YOURSAY | ‘Federal debts are at an all-time high, which means taxpayers pay more as a result.'
Don't be 'katak bawah tempurung', Najib blasts opposition
Clever Voter: The prime minister, as in the case of his predecessors, regard the people and society as simpletons.
The construction of buildings and bridges don't add up to progress. Exorbitant costs are unaccountable and awards unfairly given to a few, reflect poor governance.
Destruction of the effectiveness of agencies meant to protect public interests has also meant it's a free hand for ruling party.
Recent scandals involving Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), 1MDB, Felda Global Ventures, National Feedlot Centre, etc, are evidence of such public abuse.
Federal debts are at an all-time high, which means taxpayers pay more as a result. For every one ringgit of tax revenue, less than 10 percent goes to development.
We are doomed as long as people remain gullible and the silent class are content to enjoy the crumbs as part of the patronage system. And yet we have the resources to build a future for all.
Mosquitobrain: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, your leadership is nothing to brag about. All the projects come with 'ballooned' costs, and with the rate you're selling assets to China, in no time, we really have to live under the 'tempurung' (coconut shell).
WTF: Development? Like 1MDB, overpriced projects such as the East Coast Railway Line and MRT, Felda buying inflated priced shares of a foreign company?
The majority of Malaysians know who and what you are. Unlike your party members, we are not mushrooms.
Bersatu Malaysia: Yes, you can build this and that, but what about the debts you are incurring? We are heavily indebted.
What is more important to us, the people, are the bread and butter issues or as we say in Malaysia, our bowl of rice.
Who is going to feed our tummies with the cost of everything escalating? All those mega buildings and structures are nice to look, but we are unable to pay our bills.
MariKitaUbah: Najib, look at yourself in the mirror. This country has been plunged into doom by you and your incompetent ministers. Look at the country's debts caused by the infamous 1MDB.
You removed all the subsidies and the rakyat now suffer, you yourself refuse to admit all the mess you and your clowns have created.
The debts, the mess and the suffering of the rakyat are all created by you. It's you who are living "di bawah tempurung".
Ipoh Pp: Mr PM, I guess it's a case of “once bitten twice shy”, and a trust deficit by the rakyat, especially after our ringgit has come down to RM4.58 to the US dollar, RM3.11 to the Singapore dollar and RM3.25 to the Australian dollar.
S Korea's and Spain's MRT more expensive than M'sia's, BN tells Rafizi
Thana55: A 'BN strategic communications team'? What is that? Con men and women most likely, perhaps also known as the 'spin team'.
If they are so confident, come out and hold a press conference like Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli does.
Anonymous 2413201460529218: An anonymous group replies to PKR vice-president Rafizi’s criticisms? What a joke – they have no credibility.
Nil: Compare the projects using historic costs and exchange rates conversions.
Find the real value, or economic costs, the "equivalent costs" to compare, taking into consideration the nation's GNP (gross national product), cost of living, opportunity costs, etc.
Compare in real terms.
RR: The land cost, labour cost, etc, should be much cheaper in Malaysia than in fully developed South Korea or Spain. Therefore, the costs must be lower here.
Yes, a genuine open tender system is the answer to avoid squandering of public money, when the poor have to be dependent on BR1M, which we boast about.
Watan: Why don't we compare our costs against countries that are of our rank, like Zimbabwe, Venezuela and Uganda?
Mosquitobrain: A project of this magnitude ought to be broken down into different packages. Each package should has at least three or more tenders for transparency, and to justify the costs.
Why compare with Spain and Korea without even looking at the project proper there?
Wira: Open tenders, please. If the MRT had been awarded transparently with open tenders, then it okay even if it costs more, because no one else, considering the terrain and the work scope, would offer to bid for less.
In Bolehland, the biggest question is, why aren't projects awarded with the kind of transparency and openness Western democratic countries practise? This is the biggest failure of Umno.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
