RM3.2b 'injection' this week

The Sun

PETALING JAYA (March 22, 2009) : Projects valued at RM3.202 billion under the Mini Budget will be awarded this week, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.

The awarding of projects comes just 14 days after the Mini Budget was tabled in Parliament by Najib who is also Finance Minister.

Of the total, RM1.3 billion is to be awarded to contractors for the improvement, upgrading and development of facilities and infrastructure of schools. A total of 322 schools, throughout the country, have been identified.

Another RM95.5 million worth of projects will be awarded for the rehabilitation and improvement of police stations.

"The awarding of these projects so soon after the Mini Budget was tabled in Parliament shows the seriousness of the authorities in dealing with the global crisis which has also affected Malaysia," said Najib in a media statement issued yesterday.

"It is also proof of the government's serious concern for the people's well being and to stimulate private sector activity and confidence," he added.

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People with conspiracy theories and over-imaginative brain cells would point out that the release of funds coincide with the UMNO AGM. I would say to the analyst-script writers-wannabes, stop the speculation and focus on the real issues - livelihood of yours and mine.

Tan Seri Khalid Ibrahim mentioned that leakages would defeat the purpose of the stimulus. True, that's why MACC should have one of its main terms of reference in tracking and ensuring these leakages can be detected and prevented.

However, I am concerned with the trickle down effect. The time taken can be too long and the coverage is not wide enough. How many contractors will get paid? As with any construction project, it takes time for the stages of completion to be reached and verified then payment released to the main contractor who will cancel to the subcontractors and the sub-sub contractors....in the meantime, foreign construction workers, local hardware businessmen will get their share....do you see you and me being mentioned yet? Just like the moment, I can hear little voices asking, "are we there yet? are we there yet?"

Fairus quit as Penang Deputy CM

The Malaysian Insider- Fairus Khairuddin, the Penang deputy chief minister, has quit, confirming swirling speculation about his position amid a cloud of suspicion over his conduct. The PKR man submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of the DAP, and it has been accepted.

Lim made the announcement at a press conference in Penang today. However, the CM declined to disclose the reasons for Fairus’s resignation. But it is understood that the resignation was made on the instructions of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is keen to contain any damage Fairus’s conduct would have on the Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

Fairus’s position as deputy chief minister had become untenable because he faces a mountain of allegations over suspected abuse of power. Speculation about Fairus’s resignation had surfaced this week after an anonymous text message was circulated saying that he was instructed to quit by Anwar over allegations of abuse of power. Fairus’s appointment as deputy chief minister has been a source of controversy and he has been told off by Anwar for not even visiting his constituency. He was also forced to quit as Penang Football Association president due to his lack of enthusiasm.

Speculation is also rife that he is one of two PKR leaders in Penang accused of corrupt dealings involving a quarry. Lim said today Fairus’s effective resignation date will be April 8. The DCM will be on leave until then.
Fairus will continue as Penanti assemblyman.
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Lim Guan Eng declined to disclosed the reason for resignation? Come on, LGE, where is your CAT!? Is there something to hide?

Fairus is quitting because of something wrong he did or something he should be doing but did not. Whatever the reason is, if LGE provide some explanation, at least it shows that his adminsitration has set certain standard of performance that was not met. It would send a strong signal to all and sundry that his administration do not tolerate slackers, unlike the BN adminstration that he has always been critical of.

LGE's silence in this matter will render his other strong statements as mere hot air or "cakap tak serupa bikin". People have high expectation of him. As with Badawi, the higher the expectation, the bigger the disappointment and the bigger the back lash.

Unless LGE is under a gag order.

Pakatan Rakyat adminstration is barely a year old and it has to face entrenched pro-BN mentality, untangle previous messes, learn on the job and overcome sceptism. I can understand and tolerate hornest mistakes but not practising what it has been preaching would not be very welcome.

Malaysia-Today's new site.

After reports that all internet service providers in Malaysia has been instructed to block access to Malaysia Today, the website portal has now been changed to
http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com/2008/

I think the only way to stop people accessing the website of malaysia-today, be it whatever domain, the government would have to block access to the entire internet since news travels fast and other blogs will always publicise the whereabouts of malaysia-today.

So, people please visit the new MT and check out the rebirth of our favourite news portal in Malaysia.