How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Thursday, August 09, 2012

Symptomatic of our spending ways

I have been rather critical of how Batu Gajah town has developed, in terms of meeting the needs of the residents. I think it is apt to describe it as 'development at the expense of convenience' with the KTM railway station at the top of the list, MDBG building second, and bus station, third. It was obvious and felt by residents but somehow escaped the earlier attention of planners and executors. But it can easily be explained by our leaders priority in finding a reason (more an excuse) to execute a project (the bigger the better) so that they can benefit from the huge contract sums. Politically, it is necessary in BN's ways, to help their colleagues and supporters, so that they can continue to exploit the situation. It is common to find buildings built or equipment bought without proper assessments of their need, and no budgets for their maintenance. Well, there is always another chance to upgrade instead, with a bigger budget. Why bother about looking after the maintenance at low costs and negate any future opportunities?

Against this background information, I find it laughable that a recent application and later appeal by a resident for a street light was turned down by MDBG for the reason that they have run out of funds! But I have just seen some work being done on some new railings in front of a row of shops which include KFC, 7 Eleven and TNB! This reminds me of the rumour that each of the decorative stand with a plant in a wide base pot costed Rm1000 each! Earlier work which included short stands with a light on top of each were vandalized or stolen. Some things are just impractical.

Batu Gajah is also well known for Kellie's Castle, an uncompleted mansion started by a British planter. It is better known as 'ghost house' by locals, and had been over-renovated before; was used in the film Anna and the King, starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yuen Fatt; and now with fresh allocation of funds, its shops at the entrance were demolished and being rebuilt, which is now apparent to me, for the simple reason: to make them architecturally compatible with the original building! The funds come from a different ministry within Perak, probably Tourism. Years ago, one bright spark translated the name 'Kellie's Castle' to 'Istana Kellie' and I could imagine the uproar by some before the road signs were taken down! Anyway, besides the fact that the building seems a good background for making films and taking wedding pictures, Media Corp of Singapore has shot a short documentary on it...




Link

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