Batu Putih's conflict resolution in which both countries agreed to put the matter before the International Court of Justice to be adjudicated. To HL Lee, this is the possible model solution for both countries to deal with all other issues as well.

Is that called Fruitful? It's truly a Durian-type solution!

Spinning the Economy; it Spinned!

Civil servants working part-time

According to Ceupacs president Omar Osman, more than 300,000 civil servants are taking part-time jobs to make end meets.

He said some 25% to 30% of civil servants were taking up extra jobs like being taxi drivers, security guards, factory workers and pub attendants because of low salaries.

Omar said the Klang Valley Taxi Drivers Association estimated that 10% of the 20,000 taxi drivers were civil servants.

Omar said if salaries did not go up, some 600,000 civil servants would fall below the poverty line.

labyrinth of Corridors

Another Corridor in the pipeline and this time, it's for Sabah.

Since the first corridor of development was conceptualized in 1996 by Mahathir with little success, his successor, Pak Lah had mooted many more corridors.

Since the day when he came into power (1st November 2003), Pak Lah had began his premiership by restructuring the development plan for the nation and to re-aligned the economic development activities.

The newly appointed Prime Minister began his first mission by scrapping the RM14bil Double-track Railway project awarded by Dr Mahathir to MMC- Gamuda on the second-last day of his tenure (30th October 2003).

Many more projects were scrapped or postponed such as Putrajaya Monorail, Dedicated Highway from KL-Putrajaya (which was later resumed), Bakun dam, Crooked-Bridge, etc.

Pak Lah defended his actions by stating that he wanted to reduce foreign borrowings and free-up the tight cashflow the government was facing.

He was accused for being tight with money of which he denied vehemently. In an interview with CNN Lorraine Hann, He said he was only being frugal, that is, careful with money that belongs to the government of the people.

Ever since Mahathir launch his tirade on his successor, Pak Lah had been a changed person, in particular, with the economic management.

The acting prime minister had since then launched many super-corridors; only the Multi-Media Super Corridor is associated with Mahathir.



We now have, the Southern Corridor, which was initially named South-Johore Economic Region and have now been renamed as Iskandar Development Region of Johor which the government paraded would involved RM382bil development expenditure.

The Mentri Besar of Johor said that an initial RM60bil projects would be launched within the next few years.

Pak Lah had also launched the Northern Region Corridor encompassing Penang and Kedah.

The 2nd Penang Bridge which was initially scrapped (not approved) was launched under the 9th Malaysia Plan. The bridge project would cost about RM3bil to complete.

Apart from the bridge project, a monorail project worth about RM2bil was also on the pipeline and expected to be awarded soon.

There is also the Eastern Corridor that encompasses Pahang and Trengganu.

Pahang had slated a Multi-media Super Corridor that is analogous with the one in Cyberjaya. It was a great ambition but nobody dare to bet the timing of the initialization of the project as it would require multi-national corporations to invests multi-billions to ensure its success. Observing the progress of Cyberjaya, many investors are suffering from paranoia.

If that was enormous enough, the government continue to parade avalanche more of projects to motivate the people, in particular, UMNO leaders and detractors who were either siding with Mahathir or sitting on the fence.

The Nilai Vaccine facilities costing RM350mil was launched.

So far, nothing had happen on the ground, and we could only presumed that the investors may still be sourcing for funds or that the bureaucracy is holding them up.

Not enough? Many more mega news to roll.

The World Biggest Court Complex was paraded. It was situated in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur. It cost the government RM300 million.

Work on the project started in March 2004 and was scheduled to be completed in February 2006.

There is also a plan to set up a police station in the complex.

On 3rd Nov 2006, the government announced that RM100bil worth of projects would be rolled out soon.

10-high impact projects worth at least RM100bil are expected to be rolled out to boost the economy. These projects would involve fundings by private financing initiatives (PFIs). Minister in the PM’s department Effendi Norwawi said the government will seek the best source of fundings and the government would also consider foreign-currency dominated bonds as a source of financing.

So far, nobody heard about the funders and none of the projects had taken off. It probably was a premature announcement or it could be projects that were proposed by the private sectors, particularly from some multi-nationals corporation. I think the government should not try to include private companies' investment in their announcements as if it was an initiatives from the government. This had caused much confusions to the public and tend to feed us with illusionary hope and expectations that had so far being conjectural and illusory.

On 28th November 2006, there were far greater announcements.

The newspaper spinned: The Worlds Biggest Palm Oil Company merger was formulated.

Three of the country’s largest plantation companies are to merge to create the world’s largest plantation company. The three – Sime Darby Bhd, Golden Hope Plantations Bhd and Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd – along with six other public listed companies, either owned by these three companies or involved in plantations, will undertake a merger exercise worth RM31.4bil that would likely create the country’s fourth biggest company.

A Newco, Synergy Drive had proposed a material corporate exercise that would involve a change of business direction by the respective companies. Synergy Drive was registered on Nov 7, 2006, The rationale behind the move was esoteric. The three major companies in the exercise have a combined net profit of RM1.7bil and a land bank of slightly more than 600,000ha. These companies on its own merit had been successful and profitable. Nobody can understand why there's a need to merge such successful and profitable outfits. Someone must have a great dream to exorcised the billions in profit.

Big news and bigger news are now the spin of the day. Spinning the headlines again: Malaysia to built the World's Longest Undersea Power Link Project.

One of the country’s most ambitious projects — to lay undersea power cables from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia — may be revived. Costing RM9 billion, the cables will transport up to 5,000 kilowatts of electricity from the Bakun hydroelectric dam and two other new proposed plants in Sarawak from 2014.

The 670km-long network of cables would be the longest in the world, longer than the 580km line between Norway and the Netherlands. Dr Lim Keng Yaik said: "Coming so far from Sarawak, that means we have to invest in big cables. It is all economics, so we have to work out whether it is worthwhile but most certainly it would be after 2014 and beyond." "The cables will have to travel almost 700km from Bakun to the tip of Sarawak and another 670km under sea crossing Indonesian territory to Ulu Sedili before it is channeled to Yong Peng, Johor, where the national grid is located," he said.

Billions worth, everything now is billions, no more millions? Another RM15bil projects being paraded to the public.

Well, Pak Lah proved that he has the ability to outdo Mahathir. In Mahathir's heydays, the foreign press labeled him mega-project king-makers. Petronas Twin-tower was RM2bil, KLIA was RM9bil and Putrajaya was to be RM20bil.

The frugal man decides not to be frugal anymore. He too wants to leave a legacy - mega legacy - such that the people could celebrate his tenure (I hope that we are not celebrating a nation to be bankrupted).

Billions after billions of projects were announced. It keeps coming and it keeps spinning.

Nobody dares to predict when this spins would slow down.

That wasn't enough, we have another RM6bil agro sector goldmine.

Not enough to cause bulimia? Another RM10bil public transport project for Klang Valley. It keeps coming and gets scary, oh sorry, excited and sexcited.

Businessmen were getting sexcited by the behemoth and amorphous opportunities that will avail with these avalanche of billions. It seems the billions will continue to rain and won't stop.

Another RM40bil projects fast tracked!

The government keeps announcing the billions and each and every one of them are meant to be fast tracked.

Raindrops (of projects) keep falling on our heads...

Have you ever seen these rains?

It was unprecedented in the history of Malaysia's economy and even Mahathir was awed. Soros must have caught up with this news and probably that's the reason he visit Malaysia, not so much of his intend to pay a courtesy call to Mahathir, but maybe, to ask Mahathir to introduce him to Pak Lah. Sadly, Soros then discovered that Mahathir has no more influence over his successor. Soros would have got it better if he had visited Khairy.

Was that enough?

Well, I wanted to stop the billions here but there's still a few more interesting projects for the avarices.

RM600mil was allocated for Class F contractors. Nobody knows how many of these projects had been awarded nor is there a monitoring and tracking system for the public to view and kept informed. The system is transparent - cannot be seen!

Another RM800mil worth of contracts for 270 Penang Malay contractors?

The ministers had so much to announce and many wondered when did Malaysia had so much money to fund all these projects.

We can't stop this fun...I love billions. RM1bil shopping funds for Education Minister.

During Mahathir's time, we knew he borrowed extensively to fund the projects. In Pak Lah's tenure, nobody knows and the monies must have been pouring in from some guys...I wonder it's Bill Gates or Warren Buffett or LTCM. Probably I am wrong...it could be from Suharto's family or Marcos or Mugabe.

Another RM5bil project for Johor.MB for Johor said it was Raya Gift. I wonder anyone had received the Raya gift, if at all.

The RM5 billion South Johor Economic Region was unveiled by Pak Lah on Nov 4, 2006. Ghani said the people of Johor were blessed to receive such good fortune.

Another RM600mil highway for Selangor.

A new RM600mil highway project under the 9th Malaysia Plan to link the Kesas Kota Kemuning Interchange with the Federal Highway is set to roll out by next year. Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, witnessed the signing ceremony between the Government and concessionaire Projek Lintasan Shah Alam Sdn Bhd (PLSA) .

Another KL-Kuantan rail was approved by the cabinet on DEc 18, 2006.

If Pak Lah continues as PM for the next 19 years (so that he will match Mahathir's record of 22 years PMship), Malaysia would have the World largest network of railways.

There is already a rail project linking Malaysia-Kumming and another in Borneo, linking Brunei and Sarawak. The total worth will exceed RM200bil.

Of course there will be the Double-track railway which was terminated and will be revived.

Syed Mokhtar is seen smiling... his luck and good fortune had shine again.

Railway is transportation and lacks fun?

Well, don't worry. Effendi Norwawi is going to get Disneyland to come to Malaysia.

If Japan and HongKong can have Disneyland, why not Malaysia?

Disneyland owners must be damn excited about this prospect.

Malaysians would be, what Ghani called, Blessed to receive such great fortune. By the way, Johor was slated to have this project and it must have satisfied the MB.

There is also the West Coast Highway which would be another RM2bil project on the way.

Chan Ah Chai is waiting anxiously for the cabinet's approval and if he can have few rounds of golf with Pak Lah and a few teh-tarik sessions with EPU and Nor Mohamad Yakcob, then it would be a celebration for Talam who is now technically insolvent. IJM and Syed Mokhtar will be more willing to buy over Talam if this project is secured definitely.

Of course, we can't stop the celebration.

What more with Maya and the Maju.

This is the new RM400 million Palace Complex which was deemed necessary as the current Istana Negara is old and the place is too small for the King and his entourage.

But the King had to wait a little while as it will take another 3 years, god willing, to get the place ready. It probably won't be ready in 3 years as the contractor is an unknown and we have a historical record of projects delay. Matrade building was delayed for 7 years. It would be considered a success if this project can also be ready by 7 years delay.

Tanjung Tokong, a super fast track project!

UDA Holding Bhd will spent RM750mil for the redevelopment of Tanjung Tokong project and 2nd Finance Minister Nor Mohamad Yakcop had promised that it will be super fast tracked to complete within 6 years.

Constuction work was suppose to begin in October 2006 and the project is slated to compete by 2012.

So far, we have heard of nothing concrete.


In order to get all these projects off the ground, the nation may need funds to the tune of trillions.

An initial US$56bil (RM200bil) will be necessary. I am not sure how Pak Lah will get this RM200bil... Petronas may have to contribute probably half of it and Khazanah will need to contribute a quarter of it by way of foreign loans via bonds. The balance could be from taxation and duties. Customs department and IRB will be able to generate RM60bil and if that's not enough, the police could ship in by way of increasing the issue of summonses, and the local authorities could help raise funds from increasing the quit rents, assessment taxes, licensing and fees.

There is a sense of hope...Malaysia had achieved a trillion mark in trade and, of course, if the trade is up, taxes and duties will increase in tandem.

Again, observing the scenario, if Pak Lah is given another 19 years as PM, the trade may even increase to hundreds of trillions. I hope it will not be denominated in Rupiah.

I don't know whether we should cheers and sing a song, but I am anxiously waiting for informations on the progress of all these projects. The waiting game had been on since last year and till now, the signs are blur. Will we be kept blur-blur for another few years?

Well, why can't we be positive and have high expectations? My darling said: Sleep and don't bother as Chinese New Year is just 48 hours away and the many bosses I work with are still having problems in their collections. BTW, I received a bonus from my good boss...little but enough to buy myself a drink. Cheers!