plus ça change…
First, the facts.
Bernama, the Malaysian national news agency, reported yesterday that 70% of the second phase of the East Coast Highway’s contracts will go to the Bumiputeras of the land.
The Prime Minister had announced that:
- 70 percent of the contracts of the MYR1.5 billion project will be tendered out among Bumiputera contractors;
- the remaining 30 percent would be awarded by direct negotiation to construction company, MTD Capital Bhd (which has successfully completed the first phase of the project and holds the letter of intent (LOI) for Phase 2);
- MTD Capital would be required to appoint Bumiputera contractors from Terengganu; and
- the companies that successfully tenders for the other 70 percent of the project would also be expected to appoint Bumiputera subcontractors.
Incidental facts that may have a bearing on the interpretation of this announcement:
- the Prime Minister is also the State Chairman for UMNO in Terengganu;
- UMNO is in the midst of its three-yearly elections;
- the Prime Minister has in the past year, especially in the run-up to the General Elections in March 2004, been harping about the importance of meritocracy, in fact, it was just yesterday that the newspapers reported (see for instance, this) the Prime Minister telling the auto industry to stop relying on the Government;
- the Prime Minister and the former Prime Minister have both, in the past two years, repeatedly echoed the importance for Bumiputeras to depend less, if not, not at all, on the government for contracts.
On 02 April 2004, immediately after the General Elections, I wrote that:
Malaysian Realpolitik is now defined by “a deeply entrenched system in which the relationship between power and wealth has become a political culture of sorts.” Let no one deny it. … We have had years since in which both politics and money have been conscientiously, and unconscientiously, allowed to flourish in close quarters. It would not now change overnight. Not over one General Elections. And neither will it change over one mandate of five years. It is now an embedded social and political culture. It will take years, and many more mandates before it changes, if it changes. And even then, it will require self-denial on the part of the powerful who each now have vested personal interests in the sustenance of the system as we know it. It is nice to think that individuals have ideals that are greater than the self. It is a pleasant thought. But is it realistic?
Now… I wonder if I should comment on this latest news report/development?
err… no. I think I shall bite my tongue.
* ouch *
Posted on July 8th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: My Malaysia
It makes me wonder about how Dr M really felt at the end of his reign. Maybe a little bit like Dr Frankenstein.
This situation is endemic in every government, everywhere around the world.
Seems like a God-given right now doesnt it?
It especially sucks for me bcoz I’m non-Boomy and in the industry, albeit at a smaller scale.
Just as they mentioned about meritocracy in the education system as well. Look what happened recently?
Or maybe they do not know the meaning of the word?
Is it any wonder why I have my misgivings about Malaysia and Malaysian politics/government? *sighs*
ah well, the government has always been contradicting themselves. what did u expect?
the absence of hypocrisy?!??
especially when this particular Government has been preaching transparency and honesty and other such good things…
“Here we are, not a perfect world…” or so goes one song. Look at the river; see the rocks blocking its flow. The waters swirl around the rocks becoming more alive, more active, more vibrant. Remove the rocks, and, we see sluggish waters. Remove the water, and, there’s no river. Just pray that not too many embankments and strictures are placed on its banks, turning the river into a drain. So Jikon, don’t bite your tongue and hurt yourself. Just accept the unacceptable and suffer the insufferable…and flourish! For, the purest of steel is made from the worst of beatings.
Eric:
“Just accept the unacceptable and suffer the insufferable…and flourish!”
Is there a manual that tells us how to do this - suffer and flourish?