‘If the Eurocopter is that much superior, come out with the facts and figures to dispute the good Kapten(Rtd)'s arguments as contained in the letters.'
On Letter questions 'shady' chopper deal
Kumar14: A difference of RM1.5 billion? And that too signed just two days before the defence and finance portfolios were exchanged?
What a coincidence and what more shocks are we in for? The spending pattern of the government nowadays seems to be the most shocking of all.
First, the space project and now a staggering deal that is said to be RM1.5 billion in the excess.
Where does this all point to? At a moment when economic instability lurks, I don't think the spending powers are doing a very good job.
The ACA should investigate all major spending by the government in recent times and put an extra eye on coming transactions.
A major operation is suspected as I believe some groups of people are trying to pocket as much as possible of the people's money in order to secure their well-being during coming economic crisis.
Lim Keat Hoe: I have given up any hope that the powers-that-be will do what is right and proper. But I want this opportunity to speak my mind about the issue.
The letters were very well-written with facts to back up the contentions. We are not talking about millions of dollars in potential savings but RM1.419 billion to be precise.
Ignorance is bliss but the government can no longer cover our eyes with coloured lenses.
If the Eurocopter is that much superior, come out with the facts and figures to dispute the good Kapten (Rtd)'s arguments.
Angry Taxpayer: If these claims by one of the bidders for the helicopter contract are true, then this will be another scandal involving the same minister infamous for the alleged Scorpene submarines and Sukhoi jets deals kickbacks.
This latest deal, which involves millions of ringgit, is done at a time when the world and the country are heading into a recession and when the people are tightening their belts to make ends meet in this era of high fuel and food prices. This is a pain in the heart for any average citizen.
Just like other government contracts, there is little or no transparency in the tender process. The whole process of tendering and the offering of contracts should have been made pubic to the people.
After all, it is the people who pay for the helicopters through their taxes and therefore the people have every right to know how their hard-earned money has been spent.
This case warrants the setting up of an independent commission to probe into the deal.
The fact that this scandal involves the man who is widely tipped to be the next prime minister of the nation will certainly send a chill down everyone's spine.
Let us pray and hope that he will not be our next PM.
Katvijay: Most Malaysians reading about this ‘shady copter deal' would no doubt have been heartened that there are still honest souls in the country's commercial world.
There are still persons who having served in the armed forces, are outraged by the gross dishonesty of politicians who are out to rape and pillage the nation.
But this ‘heartening' would be extremely short-lived when Malaysians realise that the anger displayed by the complainant does not seem all that altruistic after all.
He is just whining that he did not get to share of the loot. Just as in the case of the purchase of submarines and fighter jets, the 'middle-men' are all from a certain group in Umno or closely connected to that gang.
Two questions come to mind. Firstly, why should the purchase of arms be managed through private companies? Why can these transactions not be achieved on a government-to-government basis and thereby save the treasury of hundreds of millions in commission?
What is happening now is nothing short of daylight robbery since a needless ‘toll-gate' has been placed in the acquisition process merely to pass millions to cronies and similar crooks.
Secondly, it would be very interesting to find out who the front men are in the other companies which bid for the helicopter tender.
I am sure each of them would be crawling with Umno warlords. So it looks like money is actually falling from the skies for them.
On Najib: No abuse of power in SMS, will explain chopper deal
KillBill07: Firstly, Najib did not deny the SMS messages. So they must be true. Secondly, it boggles me that Najib acts as judge and jury, and decides there is no abuse of power.
And just because he is the DPM, everyone must take his word for it and let him off scot-free without any investigation? Shouldn't his response be something in the line of:
‘I'm innocent. Let the relevant authorities investigate and determine if there is any abuse of power. I will abide by the results of this investigation’?
Flashback - Anwar Ibrahim, a former DPM himself, was jailed for abuse of power (they called it ‘corruption’ although no money changed hands) when he asked the police to investigate the people who were throwing accusations against him.
In the SMS message, Najib texted, ‘I have spoken to IGP’. What did he speak to the IGP about? Was he using his capacity as a DPM to influence a case that is under investigation where his good friend is one of the accused?
The AG’s chambers should investigate if there is a case of power-abuse here, just like they did for Anwar Ibrahim many years ago. There should be no double standards.
AlexC: To Najib, how many times have the same allegations regarding the Altantuya case been linked to you? Why not some other issues but always the same one? There must be some reason, anyone can deduce that at least.
Whatever the PM believes is his own personal belief. What the rakyat believes is another matter. Someone who is popularly touted as being half-asleep through his tenure does not get any credibility for what he thinks may be right.
To date you, Najib, have been avoiding this matter. If you are truly clean, set up a royal commission and clear the air. This is not Zimbabwe or Hollywood where some people have a license to kill.
We have the submarine deal and now this chopper deal. Who knows what other deals that have been swept under carpet? Ex-British PM Tony Blair still has to work after leaving office to make a living.
Does no one wonder why the top echelons of our government service retire richer than when they were in government service? If Najib is not involved in any corruption, he should reveal his personal accounts from 10 years ago to date.
Prove yourself, not just brush it aside. No one is buying that anymore. Else you might make new history as being only a ‘seat warmer PM’.
Peter Ooi: Najib's answer to the SMS issue is too simple for a very serious allegation. He must be made aware that he will soon be holding the highest office in our beloved country and thus must come clean in all aspects of his life.
Even though he might not be abusing his power, which he claims, there are questions left unanswered in this allegation.
Being a very busy DPM and defence minister, how did he find so much time to sending SMSes. And why was he so concerned for Razak Baginda's case?
Why was there no mentions of similar concerns for the other two accused.
Until doubts over all his past allegations are fully cleared, I believe Najib should voluntarily put his impending promotion on hold for the sake of the country.
Mooshie Mooshie: Recently, some of us have commented on the mind boggling over RM200 billion ringgit expenditure for the country’s next budget.
It is good for the nation because a lot can be done for the country with RM200 billion. However, there was caution by many quarters pointing out that just a 2% abuse can run up to four billion ringgit.
If this alleged helicopter scandal is true, we are in for a lot of difficulties ahead. What can we do? Stop paying taxes? Vote them out? Complain until the supposedly independent judiciary or the police do some thing? Or complaint to the Agong? Help somebody!
On Retired captain confirms penning letter
Anonymous: Recalling what happened to PI Bala, I hope that the good Captain who authored these letters has the presence of mind not accept any invitations from the Brickfields police to join them for fish head curry.
On 'Investigate Najib over text-messages'
Timo Finian: Sorry, its not the government that should investigate Najib. Najib has become the government. Any attempts at investigating him would be shot down before they can take off.
Now, its time to see if our law enforcement agencies are able to act independently with a clear conscience, without fear or favour.
If they haven't swung into action by now, then we can safely assume that the 'viruses' have set in. Simply put, the 'system is corrupted'.
Apparently, the only 'anti-virus software' available at this time that could have posed a danger to the 'gnawing viruses' have been 'confiscated' and 'stored' in a 'strongroom' called the ISA.
On Anwar calls for a fresh budget
Yuva:
Anwar's call for a new budget or at least a revised budget is a correct move. A lot of things have happened and the world economic scenario has drastically changed since Aug 29 when the budget for 2009 was tabled by the PM.Our government leaders are famous for brushing aside anything that goes on around the world saying that Malaysia is not or will not be affected. Please understand that Malaysia is not a country in some alien planet.
We cannot continue to live in an imaginary world and keep saying that ‘our fundamentals are strong' and that ‘we can overcome the massive meltdown' in the stock markets and whatever economic ‘mess up' that is happening in the US and around the world.
Our new finance minister and the entire finance ministry should ‘wake up' and be realistic in running the financial affairs of this country. Big corporations and even SMEs submit revised or new budgets depending on major changes occurring in the local as well as global economic scenario.
Without revising their budgets or implementing new budgets, these business owners cannot fine-tune their performances and will not be able to achieve their targets. Same is the case when it comes to running a country efficiently.
I am not for Pakatan Rakyat or BN. I will support any government that is sincerely democratic and good for the people. On that note I support Anwar's call for a new budget and hope that the government will appreciate his call.
Timo Finian: Calls for tabling a new budget are commendable but do not expect much from someone who is too preoccupied with fending off stinging allegations from all fronts that have nothing to do with the finance ministry.
All the numerous accolades of being astute, sharp, brilliant etc, etc. showered upon this individual throughout the years have since vapourised with his involvement in matters outside his ministerial jurisdiction.
His only saving grace is that his oratory skills have kept most people hoodwinked and blinded to his true colours.
On Have faith in Najib, ignore Altantuya allegations: PM
Millionth Citizen:
It is not only very telling that the PM asks us to ignore the Altantuya allegations but also glaring that some people who want the authorities to investigate what is popularly known as Altantuya-gate have indeed ended up in jail and over some concocted allegations.Is the PM hiding something from the rakyat? God only knows.
Or is it a kind of 'trade off' with Najib, ‘you scratch my back, I scratch your back' kind of thing. The mandate given to the present government by the rakyat has been left high and dry.
John Johnson:
It is so shocking to see that the prime minister can say this - ignore all the allegations of the Altantuya case. At one time he was singing a different tune and saying let the courts decide.Now we have different standards for the BN prime minister-in-waiting. I can only conclude that arrangements and agreements have been made by these two to their own advantage as to the transition of power.
The shocking revelation of the SMSes messages is proof enough that there is some evidence of communication or collaboration. Justice must be served while those who have dedicated their lives and families to fight for justice, freedom and human rights must be released.
I do not have much respect for my PM now as to this incident. His statement is uncalled for and brings shame and dishonour.
Ibrahim Musa K:
Politicians are fond, if not over-prone, to giving verbal ‘open cheques' that would seldom or never be honoured. Never mind if they are leaders from the ruling or opposition parties - they never tire of using such uncouth gimmicks.‘The crossover of MPs would take place on such and such ripe a day, I promise'. When the day comes and nothing happens, excuses are being pronounced. Who cares if a promise has been repeatedly broken?
‘Rest assured that my deputy was not involved in this case, take my word'. Even before the court makes its ruling after more than 18 months of a snail-paced trial, the sentence appears to have been pre-empted by the leader. Yet, who cares if such hollow words are repeated so often?
Our nation breeds only politicians, far too many nowadays. As a result, the era of decadence keeps extending, eroding further the credibility of the nation.
What we need are statesmen of high integrity and humility. But where are they?
Citizen: Please drop in JB for a tour of this notorious robbery town. Well, all robbers are welcome.
And why? Because the police are sleeping here. Every single day there are some cases of robberies, thefts, housebreak-ins and many more.
I'm truly sad I'm leaving in a crime-torn city.
