The Prime Minister is just acting as a trustee and has no personal interest in the Penang Outer Ring Road project.
This is the reply to my question asking the PM whether it was appropriate for him to be director of the Penang Bumiputera Foundation that control 34% equity of the Penang Outer Ring Road project and whether there will be a review of the project by offering it through open tender system and financed by government’s fund.
The reply said that the PM is the chairman of the Foundation set up to raise the economic status of Bumiputera in Penang. The equity in the concessionaire would be offered to Kumpulan Perhubungan Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary company of the Foundation.
The government also said that the Cabinet has approved the award of the PORR contract to Peninsular Metro Works through privatization after thorough and comprehensive evaluation. Therefore the government will not reconsider other methods of financing the project.
Well, it is difficult to accept that PMW has passed through the stringent evaluation process. Other than being an Umno outfit and its political credentials, I think it has not proved itself on the technical and financial aspects in running this project.
Why can’t the government consider the Jelutong Expressway module? The developer builds the road in return of right to reclaim land for property development on both sides of the expressway. The road is also toll-free.
I have never changed my view of the PORR that it is Penang Umno’s crony capitalism at works.
it is all run by these cronies. i hate that when all this happen, why must cut the hill and build highway yet we need to pay it, and only can last for few years before it reach the maximum load? why? it is all about money…
Comment by khssim — Thursday, 29-06-2006 @ 11: 36.10
Pak Lah may think he’s a religious man, but like the rest of the Umno gang, he’s rotten to the core … conscience seared with a hot iron. His actions on a lot of issues reflects only his contempt for the people. It’s not a lack of political will, but the lack of an ETHICAL will to do what is right and proper. Bandingkan Melayu Malaysia seperti mendiang Enche (Saudara) Ahmad Nor dan AAB, di-situlah terletak pangkalnya. Bak kata PAS (although I’m against a fully-fledged expression of political Islam), masuk Umno, jalan ke arah *neraka*. Pak Lah says he’s the chairman of a foundation set up to raise the economic status of the Malays … fact is there are so many underprivileged, poor and less-to-do Chinese (and Indians) in Penang. Just take a look at the Tanjung constituency, for example. You cannot but be sensitive to the many, many who are just trying to eke out a meagre subsistence. He’s supposed to be the PM of Malaysia, not the Malays only … 2=2=4, black is black, white is white and the poor and disadvantaged is to be found amongst the Chinese and other races too, not just the Malays. What’s he doing to root out endemic and systemic corruption amongst the police? Take the Bukit Mertajam police contingent for example … what’s he doing as Internal Security Minister cum Home Minister to revamp the entire rank-and-file and middle-command chain (virtually the entire Malay personnel - conspiracy), especially the vice squad of its links with the secret society, of its active involvement in a prostitution syndicate? The BM unit penguatkuasaan of Jabatan Agama Islam PP knows only how to take action against harmless couples committing khalwat, but take no action against the police-run racket - collaboration. But we know that the BM gang and others all over the state are scared of top notch men like M. Christopher Wan, the incorruptible state police chief. The immigration too is corrupt to the core - collusion with the police and other corrupt officials.
Pak Lah is part of the corrupt Umno system … and the PORR is another gravy-train (i.e. money making venture for corrupt politicians). Pak Lah should stop and reflect for one day, he’ll meet his Maker.
Comment by DAP/PAP — Thursday, 29-06-2006 @ 12: 35.47