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Any businessman, foreign or local who wants to get contract opportunities or simply government approval or recognition will bound to meet the infamous 'Malaysian consultants'. These consultants are individuals who constantly circle Putrajaya like a pack of vultures.

They court, wine and dine government servants and politicians. Their ears are to the ground, their eyes are fixed on the latest government project. One such consultant has described himself as a 'housefly', where there is 'food', there he will be.

Many of these 'consultants' are retired government servants or politicians feeding upon retired government officers and politicians. Many of them see this as a full-time job, arranging meetings in the late evenings at hotel lobby cafeterias. They have a confident air, like big-time businessmen, and they drive big cars to support their image. Many, however, look like used car salesmen and are not the type you would want your daughter to date.

They demand a percentage of the project fees and this is usually a five to six digit figure depending on the size of the project. This, fee, however is not all theirs as they may have to pass on a small percent to the insiders who approved the project. These 'consultant fees' are built into the project's invoice or contract courtesy of the Malaysian public.

The 'consultants' value is only their relationship to government decision-makers. Their role is only to establish that relationship. These 'consultants', as they proudly call themselves, do not add any value to the productivity of Malaysians. In fact, they are leeches and represent the excesses and leaks in government allocations.

As far as I am concerned they take money that could otherwise be used to help the poor, the destitute and those truly in need of government aid, the bumiputeras in the rural heartland who truly need help to escape the cycle of poverty. These consultants are a breed unto themselves who are the creation of the NEP and who will see to it that the NEP continues so that they can continue their profession as consultants.

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