This bridge is half under the water, for ships to pass and then again, it comes out on the other side. Truly a marvelous piece of engineering!
This bridge is between Sweden and Denmark ... Picture taken from the side of Sweden.
The bridge (or should it be called tunnel) goes under water to allow movement of ships.
10 comments:
Why are we Malaysia not equal to Singapore, some hurtful truths:
When we have to pay RM100 million for an abandoned bridge project.
When thousand of Malaysian motorists have to brace the jam, the fume, the carbon monoxide, and at the expense of the quality family time, to crawl through the causeway everyday to "cari makan".
When thousand of kids from Johor wake up in the wee hours of the morning to catch their school bus to Singapore for their quality education.
When they have one of the highest property ownership in the world.
When they are so many abandoned shopping complexes in Johor, e.g. Sun City, Pacific Mall, Lot 1, Kemayan City, etc.
When there is a railway line from Tg Pelepas to Senai in Johor, built at a cost of many millions but has never been used for at least the last four years.
When their politicians are ex-Malaysians, e.g. Irene Ng (ex-journalist), Khaw Boon Wan (minister of health) and Lee Bee Wah (ex-rubber taper daughter from Rumbai, Melaka).
When their per capita spending power is 5X per capita of an average Malaysian.
When their crime rates are negligible when compared to Johor Baru.
When the biggest shopping complex in Johor, City Square is majority owned by Temasek, an investment arm of Singapore.
When Singapore says cheap, cheap, cheap (like a bird) shopping in Johor.
When Singapore has the most efficient and world class airport, MRT and port system.
When Singapore is ranked so highly in the transparency index as compared to Malaysia.
When Singapore is ranked as the most business friendly place.
When SGD1= RM2.28.
When our public transportation is a real poor cousin of SBS and MRT.
When our professionals are attracted to Singapore in droves.
When our minister sits comfortably and not bringing in the much needed foreign investment to spur growth.
When our best brains in Malaysia are offered scholarship and subsequent citizenship to be Singaporeans.
When Malaysia stop the crux mentality and be more transparent with the award of the bridge, CIQ, other projects etc, without the due process of tender.
When as a wee nation, they are expanding their external economy at breakneck speed by strategic acquisitions.
When as a tiny nation, their foreign reserve is manifold of Malaysia.
When as a backward backyard with no natural resources, Singapore has made it to be one of the most developed nations in one generation.
The list goes on and I weep for Malaysia, not meant as a sarcasm but really as a matter of reality.
The Chinese population in 1957 was around 50% according to a senior guy I met who lived around that time. He said that I could check with the British authority to confirm this fact. I do not know whether this figure include or exclude Singapore Chinese.
How can it have such a drastic drop from 50% to 25% in less than 50 years? Which country in the normal course of time has this drastic drop in ethnic proportion if not due to war?
And if not due to the government promoting the migration inwards of Indonesian malays and discreetly promoting the migration outwards of non-malays (especially the Chinese), by implementing racist policies that makes it different for them to earn a living.
Probably, the third cause of the declining Chinese population in Malaysia is the disunity of the Chinese political parties and the disunity of the Chinese people themselves.
Most Chinese in Malaysia vote with their foot seeing all these injustices. I have met quite a lot of Chinese who are too timid or too selfish to speak out. Most Chinese do not care what happens to the race as long as they (poor people) make enough money for, (rich people) make more money for themselves.
The formation (or rather eviction) of Singapore was primarily the malays decision to divide the Chinese population in the peninsular and weaken their powers.
Now Singapore is a first world country, we hope that Singapore should come out and stand behind us.
This is the pathetic situation now in Malaysia! What we need is for the Singaporeans and Chinese Malaysians to be united in order to prevent Malaysia from becoming another Indonesia, where the Chinese ratio is so small that they cannot sustain the huge subsidies and the economy collapses..........
First of all, do we have leaders who consider themselves as Malaysians first, and have the confidence to convince their followers to think as Malaysians as well?
But as long as we have leaders who wish to gain as much as possible for their own communities, the concept of a Malaysia with compatible policies and systems will continue to be a dream.
And unfortunately, I must admit that glancing at the present leaders and the various stances taken by them, I am pessimistic that such a Malaysia is possible.
The truth of the matter is that polarisation in Malaysia is caused by the discriminatory practises of the government - especially after the NEP - rather than vernacular education.
What I am saying now is that further polarisation of the Malaysian people along racial lines is an inevitable side effect of the NEP. This is indeed a Malaysian dilemma. This side effect transcends across all sectors, not only education.
I sympathize with those that have benefited from the NEP, but the bad news is that the price he pays for his progress is much higher than what he pays for his benefit.
Even if the government one day chooses to heavy-handedly abolish vernacular schools, racial disunity would only manifest itself in other forms if there is no level-playing ground. Our unity would only be superficial at best.
The face of Malaysia is changing and in a decade the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia will merely represent 20 percent of the country's population. The Indians well below the 10 percent mark. The minorities in Malaysia will have virtually no voice in a country that uses racial politics to govern the country.
With this fact in mind, if Malaysia continues to allow the Barisan Nasional system of governance wherein each ethnic group is represented by a political party in the coalition, then the MIC and the MCA will have a much lesser influence in the BN government.
Alternatively, Malaysians may begin to realise the dream of a new Malaysia.
But of course, the present ruling elite drunken with wealth, will continue to fight this dream to ensure that Malaysia is kept divided so that BN can continue to rule.
The role of government is to ensure a level-playing field for all and to ensure that there are laws to protect free trade and commerce. The role of government is not to enhance the life of one particular political party.
Let all Malaysians be a real part of the country. When everybody feels that they are wanted in this country, man-made barriers like vernacular schools and special rights will cease to exist automatically.
Now is the time to walk the talk, and to show greater resolve in the face of growing resistance to change. The country does not need a crooner on corruption and the crooked. It needs a leader courageous enough to translate his chorus against corruption into concrete reality.
It is time for the 'tell-me-the-truth' prime minister to show us the truth.
You are a typical stupid malay. Why should the economy and everything else be set by quotas? All poor races should be helped, not just the malays, you mean you have never seen a poor Indian or Chinese?
Income tax is obtained mostly from the Chinese and that should be distributed to all the races.
You malays are the ones that are ungrateful! Who pay the most income tax to you lazy malays so that you can have enough money and enough job?
You mean if malays cannot get rich by decent means, the government is stopping you guys from setting up business to get rich?
Wait until the malay population increases to 90% in Malaysia, the same ratio as in Indonesia, then you will know the meaning of poor, as there will be too many malays to subsidize. Then the economy collapses!
A person's wealth is determined by intelligence, hardworking, etc. You malays like to laze around, loiter around, whistle at girls, and cannot speak simple English, and yet want to become rich? Go and take a mental IQ test to prove to yourself how stupid you are!
Are you sleeping yourself? The government is practicing legal racism in Malaysia and you are supporting them?
You are true racist here. Supporting racist policies! No other countries in the world have racist policies other than Malaysia and Indonesia. Care to understand why, because the malays are in both countries and they are racist!
And in the other hand, government ask us to be tolerate and live harmony, so stupid!
A true united Malaysia does not distinguish bumi and non-bumi, Islam or non-Islam. UNDERSTAND???
Well it just appeared on the google page when I searched for racism subject this afternoon.
I have been in New Zealand for 15 years and I have no intention to go back to Malaysia simply because there is an equal opportunity here for everyone, and I don't feel less ranked in the society.
I am not sure if I am part of the cream but I do have both bachelor and master degrees, and I am currently serving the New Zealand community.
I love the place I was brought up in (Sungai Petani) and the memory I had when I was attending primary and secondary schools, but the way the Chinese and Indian people are treated by the Malaysia government is just flawed.
I have no intention to go back, until I see a non-malay PM.
Way to go!
Let us celebrate the human spirit that strives against the odds! Persistence definitely bears fruits! And certainly they are sustainable and to cherishable!
Universal truths!
One got to be prepared to look for challenges, in any areas of your interest, beyond the shores of Malaysia.
Malaysia's economy is very small and unsophisticated. Australia's economy is bigger than all of the South East Asia countries combined. Imagine Europe and USA!
To be sure, I see this syndrome with our people. I see many non-malay Malaysians at Berkeley, Stanford etc, who got their first degree from Oxbridge but feel they need to further their studies.
The Malaysia country can only attract its young and bright minds home if our national leaders seriously believe it is building an enabling social, political and economic environment for these young and bright minds to achieve their individual personal growth.
As it stands, the current environment in the country only attracts mediocre. Even the local universities, the subtle manipulation of university exams and the education system encourage mediocrity to succeed over the talented and the gifted.
Sadly, Umno politicians and ministers will never get it and they prefer not to, anyway.
Down south, our neighbour Singapore is doing its best to attract foreign talents. It is simple mathematics: Stay in Malaysia, work and slave, see other less qualified people rise above me. Go to Singapore/Australia/America, work and slave, earn promotion (if one is deserving).
Malaysia is a wonderful country. Unfortunately, racism (government sanctioned racism), hypocrisy, corrupt, and above all, a total blindness to our faults as a nation and as a people, means that only those who don't have a choice will return there.
If the government really wants to stop brain drain, be fair. Just be fair to everyone. Simple as that.
You worked overseas until you made your pile, didn't you?
In fact, that is what our Dr Mahathir advised us students to do when he gave a lecture in UK. As I remembered it, made your pile and come home. I supposed there is nothing wrong with that.
The problem is, if all these people actually come back to Malaysia and refuse to leave, Malaysia will be changed forever!
Just ask Professor Jomo and Professor Gomez why they left?
Things work in an extremely strange fashion back in Malaysia. Good people have to resign and good companies are not given contracts.
There is a very big push factor as in Malaysia actually pushes the best people out. Not only in government but also in business as well. The whole country works in a strange fashion, the mediocre become mighty while the good gets beaten to pulp. Even good malays get sidelined. It happens everywhere, even in your favourite Chinese primary schools.
Check out the expert return scheme and you can find out how petty the government is and how "serious" they are about attracting people back.
Maybe when the oil runs dry, things will change a little bit?
It is better that you leave Malaysia. This country is full of crap. Everything is crap here. There is racism and lots of red tape bureaucracy. Malaysia don't practise meritocracy.
If a malay is not even capable in comparison with a Chinese or Indian, he will still get all the goodies and left the shit to the other races. I advise the government not to help the stupid malays but to give equal rights to everyone and also judge a person based on his merits, and not his background or race.
If the government continues to help those incapable malays and not cutting those red tapes, I think Malaysia will not meet its 2020 vision. Also my advise to those malays: To the Hell with you!!!
There has been a survey done to investigate whether Chinese, Indians and Malays are hardworking. They found out that malays are the ones to be lazy. Lazier than Chinese and Indians. They do not have the motivation to strive harder.
Most of Malaysia's success come from the hard work of other races while the malays just reaped the fruits that the Chinese and Indians sowed. The Malaysia government know about this fact and that is how they implemented to protect those malays from lagging behind the other races.
If you agreed with what I had said, you know that this is making sense. However if you disagree on my views, here is 2 possibilities:
(1) you are a malay that is receiving help from the government and hence you don't make any contribution to the society.
(2) you are a corrupted, biased person that is easily influenced, just like our police force. Think about it.
I for another have given up on Malaysia as well. Born and raised but discriminated against in my own native soil. I now pledge loyalty to Australia where I am treated fair and equal.
I had not forgotten my grassroots but what is the point remembering it! All that I ask is equal rights and opportunities being a citizen but as a racist government, it is therefore impossible. Oh well……….Malaysia's loss is Australia's gain.
It is still pretty interesting to frequent the current affairs going on in Malaysia. It is as though one is reading the collapse of the Roman Empire.
I wish to point out that the Orang Asli, not the malays, are the original inhabitants of Malaysia. Most of the malay Malaysians came from Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia. They only migrated here much earlier than the Chinese and Indian Malaysians. It does not mean they deserve privileges or rights just because they were the pioneer immigrants.
It is true that there have been abuses under the name of malay special rights and it is the duty of the malays in particular, and all Malaysians in general, to stop it so that the rightful malays get their rights, and the non-malays get their rights as citizens of this country.
It is a sad thing to say, but I do believe the main thing that is holding back malays is not the Chinese or the Indians, but the malays themselves. That is why Mahathir and Pak Lah have been quoted as telling to throw away crutches and work hard to face the challenges of globalisation.
The malay and others of the same mind should learn to stand on their own feet rather than claim for special privileges and rights. The world is becoming globalised and if they don't change their attitude, they will only become beggars in their own country.
As for the malays who insist on hiding behind the veil of malay special rights - you have lost the respect of non-malays a long time ago.
We also suspect that the current situation will, unfortunately, get worse if no action is taken now. Why? Because our kids in school hardly mix with each other. They will grow up with little understanding of their fellow Malaysians, and with the suspicions that exist, it will be worse.
The truth of the matter is that polarisation in Malaysia is caused by the discriminatory practises of the government - especially after the NEP - rather than vernacular education.
The NEP is upheld for the rich and not the poor in Malaysia.
Whether we admit it or not, the problem is that the special privileges and rights given have now resulted in only a selected few malays getting richer and richer. The bulk of the malays, especially in the rural areas are not benefiting from the system.
Poor people are poor people, rich people are rich people - no matter which race they come from.
The poor in Malaysia must be served but I am sure all taxpayers feel that this should be done in a manner which is blind to age, ethnicity, gender and religion.
What is wrong with extending help to all deserving citizens based on merits and needs regardless of race?
The Malaysia problem is that rich do become richer. And because of the political system, the players are the same.
Out of control - this is all I can say about any type of enforcement and the level of corruption in Malaysia. No idea what Pak Lah has done in his four years in office but judging from the ground, I guess nothing much.
If you have ever heard of the simple saying, "Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime." you will realise that many non-malays have learned how to fish but the government is still handing out fishes to the malays. One day the fish will run out.
If you want to say discrimination is here in the US, yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn't happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia, you don't have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!
Official figures have more than one million Chinese Malaysians emigrating over the past 25 years. Why did they emigrate? I am sure the government knows.
For most professionals, living abroad has its own ups and downs. But you get dignity, fair treatment and respect for your ability. You get a voice too. And ears to hear you.
Brain drain by the tank-loads is what we get. Every single year, Malaysia loses people who could potentially contribute to the country immensely.
So malay, you may keep your rights and perpetuate them. Such things are archaic. Who loses in the end? Your country, which should have been a first world one by today.
I sympathize with those that have benefited from the NEP, but the bad news is that the price he pays for his progress is much higher than what he pays for his benefit.
These special privileges and rights were once a necessity for them to move forward. Today, after many decades, they find themselves still standing in the same place.
It is a shame that our history has been constantly twisted so that our younger generation has no understanding of Malaysia's foundation and its true aspiration.
It is arguable that if not for the contributions of the Chinese and Indian Malaysians who helped in the development of this country tremendously, Malaysia would probably be in same category like Indonesia or the Philippines, if not worst.
To improve the malays lot, more have to be made to work in private companies where competition is real and what counts is your ability. If special rights only help malays to become government servants, then all the more reason not to invoke special rights.
But of course, the present ruling elite drunken with wealth, will continue to fight this dream to ensure that Malaysia is kept divided so that BN can continue to rule.
Alternatively, Malaysians may begin to realise the dream of a new Malaysia.
The bitter truth is that the majority of this nation don't see the need to change things yet and until then, we can do little about it.
The bottom line with present day globalisation is this: compete on a level-playing field or you will lose. Plain and simple.
For those who are already in oversea and live comfortably. There is no reason for you to come back to Malaysia. Life in Malaysia is getting tougher each day.
Frankly, as a Chinese, I don't see there is any future for our next generation.
Another dangerous mentor that people always use is JFK "Don't ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country."
Is sound nice, but isn't how German Nazi and Japan militarism started the world war using the same mentor? Under the great "ask what you can do for the country."
Patriotism? Yes, I understand how you feel. Your love for the country was spoilt by the political party. Since non-malays will always be a second-class citizen, so you are probably the same in any other countries, if not better.
You get cannibalised by your own countrymen, intellectually and professionally.
As someone else advised, be a global citizen.
Patriotism does not need you to be in Malaysia to work your due. Let no one pointed at you and say you are a traitor if your true intention is to generate good deeds for Malaysia wherever you are.
Save your time about coming back to Malaysia. Nothing will change in Malaysia. At least not even in this lifetime. Racism will still be here to stay and also everything else.
I think there is such an entrenched discrimination against the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, that it will take probably a whole generation to undo the damage.
This is happening in whole spectrum of the Malaysia government, civil service, state governments and universities. Just look at percentage of malays in all these government bodies - 98%.
A whole generation of malays has been brought up to think that it is their inherited right to own Malaysia. The other races are damned.
I think the malays especially those in power, are scared right now that if they will to compete openly with other races, they will surely be the loser. You will see very strong resistance to hire other races even the most qualified.
The malays are never brought up to compete on even ground. This is fault of previous prime minister and now the present prime minister has to tread a balance ground to ensure the malays are not cast away as well as to make Malaysia competitive worldwide.
In US I never met a malay immigrant, although there are thousands of Malaysian Chinese and Indian immigrants. Why? Malays in Malaysia have an easier life where they are literately prince of the land.
We have infrastructure good enough to be considered first world or better. Look at the Cyberjaya, Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya!
Gleaming high-rise buildings but also in every city, dirty toilets abound, litter clogging up the drains, public telephones damaged, plus unreliable rubbish collection and disposal. We just treat public facilities badly, not caring about others.
Being an urban dweller myself, I am constantly disheartened by the poor public infrastructure and upkeep in our capital city.
Faulty pedestrian traffic signals, illogical positioning of bus stops, poor public cleanliness, poor quality sidewalks (which are paved using slippery tiles), poorly managed and unintegrated public transportation system, the list goes on.
Your children can't even walk safely along the Kuala Lumpur streets, as they might be bags snatched, kidnapped, murdered, raped, or robbed, as they do not know the jungle laws of Malaysia. The police won't help much as they now have a big pile of corruption cases running after them.
You owe nothing to Malaysia, you pay your due, so live on.
So, my last advice. Don't come back unless you are really suffering in oversea.
I am sorry this sounds very racist but I think we have to be honest in discussion.
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