Vietnamese come, dogs and cats missing
Bangladeshi come, Malays girls gone missing
Chinese girls come, husband gone missing
Politicians come, Mongolians girls gone missing,
Elections come, government funds missing
Police come, drugs gone missing
Elections lost, documents missing
Release true report, doctor missing
Tell the truth, whole family gone missing
Expand Air Force, jet engines missing
Pass on this, if you don't you will be missing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poof... RM8 billion dream.

Here's the deal, Einstein.

Why spend RM8 billion on defence when there's no threat. If there's one, bring back the the FREE defence pack e.g. Australia, NZ, UK, that was here before BN kicked them out. Not only it's FREE, but lots of M'sians and businesses can be generated from them. Ego and pride, huh?

Anyway, M'sia's external borrowing is RM9.9 billion and want to borrow another RM8 billion to buy 257 8x8 Armoured-Wheeled Vehicle from DRB Hicom? And, that's a cool RM31.1 million each!!!

If, there's really a need, why not buy the best of the best tanks i.e. M1Abrams at RM19.7 million. Cheaper and bestest in the world!!! Something is not right, don't you think?

Of course, the best deal is to forget about it and put this budget for basic amenities to all M'sians e.g. roads, water, electricity, health care and education.

May God save Malaysia.

============================================

Pua slams decision to buy 256 AWV for RM8 bil by Hemananthani Sivanandam KUALA LUMPUR (April 22, 2010): Opposition leaders are urging the government to review and cancel the contract to purchase 257 8x8 Armoured-Wheeled Vehicle (8x8 AWV) for an "astronomical" amount of RM8 billion. Tony Pua "We would like to state upfront that we are disgusted by the transaction. The amount is shocking as each of these non-combat vehicles is priced at a ridiculous RM31.1 million," said Tony Pua (DAP-PJ Utara). On Tuesday, DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech)’s chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil announced at a press conference during the 12th Defence Services Asia 2010 Exhibition that the government has given Deftech a letter of intent, entrusting it to develop the 8x8 AWV programme with the support of the Defence Ministry, Malaysian Army and the Malaysian Defence Industry Council. "We have an order for 257 8x8 AWV units but right now, we are going to come up with the prototypes meant for testing purposes by the army before we develop the whole range of armoured vehicles," Mohd Khamil was quoted saying. Pua said the amount was shocking as other armoured vehicles in other countries cost far less. "The Portugese army bought 353 Pandur II 8x8 armoured vehicles for the amout of 364 million euros (RM1.56billion) or an average of 1.03 million euros or only RM4.41 million each. "In 2009, the U.S Army has awarded a US$2.2 billion contract to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, one of the best military vehicle and equipment manufacturer in the world for 724 Light Armoured vehicles (LAV) equivalent of USD$3.04 million or only RM9.9million each meant for Saudi Arabia. "Even the best-in-class main battle tank produced in the United States, M1Abrams M1A2 deployed extensively in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Australia cost only US$6.1 million or approximately RM19.7 million. "Despite the price-tag, Deftech admits that they are only at the stage of developing a prototype. The prototype hasn’t been tested but the contract is already out" Pua told reporters at Parliament lobby today. Pua also said the Barisan Nasional government is "clearly missing the woods for the trees" in the financial management of the country. "At the same time when the Ministry of Finance has issued strict treasury circulars for all ministries to reduce their operational expenditure by as much as 20%, the Ministry (of Defence) commits to a purchase that completely mocks the attempt by the government to be thrifty," said Pua. "We hope the Ministry of Defence will now inform us that this is another decimal point error in the contract value," said Pua jokingly. -- theSun

Updated: 01:22PM Thu, 22 Apr 2010

source: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=45889

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Government debt at RM362b as at Dec 31, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 — The government’s overall debt as at Dec 31 last year was RM362.4 billion or 53.7 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (picture), who is also Finance Minister, said a major portion of the debt was domestic debts amounting to RM348.6 billion or 96.2 per cent while the remaining RM13.9 billion (3.8 per cent) was external debts.

“The small amount of external debt is in line with the government’s current policy which prioritises domestic borrowings to finance the country’s development projects as the cost is cheaper and there is less exposure to foreign exchange risk,” he said in a written reply to a question from Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bikut Bendera) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.

Liew had asked on the direct financial obligations of the government in the form of financial guarantee for debt instruments.

Najib said the debt instruments were subscribed by financial institutions, insurance companies and social security institutions.

On the borrowings for projects, he said the financiers were multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank while the bilateral institutions included Japan For International Cooperation (JBIC).

He said the interest rates varied and depended on the tenure of the loan and the prevailing market conditions when the bonds were issued.

Najib said the government’s contingent liabilities meanwhile were in the form of guarantees for the borrowings of statutory bodies and government companies.

As of Dec 31, 2008, the contingent liabilities of the government stood at RM69.2 billion comprising domestic borrowings of RM59.3 billion (86 per cent) and external borrowings of RM9.9 billion (14 per cent),” he said.

He said the guarantees involved two statutory bodies and 16 government-linked companies. — Bernama

RM77 million dream for the hardcore poor?

Now, now... is this how taxpayers' monies are spent? Wouldn't this money be more than enough to provide water and electricity to all Malaysians that are still using well water and kerosene light?

Singapore don't have APCO and yet I'm very sure they'll be welcomed to meet Obama for FREE. I remember Mahathir administration paid RM2 million to meet Bush.

KNNCCB!!!


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Apco contract cost RM77 mil a year

Christine Chan and Hazlan Zakaria
Apr 13, 10
5:52pm

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz today revealed in Parliament that the contract signed between the government and the controversial communication consultant giant Apco Worldwide amounted to a whopping RM77 million.

In a written reply to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) to his query on the fees paid to Apco, the amount provided by Nazri is more than twice what was earlier reported.

Chua referred to a newspaper report which quoted Nazri as saying that the amount paid to Apco was RM28 million.

"Convert this to ringgit and you will get almost RM77 million," he said based on last year's currency exchange rate.

"I don't know whether he was mistaken or his conversion rate of ringgit to US dollars is different. Maybe he thinks that the Malaysian ringgit is still strong, almost on one to one with the dollar?"

Chua also expressed his disbelief that much money is being paid to a foreign contractor for a task which could have been performed by a local company.

He said that the RM77 million contract was for one year.

"Are Apco's services so special that we need to pay so much? Why wasn't a local company employed? I am sure there are local firms that can do the job."

Nazri: Apco a bridge between Malaysia and US

Nazri (below) explained later today that Apco was hired to help strengthen ties between Malaysia and US.

He said that the government hired the company to not only improve the government's image but also to "get close to the US".

Speaking in his office in Parliament, he refuted Tian Chua's claim that local firms could do the job.

"In US, there is the lobby culture. That is normal, every country who wants to be close to US has to resort to lobbying. You think a local company can do that for us?" he countered.

Nazri then said the Jewish Americans were the biggest lobbyists.

"So if we want to lobby for something in the US adminstration, do you think that we can succeed if we use an Islamic company?"

Nazri went on to illustrate what made Apco worth the millions that the government paid for its services.

"Our prime minister is meeting Obama and some prominent US leaders. (Making it happen) is no easy task," he said, adding that during his own trip to US in February he was able to see the people that he wanted.

Dictators use the best

Nazri also responded to the opposition's call for the government to terminate contracts with Apco as they were also engaged by countries ruled by "dictators".

"Dictators with money will only use the best," he explained, adding that the same applied to the services of veteran opposition strongman Karpal Singh, a lawyer who had represented murderers and drug traffickers.
“If you are using Karpal's legal service, it does not mean that you are also a murderer. It just means he is a good lawyer. Similarly we use Apco because it is good. So what is wrong with using Apco?"

Further, Nazri explained that it is time that Malaysia strengthened its ties with US now especially with the prime minister's recent support for economic liberalisation.

"The government is making more effort to make up for the 28 years of "not so good" foreign policies under the reign of the two former prime ministers."

source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/129066

3rd class kopitiam with 1st class chair

Amazing, amazing, amazing indeed. What is The Star and Mr Tan up to? Or, are there hidden hands and agenda at work here? Sorry, no money for your right guesses. Anyway, this is what happens when there's a "buy" erection. Oops, I mean election.

Here's the story...

Saturday April 10, 2010

Coffeeshop owner honours PM

By CHRISTINA TANZ
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA KUBU BARU: Coffeeshop owner Tan Sew Sewan, thrilled by the Prime Minister’s visit here last Saturday, will “preserve” the cup, plate, fork, spoon and chair used by him.

The 60-year-old grandfather said a souvenir shop was making a glass showcase to store the cutlery for display at his shop.

Tan said no one would be allowed to sit on the chair “as I am going to wrap it and display it in my coffeeshop.”

“This shop has been in business for over 70 years and it is hard to believe that the Prime Minister actually came here for tea,” he said.

Priceless memorabilia: Tan holding up the teacup which was used by Najib at his shop in Kuala Kubu Baru yesterday. Behind him is the chair that Najib sat on during his visit to the coffeeshop.

Tan said his father opened the Sun Sun Nam Cheong coffeeshop in the 1930s, adding that its specialty was Hailam mee and kopi-O.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, during his visit to Kuala Kubu Baru town, took a break at the coffeeshop in Jalan Mat Kilau, previously known as Stoner Street.

Tan said he felt excited when an MCA member told him on Friday that Najib would be dropping by, adding that his wife and children stayed up until 2am to help clean up the place.

“I was nervous because I was not sure about the PM’s likes and dislikes ... whether he likes the noodles to be salty or not,” said Tan, who served Najib a plate of Hailam mee and a cup of kopi-0.

Tan described his meeting with Najib as very pleasant.

“In person, he is really friendly. On TV, he looks serious,” he added.

The coffeeshop owner said following Najib’s visit, several people had offered to buy the cutlery.

“They asked me to just name a price but I declined. I want to keep it for my family,” added Tan, who met Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Najib’s father, about 40 years ago in Kuala Lumpur at an outdoor event.