Borders, the world’s leading book retailer, officially opening its world largest store in Berjaya Times Square.

I can’t wait to be there, extremly excited.

Anyone who was there, please share.

TQ!

Clue: Twenty-six development projects and RM2.4bil.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government hoped this move would stimulate the construction industry and projects will be implemented through open tender policy. Quote:

“These projects will be implemented through open tender to ensure competitive pricing.”

“To benefit more contractors, the bigger projects that involve very high costs will be divided into packages and tendered separately.” […]

As I always says, talk is cheap. What he promised so far, is nowhere to be seen yet.

However, as usual, I remain hopeful that, one day, he will walk the talk. By then, rakyat must be rallying around him, that’s for sure.

For context, read here.

Payback time? Indeed, sounds scary.

First, plan for second bridge was scrapped. Next, ferry fares shoot up. Quote:

Pedestrians and those with bicycles taking the ferry would be charged RM1.20 (from 60sen) and RM1.40 (from 70sen) respectively.

Motorists and motorcyclists would have to pay RM7.70 (from RM7) and RM2 (RM1.40) respectively, while monthly passes for students would be increased from RM2 to RM3.

Lorries, vans and buses would be charged RM13.20 from RM12.

By now, every penangite is scratching head, crying foul and pointing fingers. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) vice-president K. Koris described the hike as too drastic and ridiculous while Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) president S.M. Mohd Idris said any increase should be justified with improved services.

But hey, hold on, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) made the last increase on Nov 1, 1996 which is about 8 years ago. I strongly believe that, by now, the increase must have justified the inflation rate incurred throughtout the period.

Don’t quote me wrong, I’m neither pro-Gov nor anti-NGO, but sometimes, we need to learn how to adapt to this ever changing world. Worse, some who can afford to live in luxury, but not able to fork out a few penny, sounds idiotic, isn’t it?

Don’t you get what I mean now, do you?

NO?! Ok, probably jaywalker can give u a nice shot (read at your own risk). But, please don’t offend me if you feel offended afterwards, that’s not my issue.

Afterall, I can’t help that, sorry.

At last, after months of mulling over the uncertainties, it’s confirmed!

Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong revealed the government’s decision to allow the construction of two casinos in Parliament, to boost its economy and resurrect Singapore long-enough sober image. Quote:

"In Asia, Shanghai is full of drive and energy. Hong Kong is opening its Disneyland; Hong Kong is also talking about opening a casino to compete with Macau."

"Will Singapore be part of this new world, or will we be bypassed and left behind?"

"We want Singapore to have the X-factor, that buzz that you get in London, Paris or New York." […]

Genting, which might be affected by this unfavourable decision, recently tie-up with Universal Parks & Resorts to develop an integrated resort project in Sentosa, that will have a 35ha Universal Studios theme park.

However, before that, Genting has to guard-off joint or solo bids from CapitaLand Ltd, Keppel Land Ltd, Far East Organisation Pte Ltd via SinoLand, and Hotel Properties Ltd.

Short say, if Genting does not win the bid, it would lost its Singapore customers as well as those in Johor, who would find it nearer to go to Singapore than to Genting Highlands.

Meanwhile, SM Lee Kuan Yew said he found Genting proposal to build two casinos (one for Marina Bay area and another for Sentosa Island) is the most interesting among the bidders.

Whoever the winner is, we shall wait and see, upon its completion in 2009!

This time, like it or not, Work Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu did a right decision by announcing that the government will not build a second Penang bridge, but will extend the existing Penang Bridge from four lanes to six.

Reason? It’s too expensive. Exactly!

“The federal government is very concerned about the NEED to build a second bridge but it also has to take the RM2.6 billion cost into consideration. The federal government feels that for now, it’s too expensive to build the bridge.” [..]

“As such, the bridge can only be built with government support even after it is privatised.

“With an average of 110,000 vehicles using the Penang Bridge and 15,000 using the ferry service daily, we’re not sure how many vehicles will use the second bridge.”

Considering the cost factor incurs, together with so many uncertainties, especially the NEED factor, this is a wise decision, definitely!

Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon must understand that, by building another bridge may not even “help” solve Penang infamous jam. Is he really so sure that, the already-critical traffic is caused by the four lanes bridge? Any real statistical study being conducted to justify this master-plan? Afterall,RM2.6 billion is not a small sum at all!

Now, I want to see, how Koh is going to eat his word?!

It doesn’t taste good, does it?

Malaysiakini’s April Fool’s prank is being investigated by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik said today.

However, he said the MCMC and AG’s Chambers are looking at what laws Malaysiakini could be charged under.

My question is: Who’s ordered this investigation to? Nazri or Gani Patail?

People always say, your pay is always propotional to your effort.

However, very unfortunately, this case is not applicable in Malaysia, at least among our peoples’ representatives.

First, they get a pay rise, which will be backdated to Jan 2004. Then, not long after the announcement, Parliament which supposedly should be the venue to discuss on national issues and rakyat issues, end up as a stage to perform crap-talks.

Just to highlight the latest scenario: Appearance of Malaysia Airlines air stewardesses can stir a debatable issue.

To go until this far, I’m impressed.

Wayyyyyyyyy to go … !

Related Link:
- Screenshots: Dewan Rakyat Sitcom… (5)

Everything comes to a standstill, until Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz started to provoke the whole issue again.

Yesterday, Nazri said the government would act over the April 1 report that three ministers and a menteri besar would be charged with corruption. Quote:

“As far as I understand it, (on) April Fool’s Day, people tell lies. Therefore malaysiakini is definitely a liar.”

“Even though sometimes you made statements that were wrong, we did not take action because we thought you might have made mistakes in your facts. But this joke was not, it was deliberately wrong.”

“You already know this is not true and yet you put it up and say this was an April Fool’s joke. What is this? (As ) a media (organisation), you have to be serious.” […]

But, what make things looks so hillarious is that, he conceded that he did not read the report in full and maintained that he did not have to do so to realise it was false. Quote:

“I know it was not true because the prime minister has not signed or agreed to take action against three ministers and a chief minister.”

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said Nazri was “over-reacting” and urged the government to retract its excessive reaction. Quote:

“When I first read the report I was in Manila. I thought this was not something bad that the country has to be ashamed of. In fact this was something that the country should be proud of.” […]

Well, even the Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail denied that he had directed the police to investigate malaysiakini for publishing a April Fool’s joke.

I thought thats it, end of story. But the reality, it’s not!

Nazri is furious with Malaysiakini just because of a joke. As a civilian, I shall advise Datuk (Look, I’m respectful enough) that theres a lot more issues that he can spend time on, but definitely not on this joke as what he means to be too.

Of course, unless it’s the meaning behind the whole scenario that provokes him.

This morning, while I was driving to my office, as usual, bumper-to-bumper basic.

Near the Old Sungai Besi Airport, a trailer suddenly cut into my way, even though my car has already passed half of its long stretch. Thank God, I managed to press on the pedal as hard as possible, if not, ………..

The next thing I did, called the LPKP Tol Free Number 1800889600. To my surprise, there is someone over there to pick up the call. It’s an Indian girl, with fluent English too. One thing that I must compliment her is that, she is polite too. After she got every details she wanted, I thanked her for awarding me “my first time” (of good experience).

Well, a new found experience for me, unlike those “typical numbers” which always leads me to “typical receptionists”.

Meanwhile, my mobile contact have been given out, so I shall wait and observe. If there is any, I’ll update accordingly. :-)

If Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin can make RTM to recover that fast, without realising it, he must has set a very high precedence for every malfunction and inefficient government agency to achieve.

March 28:

"I admit our weaknesses because we did not portray ourselves as first on scene and the first on the screen. We are working towards achieving this objective and we will get there one day."

April 11:

"RTM, through TV1, is capable of broadcasting such events with the technical support of its engineering division and its newsroom." […]

"We have the mechanism to broadcast 24 hours as we have done it recently during the Sumatra earthquake."

To be able to walk the talk in such a short term, I salute you, Datuk!

But if you’re found to be bullshitting again, this space too, will bullshit about you everywhere.

Monkey say, monkey do? Really, it’s real pain to be one.