Project Delivery Partners.
These McKinsey boys must be running circles around our PM. We have been deluged with all sorts of acronyms. Indeed our economic plan for the country is a smorgasbord of sorts -laden with acronyms. Just as we thought we have had enough, out comes another- PDP- Project Delivery Partner. Man oh man.
What? What in God's name is that? Are UMNO people not interested in seeing through this economic trickery?
You have been screaming about special rights of Bumiputeras. As things are going now, yes, you do have that policy on special rights of Malays, but it's a policy of special rights for special Malays. The puteras in the Bumiputeras.
It's a euphemism for one who actually thought of the idea and presented it to the government. Probably the same fellers purposed the Swiss challenge method.
To avoid being labeled as accomplices to cronyism - they allow, through the government, others to come out with similar ideas. Probably, the 'others' allowed to submit in are their friendly parties so that those proposals that come after will be always be more expensive and the original one submitted looked like a godsend. In the event, should there be one rogue proposer; the original proposer will be given the chance to revise their proposal. Ini semua trick yang orang kasi tahu sama saya.
In that sense than, the 100 storey Warisan Tower is proposed by a PDP. The Sungai Besi project also by another PDP, the sungai Buloh by another PDP. We will be seeing PDP-mania.
Whatever happened to the assurance that 92% of the ETP projects were to be financed by private parties? How come in this instance, the yet to be exactly known cost of the MRT is owned by the government?
I think, we can challenge the government to allow MMC-Gamuda to publish their feasibility studies so that, we who have nothing to do, can make an assessment. Really, there's nothing to be scared of- I am sure the studies were done by brainboxes who can easily trounced our arguments.
Finally there is one issue I need to answer. In my article about the MRT, there was a comment asking me to clarify whether it would be all right had Gamuda been a wholly owned company by Malays. It's not all right, is the answer. The correct interpretation would have been- that was a criticism on the government for its implementation of policies regarding Bumiputera economic interests. The common perception by common Malays is that the policy of special Bumiputera interests has degenerated into a policy for special Malays. UMNO must correct this perception.
The Chinese have played the part of project delivery partners for the special Malays. The term PDP would be appropriate in that circumstance. Do I hold back if that is how the policies thus evolved is perceived and do I hold back too, if that is how the special Chinese business groups operate?
My god. I see a money slushing ride for Mckinsey. They advised the govt on the projects. They will also advise the project owners before and after awards. Mckinsey will be soaking in money.
ReplyDeleteSak,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the UMNO led government has no qualms about freely giving out copious amount of money to foreign consulting companies like Mckinsey, APCO, etc but would not even consider given additional budget to opposition constituencies for the benefit of the rakyat. Is this what is meant by 1Malaysia "People First, Performance Now" philosophy? Based on the DPM's answer in Parliament, I guess that the people living in opposition managed constituencies are not malaysians nor rakyats of 1Malaysia.
All these NEM, ETP, GTP and now PDP are the same crap. Essentially the government is pulling wool over the eyes of the rakyats especially those from the rural areas who are in awe of the PM using all these acronyms. To the rural folks, the PM must be one hell of a great leader to continuously be coming out with all these high sounding acronyms. Well, I have one acronym for the PM to add on to his expanding repertoire: BODOH which stands for "Bila Otak Demi Otak Hilang".
Malaysians at large never did buy the PM's statement that the ETP will be 90% funded privately and this latest MRT debacle will further erode the PM and his government's integrity. You and I and our great grandchildren will be forever be paying off the ETP debts.
Dato,
ReplyDeleteWhat the use of 1.2 million civil servants, just let few McKinky people to do the job running the country. They r more efficient. Their President wont ask for bonus and increaments yearly. This will save Najib gomen lots of money for the Permata project.
We support the The Third Force in the ereection.
Dato',
ReplyDeletePerkasa has been noticeably quiet on this MRT matter. Their revered leader Ibrahim Ali and mentor TDM both have been eloquently silent while you have been rambling on (and quite rightly too) about the inconsistencies of the project. Is it because Ibrahim and the mentor have vested interests in Gamuda and MMC or are they both convinced that this project fulfills their intepretation of malay rights?
A CIVIL SERVICE ENDEMIC IN CORRUPTION SO WHAT WOULD THE WISE THING TO DO,PLUNDER WOULD BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY AS THE RIGHT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE LEFT IS DOING.
ReplyDeleteBOLIHLAND SEMUA BOLIH.
Dear Sakmongkol
ReplyDelete“In my article about the MRT, there was a comment asking me to clarify whether it would be all right had Gamuda been a wholly owned company by Malays. It's not all right, is the answer.”
That is the correct answer. If the project is badly conceived, is probably infeasible, and the tender process is suspect and could lead to major financial abuse, does it really matter who owns what? Would it be OK if this turns out to be a huge white elephant with a massive cost over-run, and the project manager is Malay? Let’s get our thinking and priority straight. We want the best deal for our money. If we achieve this we should not care less who the contractor or manager is. If a 100% Malay-owned company can do it, well and good. So frequently badly conceived and over-priced projects are justified on the grounds that Bumiputra contractors are involved.
By the way, Gamuda is the junior partner here, even though a princess from Perak is a significant shareholder (7.6% declared interest). The real swinger here is Syed Mokhtar, who directly or indirectly controls 51.5% of MMC. He is the guy who specializes in doing business with government and loves to buy into government monopolies or quasi-monopolies – power stations, ports, supply of armoured vehicles to army – because these are no-brainer businesses, easy to negotiate good terms, and with guaranteed income (all low risk-high return businesses) that can get high-gearing finance. He even attempted to buy PLUS. This is currently the biggest of the super-Bumi. The ordinary Bumiputra must indeed wonder how one person can be given so many favours by this BN government. Why are they so good to just this one businessman? Why is that 30% cake being eaten by so few? Some questions have to be asked and answers given. Unfortunately, the ordinary Bumiputra are asking probing questions.
"A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation......" - James Freeman Clarke
ReplyDeleteIs the project viable?
ReplyDeleteThe question should be answered by Prasarana ..the project owners.
Are the current LRT/Monorail viable?
During the bail outs of LRT/Monorail Govt said that "inflated capex,not integrated,non optimal routing" are the reasons why the project failed.
Thus they created Prasarana.
Thus they created SPAD.
Thus,they decided that LRT Extension (currently ongoing) will be on competitive bidding.
Thus they practise transparency by giving a real opportunity for the public to view the routings and give feedback.
LRT Extension is about 32 km & budgetted for RM 7 billion.The process of planning,approvals,design have taken 5 years...now the project is about to kick off.
MRT is 150 km & RM 43 bil..mooted by Gamuda and with complicity of DSIJ have reached feverish acceptance by PM.Study takes only 120 days..in 6 months project kicks off.And Govt have a contract with Gamuda that will cost a bomb if unraveled.
Its a nice set up that we walked into?
Woke up this morning to THE SUN's Headline : 2 x 1000 MW Nukes Plant by 2021.
ReplyDeleteNothing on this from the Malay dailies as if the Malays isn't interested in these matter.
Now this is going to be bigger than the MRT project and Bakun Dam.
And a lot of shopping money for the 1st lady if the rumours are true.
Where's the outrage?? Malaysian have still not waken are we?
If foreign investors read this blog, they would shun this country as they would lepers.
ReplyDeleteThis country is stricken with leprosy.
Dear Sakmongkol
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant to say that the ordinary Bumiputra are NOT asking probing questions.If they did they would have discovered that a few very lucky (or well connected) Malays are eating their share.
SM,
ReplyDeleteThank you for raising the matter on the so-called PDP. It's a new low, really. Something like a grandiose title of a Project Manager, except here probably the commission is even higher.
Read that the PDP will only get to do the tunneling bit, and that the MRT will still be Gomen-owned. Does this mean Gomen will be forking the mullah?
This country is sure flush with money despite all the crap-talk about planting sayur at home, changing of lifestyle and all the other shitty ideas running around.
PDP. Wow.
Salam Dato'
ReplyDeleteWhat a done deal!
1) Government deciding on RM 43 (and be sure it will soon be ballooning) Billion MRT Project on a so superfast record time!
2) Getting the MRT Bill passed could just be that show stopper ...then they got Opposition losing 4 MPs to suspension.
3)The MRT Act will give SPAD super approving status to make the MRT Project Schedule achieve a record that even Super China will never ever can break!
3) bUT who will be raking it in? Even He will find that He's been upstaged on the super numbers by a merest of a mentee ... won't he JUST turn GREEN with SUPER ENVY! Perhaps that's a fitting punishment for him.
Dato
ReplyDeleteThe rakyat is powerless..and I applaud your courage to lay bare the facts.
Perkasa & the Opposition is silent on this MRT issue.And not a whimper from the BN representatives.
The abuse is staggering i.e no proper feasibility study.no transparency in the process & no competitive bidding.Prasarana (the owners) and SPAD is completely sidelined.Its so against the professed GTP & NEM.Its a complete reversal of the good values espoused by PM.
Yet,there is absolutely nothing that we can do.The biggest bet on our nation's future is signed,sealed and delivered without having to go through the Parliamentary process.Is the budget for the MRT already approved by the Parliament?Is there not a requirement that all government process must go through that process?
I hope and pray that you will have the success to change the course of this red tide as you so successfully did on the 700 MHz issue.
Its not a Bumi issue nor a Chinese issue.Whats at stake is the financial stability of the country.
Najib had recently exhorted that MOF be more forthcoming in decision-making.
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether this is a joke from him considering the fact that everything and anything now is being decided by his con-sultants in the likes of APCO and McKinsey.
Right before our eyes, we hear endlessly huge huge projects as though we are in Saudi Arabia.
ReplyDeleteSudah given up lah talking.
They are at it big time while we just labour on....
This is dedicated to Quiet Despair...
For we are all in deep despair.
There is nothing we can do but just grab whatever opportunities these projects give us and then decide which country to be when everything sudah habis.
At least we still have some if we are luck enough to grab some of the goodies or leftovers.
Whoa sounds like a Pizza Delivery Boy.
ReplyDeleteExcept they come in Mercs and Beemers.
Pizza boys arrive on time. If they don't, we get free pizzas.
What is the penalty for the tardy PDP.
Do you know how we can apply to be one?
ever heard of quid pro quo? I give you the state assembly, you give me the MRT...the state is called DARUL GAMUDA for a reason.
ReplyDeletewe are suffering from the Traffic Lights Syndrome. You remember in the 50s the British introduced the STOP LOOK GO signs. But this has now been transformed into a GO STOP LOOK sign. We GO with a project then STOP to have a LOOK at it. The classic example is the North-South double tracking. Really, do we need double tracking on a narrow gauge?.KTM despite the average RM200Million cash injection a year from we do not know when still provides a standard of service which at best cannot be even described as satisfactory. Take a train one day Chairman of KTM to Singapore then you will understand what I am talking about. And by the way when you do it do not announce your trip. Go to the ticket counter may be in golf attire and then buy your ticket.
ReplyDeleteActually, if you ask me we should have left the single track of KTM as it is and dedicate it for Goods Train. Then spend that RM30Billion to lay a new double track for either high speed or medium speed train. Then at least KL Sentral and Johor Baru Central ada lah class.
It is not a bird. It is a plane loads with the PDP boys to run the ETP.
ReplyDeletePDP = Contractors, but PDP sounds nicer. Crap.
ReplyDelete"What God has bestowed on His apostle belongs to God, to His apostle and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer in order that it may not make a circuit merely the wealth among you." (The Banishment : 7)
ReplyDeleteThus, it makes it very clear that the concentration of wealth in a few hands can never be tolerated.
The philosophy is that the power of any community rests upon a just distribution of wealth. If some people grow very rich and most people remain poor, the community becomes weak and is easily destroyed. Such a society cannot attain solidarity but it breeds the seeds of social tension an unrest which sooner or later disintegrate the community.
Dr R.R.Marett observed that :Real progress is progress in charity, all other advances being secondary thereto".
Similarly, Aldous Huxley wrote: "Such is the world in which we find ourselves in a world which judged by the only acceptable criterion of progress, is manifestly in regression. Technological advance is rapid. But without progress in charity, technological progress is useless. Indeed, it is worst than useless. Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards."
Now, it is perceived that under the ETP/PDP/etc programme, an organized attempt is being made to further the interest of the wealth owners, thereby eliminating the possibility of establishing economic equilibrium in the society that promotes equality and stability which will be the pillars of a progressive society.
Dato SAK.
ReplyDeleteHow can we become "con" sultants like Mckinse, Arthur De Little, Bina Fikir and Ethos? I think we need more of these kinds for Malaysia as we are running by incompetent fool leaders and government staff. After this, we can just close central units such EPU,ICU, JPA, MAMPU etc. .. after all they are now dyfunctional units.
Dear Sir
ReplyDeleteWhat can we do? As a non-Malay, I do want to help the Malays. This country rely not on the non-Malay but the Malay. However, it seems that UMNO is just trying to destroy this country to enrich themselves. Because nepotism, they're not only destroying Malay future but all Malaysian. Is there any way we can kick crooked UMNO elite out of power?
Is there anymore leader within UMNO like Tun Dr. Ismail?
Anak Malaysia