Friday, July 16

Book Review: BN Blunders and Plunders

Dean John is a writer who contributes articles to the Malaysiakini. His articles are based on what is happening to Malaysia, some of which are hair-raising issues.

Some of these articles are compiled into a book, The Missing Malaysia. Vividly written, the book contains many things that you may not have read anywhere before. It is full of lurid details of what the BN has done to the people and the country.

For those who have interest in Malaysian politics, this book is a must read one, as Malaysiakini feature editor, S. Vicknesan says ‘will make you smile, laugh, sigh, curse or roll your eyes as you go along.”

Published by Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, Selangor, the book is obtainable in major book stores in Kuching.

Let me highlight one of John’s articles, BN Blunders and Plunders:

John says: “I’d love to able to compute what BN blundering and plundering has cost Malaysia as a nation and each individual Malaysian personally, but thanks to media suppression and legislated secrecy, nobody really knows.

“Though dome idea of the staggering amount can be gleaned from an excellent article that one of my contacts sent me from Malaysia Today. Written by somebody calling him/herself ‘ez42get’, magazine, Daniel Lan, Southeast Asia economist with Morgan Stanley in Singapore, was quoted as estimating that Malaysia ‘may have lost US$100 billion (RM320 billion) since the early 1980’s to corruption."

“The article also contains a long, long catalogue of crimes and incompetencies, though just ‘the tip of the inceberg’ according to the author, including:

Ø The Bank Bumiputra scandals of the early 1980s (Cost, RM3.2 billion).

Ø Maminco’s 1980s attempt to corner the global tin market (RM1.6 billion).

Ø Bank Negara losses on foreign exchange features in the 1990s (RM30 billion).

Ø Perjawa steel loses (RM2.56 billion).

Ø Bank Islam scandal (RM700 million).

Ø Wang Ehsan from Trengganu oil royalty (RM7.4 billion).

Ø Shoring-up of Valuecap Sdn Bhd with public funds (RM10 billion).
Ø Commissions to Perimeker Sdn Bhd and IMT Defence Sdn Bhd on fighter and submarine deals (RM910 million).

Ø Unitemised IT equipment purchased for schools (RM2.21 billion).

Ø Soft loan to PKFZ (RM4.63 billion).

Ø Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex for cancelled crooked bridge contract to Singapore (RM1.3 billion).

Ø Compensation to Gerbang Perdana for cancellation of crooked bridge contract (RM300 million).

Ø Two bailouts of Malaysian Airlines (RM7.9 billion).

Ø Bailout of Putra transport system (RM4.5 billion).

Ø Bailout of STAR-LRT transport system (RM3.256 billion).

Ø Bailout of Kajian Makanan dan Gunaan Orang Islam (RM8.3 billion).

Ø Compensation paid to 20 highway companies, as announced in 2006 (RM38.5 billion).

“I make that about RM126 billion so far, or according to my possibly somewhat suspect arithmetic, around $4,680 for every man, woman and child in Malaysia. But we’ve barely even started yet.

“The roll of dishonour compiled by ez42get goes on to list dozens more examples of blunder and plunder or both, including the RM100 million renovation of the Parliament building, the estimated RM500 million per year National Service program, the National Astronaut Program, the Eye of Malaysia, Le Tour de Langkawi, massive quantities of unused electoral indelible ink and bailouts of the National Sewerage system, Port Dickson Highway and Kuching Prison [projects.” – The Broken Shield.

6 comments:

Banting said...

Today newspapers reported that prices of fuel and diesel increased by 5 sen per litre and sugar increased by 25 sen a kilo. But Najib used the words `the government to reduce subsidies for petrol`.

Normally, the government will tell the people if it is going to increase the price of petrol.

There are truth when Anwar Ibrahim in his blog claimed that `Kewangan PETRONAS semakin kritikal`.

Datuk Idris Jala said that Malaysia could go bankrupt if the government did reduce subsidies.

Apai Semalau said...

Ø Bank Islam scandal (RM700 million).
This must be a crazy halal joke!

the toitose and the hare said...

This is the result of our ignorance for 53 years by voting for a corrupted gov't with our eyes closed.If we all have been more careful, perhards today we would have been much better, better than our neighbouring countries.
But no tears shed becos this this what happens when we all are been taken for a ride. Our ears are soft and in every elections, we just crawl up and and with our 2 long hands we take what this gov't throw to us. After the election they all disappear and we all just try to satisfy ourselves with those craps that was thrown to us.
We are all to easily satisfied and pleased by the sweet talk crooks.
Now, still not awake, there have been mistakes after mistakes been committed by us voters.We continue to give our support to this corrupted and at the same time we shout abuse when our land was been stolen, our trees been cut down, our water been dirtied,our fish been carted away, our rights been trampled, our future been blurred etc.
Why cry over spill milk. Only IF we all have been more careful and vote with brains, then we all by now would have our legs on the table, shaking and enjoying what we all have carefully charted.
Yes, but all is not lost.We still have time to change. But don't just be fence sitters.Start now and be a part in this change. We must be resolute in this commitment for change. Each and everyone of us MUST play a part to convince our friends and foes that this opportunity MUST not be allow to slip through your fingers.
Let us all join together and stand shoulder to shoulder to help in making our dreams come true, a dream that we all cherish.Let us all chart this course not for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.
Together we must focus on one goal. And that goal is to change this corrupted gov't. If there is a will ,there is always a way.Let be resolute. Only through our mighty vote will we see our path to Putrajaya.
Peace be with all those who share this vision.The plundering of this nation's wealth ,which belongs to us all, will stop if ONLY we all vote with our brains.

Anonymous said...

Interesting read:

http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33092:umno-rules-because-of-the-non-malays&catid=20:no-holds-barred&Itemid=100087#comments

Mata Kuching said...

“I am under no illusions that Umno is bound for destruction on its present course. Neither do I hold unrealistic expectations about the possibility of reform when the rot has gone so deep”.

“What we must do now goes beyond political parties. We need the rakyat to rise up to claim their institutions, and demand that our public institutions are answerable to them. We must wake up to our sovereignty as citizens, reclaim the constitution which constitutes us as a nation and guarantees our rights, and demand a comprehensively reformed government to restore public confidence. We must do this before it is too late.”…….Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, former Finance Minister of Malaysia and chairman of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Anonymous said...

What Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said is what he had said. Has he done anything to correct what have been going on??
Talk is easy and cheap.
Many bloggers blog but beyond that what has been done??
Come next election, BN will win big as the folks will be thrown with crumps from Taib's family feast table. Then they will be empty-handed and suffer for another 5 years!
I don't know if Paul the octopus could prove me wrong???