Malaysia's big spender

If you are a PM and you have been denied a luxury yacht (USD$8 mil), what would you do? Well, first you give RM20 mil to your alma mater high school and then buy yourself a new luxury jet (USD$50 mil). For more detailed info, click here and here.



I guess the famous quote "Don't work for me, but work with me" refers to giving the PM unlimited spending money.

Oh crap, let's hope our PM comes to his senses sooner rather than later. For God's sake, wake up!

"PM: I’ll run in next elections"... No you're not

Dear Mr PM,

I think it is about time you hang up your suit and retire. Let others who are more competent to take up the task. Like you said, "there is a lot of work to be done" and i don't think 'dozing off' at work on many occasions will do any good in completing the job. As a matter of fact, you are setting a bad example to the entire government work force. Since you have admitted, you and your boys are a little slow in implementing your manifestos, not only TDM but the entire nation is becoming tired and impatient. You have done a remarkable job to your capability, but we need to take it to another level in order to become a fully developed nation by 2020. We, the Malaysian people, thank you for your services and wish you the best in your retirement.

Adios

Our dearest PM doze off, again, next to Yang DiPertuan Agong at the recent Maal Hijrah event

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Thursday January 25, 2007 @ The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants to run in the next general election and continue leading the country.

“I think so. I think so. There is a lot of work to be done. There is a lot of work. Yes,” the Prime Minister said when asked if he still had the appetite for the job and planned to contest in the next elections, expected in 2009.

He was speaking in an interview over BBC’s Asia Today, which was aired yesterday morning.

On Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticism of him, Abdullah said the former prime minister had the right to say whatever he wanted, but as the current leader, he (Abdullah) had a government to run.

“I have to do whatever is best. The economy is better now. The 9th Malaysia Plan was launched last year, and today it’s gathering momentum.

“Maybe (the criticism is because) we are a little slow and he (Dr Mahathir) is getting impatient,” he added.

Abdullah also denied that there was a more aggressive advancement of Islam at the official level and that this was making non-Muslims in the country more uncomfortable.

“No, no – that’s what some believe. But as far as we are concerned, we believe in freedom of worship. This is guaranteed by the (Federal) Constitution. People of other faiths are free to practise their religion in Malaysia, and at the same time we do not marginalise them.

“They participate in the Government because we have a government that shares power among Muslim and non-Muslim – the Hindus, Buddhists and Christians,” he said.

He agreed that some Muslim groups were trying to propagate a more aggressive Islam in Malaysia.

He noted that a political party (PAS) had been talking about setting up an Islamic state, adding that the country had an open electoral system.

“They (PAS) contest the elections. If the non-Muslims want to vote for them it’s up to them,” he added.

Abdullah admitted that there were some in Malaysia who were inclined towards militant philosophies such as the Jemaah Islamiah (JI); but added that the authorities had been very quick to act and curb such tendencies.

“We acted very fast. We have to engage them. We have to talk to them, counsel them. That has been done and that’s what we have been doing all the time,” he said.

“Islam is the official religion and the practice here has been moderate and we have done very well.”

Abdullah also took to task US President George W. Bush’s lopsided policies in West Asia, which he said angered the Muslims.

He pointed out that shortly after the Sept 11, 2001, terror attack in the US, when Bush declared the war on terror “everyone supported it because we thought it (the attack) was something unfair – something that should not have happened.”

“After that he (Bush) changed the game plan. He attacked Iraq and went into Afghanistan,” Abdullah said, adding that it was very obvious that in the Middle East issues, the US president always favoured Israel.

“This action that he has taken has caused a lot of unhappiness and angered the Muslims,” he said, adding that the US president should instead try to create a better understanding of Islam in the Christian West.

Abdullah denied that moderate Muslims leaders like him were reticent about speaking about sectarian violence among warring Muslim groups, pointing out that he had spoken up against it a number of times.

He said he has been condemning militants “very often” because the religion has zero tolerance for terrorism.

Acknowledging that a chasm has developed between the West and Islam, with both sides demonising each other, Abdullah said it was important to create a better understanding of Islam.

This, he believe, could be done by continuing to talk about what Islam really is.

Justification please!

Why would an 80-year old school need that much money when that same amount of cash can be used to enhance several other 'not so old' schools in Penang? Just another waste of public fund right after the RM30 mill Malaysia's ferris wheel. What do you mean by part of RMK9 allocation? Are you saying all schools are entitled to RM20 mill? Or, is it specially allocated for your alma matter? Come to think of it, with RM50 mill in 'excess cash', I think the govt would be better off spending on finding ways to prevent seasonal floods all over the nation. Yeah, why not you build the most technological advanced dam that will not release the water to the villages at critical point?? I'm sure the rakyat will be happy about that and will no longer suffer the aftermath of the floods.

ps: A hummingbird also told me a special RMK9 'instant grant' was also given to each UMNO division head during the last UMNO assembly. 'RMK9' is our equivalent to Doraemon, if you get what I mean. :)

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RM20mil boost for Pak Lah’s school

BY ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's alma mater – the High School Bukit Mertajam (HSBM) – received a big boost when the Prime Minister announced that it would receive a RM20mil development fund.

The allocation under the 9th Malaysia Plan, he said, was for the construction of a hostel, teachers' quarters, a sports pavilion and a laboratory. A further grant of RM3.5mil would be used to carry out repair works on the 80-year-old school.

Abdullah, who announced the “gift” at the school's 80th anniversary dinner here last night, said HSBM was considered a heritage school and an old block should be retained to reflect its status.

He urged students and teachers to ensure that the school continued its tradition of excelling in education and sports.

Proud old boys: Abdullah joining former headmasters of HSBM in cutting a cake to mark the school's 80th anniversary in Kuala Lumpur last night. On the right is HSBM Alumni president S. Kulasegaran.

Maya Karin @ Hitz.FM

mmmmm.... so adorable! heheh..

Racism as political tool to win election???

Article below was taken from Utusan Malaysia. To me and all of us that read this article, Najib is clearly promoting hate among different races. I really don't see any reason why a chinese can't represent the malays and why a malay can't represent the chinese and why an indian can't represent the chinese, and so on and so forth. All of us are still human beings and our needs are EXACTLY THE SAME!! What we need from our representative is to look after our well-being, our kids, our schools, etc.. It has nothing to do with skin color and who has blue eyes! This scenario reminds me of the colonial era where the British use the divide and conquer technique to curb the negative sentiments from the people. Are we moving backwards??? Legendary Dr Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" should also be shared here in Malaysia.

As for my dream and i believe shared by millions of other Malaysian out there, "I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THERE WILL BE NO REFERENCE TO SKIN COLOR OR RACE OR RELIGION TO WIN AN ELECTION", "I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THE LEADERS OF OUR NATION WILL BE COMPRISED OF THOSE WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT A BUNCH OF GENERALS OR MONKEYS" and "I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY MY VOICE IS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR".

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Batu Talam: Calon bebas strategi pembangkang

RAUB 16 Jan. – Barisan Nasional (BN) menganggap kehadiran calon bebas untuk bertanding pada pilihan raya kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) N6 Batu Talam pada 28 Januari ini sebahagian daripada strategi politik pembangkang untuk menguji sokongan pengundi Melayu kepada calon bukan Melayu.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang juga Timbalan Pengerusi BN, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak bagaimanapun mengingatkan penyokong, pekerja dan pengundi BN agar tidak menganggap ia sebagai satu pertandingan yang boleh dipandang mudah.

Ini kerana kata beliau, ia merupakan sebahagian strategi politik pembangkang untuk menghadapi pilihan raya umum akan datang.

‘‘Bagi BN, kita menganggap kehadiran calon bebas sebagai sebahagian daripada strategi politik mereka untuk menguji sejauh mana pengundi Melayu di kawasan ini akan menyokong calon bukan Melayu.

‘‘Ini sebenarnya, walaupun calon bebas, tetapi pada hakikatnya calon yang ditaja oleh parti DAP,” katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas penamaan calon pilihan raya kecil DUN Batu Talam di Bilik Gerakan Pilihan Raya pejabat Tanah dan Daerah Raub di sini, hari ini.

Najib yang juga Timbalan Presiden UMNO berkata, BN akan menyaran dan meminta penyokong termasuk petugas parti bekerja keras dan keluar mengundi beramai-ramai bagi menjamin kemenangan besar.

‘‘Tiada calon pembangkang tidak sepatutnya memberi alasan pada penyokong BN untuk tidak bekerja keras atau memandang ringan dan jauh sekali tidak keluar mengundi,” tegasnya.

Mengenai persediaan menangkis isu- isu yang akan dibangkitkan oleh calon bebas, beliau berkata, BN sudah bersedia menghadapi apa sahaja isu yang akan dibangkitkan.

‘‘Kita tahu mereka ini tiada isu besar yang boleh digunakan dalam pilihan raya kecil ini. Namun demikian, kita bersedia menghadapi apa jua yang mungkin dilemparkan oleh calon bebas atau parti pembangkang,” jelasnya.

Najib juga menjangkakan parti pembangkang akan mengadakan ceramah mereka untuk membantu calon bebas berkenaan.

Batu Talam is getting a RM2.5 mill bridge, on the eve of election! hmmmm.. Do you smell somethin'?

Now, when you said it has nothing to do with election, what is that really supposed to mean??? Those people have been waiting for that freakin' bridge for the past 30 freakin' years!! Using government's money to boost electoral votes is definitely an offense.

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Penantian 30 tahun berakhir

RAUB 15 Jan. – Penantian 30 tahun bagi lebih 2,000 penduduk di 10 buah kampung di kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Batu Talam berakhir apabila sebuah jambatan bernilai RM2.5 juta bagi memudahkan mereka membawa hasil pertanian untuk dipasarkan di bandar Raub bakal dibina.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob berkata, jambatan itu akan dibina di Kampung Ulu Atok pada tahun ini dan akan membolehkan para penduduk di kampung berkenaan untuk menyeberangi Sungai Semantan dengan selamat.

Katanya, beliau sudah pun mengarahkan Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) membuat kajian dan mereka bentuk jambatan itu untuk membolehkan ia dibina tahun ini juga.

‘‘Pembinaan jambatan ini adalah untuk kemudahan penduduk Kuala Atok, Kampung Jenud, Kampung Sejuk dan berpuluh kampung yang terletak menyeberangi sungai itu tidak mempunyai kaitan dengan pilihan raya kecil Batu Talam,” kata Adnan.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada Utusan Malaysia selepas mengadakan perjumpaan dengan penduduk di Kampung Ulu Atok, Kampung Jenud dan Kampung Sejuk dekat sini hari ini.

Tambah beliau, pembinaan jambatan itu juga sekali gus mengatasi masalah perhubungan yang dialami penduduk di kawasan terbabit sejak 30 tahun lalu.

Katanya, dengan adanya jambatan itu, beliau berharap ia mampu mengubah taraf sosio ekonomi di kampung terbabit bagi mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan dan seterusnya menambah pendapatan isi rumah.

‘‘Adalah menjadi tanggungjawab kerajaan menyediakan kemudahan prasarana di kampung -kampung terpencil dan kawasan luar bandar kerana kerajaan mahu melihat tahap kehidupan dan pembangunan ekonomi rakyat di kawasan itu dapat dipertingkatkan seperti penduduk di kawasan lain.

‘‘Kerajaan tidak akan berpeluk tubuh malah akan meneruskan agenda pembangunannya tanpa memilih kawasan dan masa tetapi bergantung kepada kemampuan kerajaan negeri,'' katanya.