Revelation # 1
Shazwan Mustafa Kamal reported in The Malaysian Insider HERE that the Najib administration revealed today that it had allocated a whopping RM18.14 billion for the Prime Minister’s Department for the year 2011, almost double the RM10.2 billion this year. This allocation amounts to 8.55 percent out of the RM212 billion Budget 2011.
The report also said:
The government also revealed that the total costs spent by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister in official trips from 2008 to 2010.Revelation # 2
In a written reply to Batu MP Chua Tian Change yesterday, Datuk Seri Nazri said that official trips overseas made by the Prime Minister as well as the Deputy Prime Minister cost RM9.807 million this year alone, an increase of almost RM4 million from 2008. According to the written reply, the total costs of overseas trips in 2008 was RM5.597 million and RM6.041 million in 2009.
“This means that from 2008 and 2009 there was a 7.94 percent increase and from 2009 to 2010 there is a 62.32 per cent increase. This is frightening if you compare the figured to when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was Prime Minister,” said Chua in a statement today.
Besides that, Nazri also stated that the government had spent RM4.3 billion for the Prime Minister’s Department in 2006 and the amount had increased to RM10.2 billion in 2009.
Chua claimed that the Prime Minister’s Department under Datuk Seri Najib Razak had received “unfair, exorbitant” allocations, saying that the amount had increased exponentially compared to the previous Abdullah administration.
“If the total expenditure by the PM’s Department amounted to RN4.3 billion in 2006 and RM10.2 billion in 2009, that means between 2006 and 2009 there was a 136 percent increase,” Chua said.
Lee Wei Lian of The Malaysian Insider reported HERE that toll highway operator PLUS Expressways Bhd could be compensated as much as RM5 billion over the next five years for not raising toll rates. The highway concessionaire is also owed about RM2.5 billion from previous compensation as at June 30.
The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and UEM Group Bhd (UEM), which have proposed to privatise PLUS for RM23 billion, are also opening discussions with the government to restructure the toll concession agreement.
Revelation # 3
Luke Rintod reported in Free Malaysia Today HERE that a RM3 billion allocation has been set aside to develop Karambunai in Sabah into an eco-tourism hub even though the property ownership is still being challenged and processed in the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak together with the Shariah High Court.
Revelation # 4
Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) will build Malaysia’s tallest building near the historic Merdeka Stadium at a cost of about RM5 billion with completion expected in 2015.
Revelation # 5
According to Tony Pua HERE, the value of the projects in the peninsula in Budget 2011 amounted to a massive RM109.74 billion, compared to Sabah and Sarawak which only received a meagre RM9.55 billion. Pua said this continued “marginalisation” would halt the country from becoming a high-income nation.
Revelation # 6
Muin Abdul Majid reported HERE about the RM100 million allocation to the Permata programme under the 2010 Budget as a recognition of the importance of early childcare and education in Malaysia.
Revelation # 7
FMT reported HERE that local economists have expressed worries over Malaysia's ability to reduce the deficit to 5.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) next year – a slight 0.2% decrease compared with 5.6% in 2010.
Revelation # 8
Reuters reported HERE that a top think-tank said today it expected the economy to expand by 6.5 per cent this year, below the government’s forecast of 7 per cent, as it sees slower exports and weaker business sentiment. The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) said the weaker tone was expected to prevail until 2011, where it forecasts economic growth of 5.2 per cent.
“There are downside risks to growth and we have based this on slowing exports and weaker sentiment in our business conditions survey,” the think-tank said.
It expects inflation at 2 per cent in 2010 and 2.5 per cent in 2011. The authorities would likely raise interest rates to 3.25 per cent by end 2011 from 2.75 per cent.'
Apart from a floundering financial position, what about the geological stability of KL city?
JBao wrote a very interesting article HERE about a huge boulder that caused KLCC to shift from its original location.
In that article, JBao wrote:
Now, more than 12 years later, we have the SMART Tunnel along the same Kenny Hill – Limestone contact zone. Recently, we have Giant Sinkholes at Jln San Peng (July 25th 2009) and the reported appearance of severe cracks in a building at the junction between Jln Tun Razak - Pudu Smart Tunnel Junction (Star July 2009). Even while the SMART tunneling was in progress there were already reports of sinkholes, cracks in buildings and other problems. But this is another story…. Too long to elaborate here.
Guess what? The two locations (Hazamas collapse and Hyundai – near KLCC limestone) and the recently reported cracks/sinkholes all lie within the same Kenny Hill – Limestone contact zone. The soil – bedrock conditions at the Kenny Hill – Limestone contact zone are already precarious in their natural state. All the tunneling and construction only made them worse. Anyone remember the flooding at the KLCC basement just after its completion?
Wait for more things to happen at the contact zone. All these due to poor planning, poor soil investigation (or shall I say corrupted and biased findings) and just “Satu Lagi Projek oleh BN”. All good and honest men (and women) professional in their work had been and still are being pushed aside. All those who bodek and “only say yes and never say die” rose to occupy all the top project posts just as what is happening to the Judiciary now. CLICK HERE for more.
Please read the following articles to reach a logical conclusion:
1. Urban Geology of KL and Ipoh
2. Karstic Features of KL Limestone
3. Scientific Feng Shui of Some KL Spots
4. KL Structure Plan 2020
Let's hope that our nation will be able to strengthen the floundering foundation caused by far too many flipflops.
May they NOT spend billions and billions as though tomorrow might never come. It is THE RAKYAT's money, safety, security and the nation's stability that is at stake.
Always, RAKYAT ABOVE ALL ELSE!!!
Captain Obvious Dear masterwordsmith,
The rich sure do know how to steal. And the government are more than obliging to help ;)
Cheers!