Tuesday, July 29, 2008

One for You, Two for Me

Barisan Nasional governments tend to set the best examples. On the surface, they'll tell you that the government and its leaders will share the burden of the people, "ringan sama dijinjing, berat sama dipikul" or "有难同当,有福同享", but in practice, it's often "one for you, two for me".

And that cannot be more obvious that what is happening with the Terengganu state government, the state with the second highest poverty rate in Peninsula Malaysia, when the state executive councillors purchased their brand new spanking Mercedes Benz to "cut cost", as blogged here earlier.

And in a remarkable show that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has lost total control over its administration, his directive that these new vehicles shall be used only for VIPs in Terengganu was immediately and totally disregarded with utter contempt by the Terengganu state cabinet. The brand new cars already found their way on the road with their proud new owners.

While the official reason for the switch from Proton Perdanas to Mercedes-Benz was due to "cost cutting measures", it is interesting to note that last minute calculations were made to justify the RM3.4 million expenditure which showed inflated repair figures for their old Perdanas. It took the former Menteri Besar to threaten a legal suit for the current administration to admit that the repair bill was only half of what was proclaimed! Hence was the decision to purchase new Mercedes-Benz made on errorneous figures or was there even a study before the decision was made?

And the state government has the cheek to blame the media for sensationalising the issue!

But the cherry on the pie must be the following announcement, in their attempt to control the damage they have imposed on the reputation of the national car manufacturer, that taxi drivers in Terengganu will receive incentives for switching over to the national car(!)
Criticised for not supporting the national car, the state government has announced special packages for taxi drivers to buy new Proton cars to replace ageing Nissans and Toyotas. The package in the form of monetary aid is for legitimate taxi drivers and those refurbishing their Proton taxis... Under the package, each taxi driver would be given RM10,000 to buy a new Proton Saga or Wira to be used as taxis.
My goodness! If that is not the clearest indication that such inferior products are only suitable for taxis in the state and obviously not good enough for the state government leaders, then I don't know what is. Much good that will do to the reputation of their beloved Proton.

These newly installed state government leaders are clearly intoxicated with the policy of "one for the people, two for us" that has symbolised Barisan Nasional administration over the decades.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

他们是有福同享,
有难管你去死~~~

拿肥瓜有够狠的~看了不爽!

Shawn Tan said...

"If that is not the clearest indication that such inferior products are only suitable for taxis in the state"

Hmm.. Almost all the taxis in Berlin are Mercedes cars..

Simon Seow said...

But I read that Selangor State Government is planning to buy Toyota Camry.

artic turban said...

YOU GOT IT WRONG IT IS ONE FOR YOU 200 FOR MEEEEEEE.
With the ratio of rm 10,000 for you
rm200,000 for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
If this is not the most lopsided
"ringan sama dijinjing, berat sama dipikul" than what is.

Anonymous said...

Kesian the poor ordinary rakyat folks who are driving the protons. And Dr Mahathir also sure terasa now, his baby is downgraded like that! Shame on the Terengganu gov and that MB of theirs. To first defy your leader that way and then stage such a hypocritical show of giving out incentives pulak.

amoker said...

well written Tony. Fundametnally a wrong decision and a waste of spending. Now, throw in more money after bad decision. No wonder we waste RM billions due to corrruption and wastage. If the people of Terengganu is not angry, i dun know what to say.

KoSong Cafe said...

No sense of priority nor public relations, being in power for too long.

Watched PM's announcement on tv on the use of the Mercs and I knew it sounded hollow. Moral of the story - buy or build first (a la Zakaria) and the leaders won't have the heart to reverse the decision.

Unfiltered-Madness said...

SURVEY: JIKA PR MEMBENTUK KERAJAAN
http://anakmalaysia81.blogspot.com/2008/07/survey-jika-pr-membentuk-kerajaan.html

Anonymous said...

If one for you two for me, the cronies would not be that super rich! It is more one for you and all the rest (millions and billions" for me

Anonymous said...

It's more like "ringan gua jinjing, berat lu kena pikul semua"

Anonymous said...

Power corrupts. This is a blatant show of gross exclusivity to differentiate between us(elite)and them(plebeians) by the powers that be. The affluenza virus is thriving in Malaysia.

Anonymous said...

more appropriate,
one each for all my cronies,
100 or more, or all the rest for me,
none for the ppl.
whether they voted for me or not,
i don't care.
that's politics, my friend,
fight dogs & cats, just before
elections and win dirty corrupt ways. and play all dirty cards or
tricks to win.
then, enjoy all, and cheat more
when in power, in control or
in office.

Anonymous said...

Somehow my believe is that Ahmad Said (current MB) is asked by unseen hands to embarrass Idris Jusoh (former MP) using Proton as the fall-guy.

Along the way, Abdullah being the nincompoop that he is, just made the thing worse.

Abdullah Bodohwee is truly Bapa Kebodohan Malaysia.

Anonymous said...

i think our country pm is from trengganu...
first...
Mr S. said i become MB, Mr Lah said NO, is Mr I become MB, but later.. Mr Lah said YEAH- Mr S should be MB...
Last few day, Mr S said buy MecBenz, Mr Lah said NO, must follow agreement. next day, Mr Lah said YEAH, agree with Mr S.

It look like BN listen to Mr Lah and Mr Lah listen to Mr S.

today another news, (吉隆坡29日訊)武吉安曼警方緊急將12名高級警官及公務員調職,包括后勤組助理總監級人馬,因為他們在一項近一億令吉用品的交易中,有涉貪之嫌。

全國警察總長丹斯里慕沙哈山今日証實,警方已成立一個專案小組,調查這宗近一億令吉的內部貪污疑案,並迅速下令將至少12名疑涉嫌貪污的警官調往其他部門,包括助理總監級人馬。

他說,除了后勤組,也包括財政部的數名公務員,目前一拼被調職及接受調查。

just WANDER WHY, since when police do wrong, and dont need to be caught and dont need go court and dont need "DENDA"??? and dont need go jail????? just transfer position or to other state.... THEN when we public do wrong, can we transfer position and transfer state???????????

Anonymous said...

We are not what we eat but rather what we believe in…
I am not talking about religion; I am talking about life here on earth!
If we believe that we would have an ever lasting love than we would.
Remember the Thomas cup 92 winning theme Song?
Jike kau fikirkan kau boleh… maka kau boleh lakukan…

My short 2weeks survey all around Sabah reveal a lot to me about the current Rakyat view.
Even aunties in pasar talks about politics
From my observation, most believe in one thing!
DSAI is innocent and Najis is guilty!
Doesn’t matter what judgments would the court give because in The Public Court has give it judgments.
What everyone is looking forward is to turtle turn the whole corrupted system Politics, Police and Juridical!
Only those who got sweets from UMNO will continue selling their soul to the DEVIL!
In the public eyes, Bad and Good guys are set!
We would like to see The Good triumph over the EVIL!!!

And change is painful…
Are the Rakyat willing to forgo peace and fight for a change?
I don’t know how bad things would go but it won’t be pretty!

Anonymous said...

let's be logical in this respect to this. we know that proton cars are not reliable and better to use a japanese made car. to get a merc, i think is way too extravagant.

but on the selection of one notch higher than proton perdana, i TOTALLY agree. (executive car)

can explore toyota camry, nissan cefiro or honda accord?

but if ppl are still arguing over brand and status, learn from the bank, set a max amount for a car and not limited to brand. eg; max of RM130k for a car.

i hate to say this, but proton car is really not reliable even though we want to argue about patriotism, nationalistic. how many of us who are commenting will prefer a waja over vios if you can afford to buy a vios?

Anonymous said...

Simon Seow said...
But I read that Selangor State Government is planning to buy Toyota Camry.
-----------------------------------

This is because Toyota Camry (specific model) is cheaper and more reliable than Perdana. This is a wise decision. :)

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YB TONY PUA

Just a couple of hours to your big day and since I am now on your blog, might as well wish first.

WY said...

Happy birthday tony! :)

1st of august...very ong wor..

Anonymous said...

When I go for a job interview, I have to first send my resume. When I get the job, especially in a big corporation, I have to learn their system and procedures. If it is a permanent job, I have 3 months probation. The ministers and state government's job is bigger than my job, and bigger than running any corporation. So, does the government invest in training for them? I mean sincere training like in money management, marketing, refresher course in history, geography, etc. Also, have to include attending training with Anthony Robbins, Joe Girard, T. Harv Eker and other great motivational gurus. We need their kind of energy excellence....But I guess they would rather use the money to buy Merc.

Bentoh said...

Hi,

Just read this article from Malaysian Insider written by Wan Hamidi (the alleged DAP member @@)...

http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/headlines/42-lead-stories/2486-a-new-era-for-dap

I found it extremely relevant since you may very well be a CEC member after 24th August... ;)

The last 3 paragraphs are extremely true, and I believe the DAP should make this August a month for the people to think about its and people's future:

Will the new enthusiasm change the face and outlook of DAP?

About 900 delegates will deliberate on the future of the party on Aug 23 and 24 at the party congress expected to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

Whether they will argue about positions in the new-found power base of Penang, Perak and Selangor, or find a more pragmatic way to promote transparency, freedom, equal opportunity, local-level democracy and freer, open market, the congress is expected to be a turning point for a new DAP.

Even if most of the old guards retain their respective position, they too should be able to embrace transformation. Failing that, the party will forever be doomed with the old bickering politics; similar to that of their sworn political enemy BN.

wyatmeng said...

WHY MOST OF THE PEOPLE OF TRENGGANU VOTED FOR THE BN FOR LAST GENERAL ELECTION,THEY HAD MADE THE WRONG CHOICE,THEY MADE WAY FOR THIS UMNO MEN TO WASTE RAKYATS MONEY.SO NEXT GE,KICK THEM OUT TOTALLY AND VOTE FOR THE OPPOSITION PARTY

wyatmeng said...

THE PEOPLE OF TRENGGANU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR THE 13TH GE,KICK THE BN OUT FROM THERE,EVERYTHING SOLVE THEN

solidleong said...

Thank god i am not from oil-gganu. Really pity the local folks over there. Struggling on a daily basis whereas the YBs are enjoying on a daily basis.

sjankan said...

[b]PENDEDAHAN TERBARU!!![/b]

Mahathir Menolak IMF Untuk Kepentingan Negara Atau Peribadi?

Boleh dibaca dan anda boleh mengundi di [url]www.chedet-unlimited.blogspot.com[/url]