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).
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.
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.
