‘Do we really need a third link to Singapore at the eastern side of Johor? In terms of economic sense, many think it is a waste of public funds. It will become another `white elephant`.’
On Sultan torches Najib's '3rd bridge'
Kaisim: Do we really need a third link to Singapore at the eastern side of Johor? In terms of economic sense, many think it is a waste of public funds.
It will become another `white elephant`. The present second link is underused because of the high toll charges. It is also not convenient.
If the third link materialises, political opportunists will be the first to benefit from it - not the people.
What JB wants is s system to clear the daily traffic jams at both ends of the causeway. It is meaningless to build a bridge at Desaru as it will not help in the traffic situation in the city.
The two governments can help to boost other forms of connectivity between the two states. But cooperation is hard to come by because they do not see eye to eye on many issues.
Umno is always suspicious of Singapore and the term`selling out` is always on their minds. For the sake of the people, we must let go of such suspicions and live as good neighbors.
There should not be any difficulty to build a reliable ferry service to bring commuters to Singapore and JB. Likewise, the MRT line can be extended to JB.
A flyover can be built over the straits and it will solve the traffic problems in the city. What we need is for the two governments to sit down and thrash out a win-win situation.
For too long, the residents have suffered because the two governments are suspicious of each other.
Sarajun Hoda: Thank god His Highness the Sultan of Johor has forced some wisdom onto Najib's absurd proposal to built this third bridge.
It seems so clear that the Singapore leadership can so easily pull Malaysian prime ministers around by the nose. First Abdullah, now Najib.
By building the third bridge, we are actually sabotaging our own economy. It will open up more areas in east Johor for the Singaporeans to exploit.
Consider this. Who would want to take the third bridge and drive an extra 200 km - all the way up Selat Johor around the Penggerang area and all the way up Johor Lama over to Kota Tinggi and a further long way up to join the Plus highway?
It would have to pass across so many rivers, meaning spending hundreds of millions more to built so many bridges across these rivers.
Do we really have local traffic to justify building a high and wide bridge? High because ships need to pass under it.
Or are we also willing to close down Johor Port and other prospering ancillary businesses in the area?
If we want to develop the eastern part, wouldn't linking highway 17 and 89 be a far cheaper option?
Really, Najib should reduce actions inviting 'slaps'. His ears must still be ringing from Nizar's ‘slap’ in Parliament on Monday. Now this?
On DAP launches web portal on PKFZ scandal
Peter Ooi: DAP should be applauded for their tireless effort to expose scandals on the part of the government.
Looks like it is the only party that really feels the pain of the loss of taxpayers' money.
And in this mother of all scandals, PKFZ, it is still DAP at the forefront. It should be congratulated and I believe the public really appreciate it.
RM12.5 billion is a lot of money. While DAP feel the pain of this enormous loss of money, what can we say of the parties in the ruling BN coalition?
Hardly a murmur from MCA. Neither from Gerakan. Yes, this is the attitude of the BN leadership.
When a scandal involved a BN component party, there is no sense of urgency to right the wrong.
When Lim Kit Siang moved a motion to debate the PKFZ scandal in Parliament, it was dismissed as not of national importance. Taxpayers' money of RM12.5 billion not important? I want to throw up.
And what is the reason for not summoning Ling Liong Sik, Chan Kong Choy and Chor Chee Heung to testify? They were directly or indirectly in charge of the project.
Please stop playing games with the rakyat. We have had enough of scandals involving our money.
So far I have not seen any conviction of any big fish. Only small ‘ikan bilis’ are caught just to hoodwink the public.
On Low quits MCA, vows impartiality in PKFZ probe
Yum: How does resigning as an MCA life member prove his impartiality? Paul Low is still a politician disguised as a flag-waving, card-carrying social activist.
Comedian Robin Williams once famously defined 'politics' as a word made up of a Latin 'poli' meaning ‘many’ and 'ticks' as in ‘blood-sucking creatures’.
I've yet to meet an MCA member who is not also a politician. Have you?
On Unity talks: Why must PAS 'menggatal'?
Malaysian Citizen: I am very disappointed with PAS. Why did we vote for PAS/PR if in the end we are getting the same result - racism?
For me, they are the same as Umno/BN. Malay unity talks, unity government, banning SIS and the Islamic state are all very divisive issues.
They are no good for democracy and they are no good for our nation-building.
I think what MCA told us was right - a vote for Pakatan is a vote for a ‘unity government’, for banning SIS and a vote for an Islamic state.
I urge Malaysians voters to vote in more BN reps to counter PAS in the next general election.
Ong Chiaw Hong: The writer in his letter laments that ‘we have millions of visitors to Malaysia Today, yet not even 200 would appear for RPK's trial or his vigil’.
The writer went on and on but the gist of his letter was that all those Malaysians who support RPK in the cyberworld are so cowardly and overcome by fear that they dare not come out to support him openly.
My understanding of the writer is that he feels that open support for RPK is the only meaningful and effective form of support.
From his letter, I get the impression that he was among the less than 200 who appeared for RPK's trial and his vigil, which makes him to be among the few brave souls who dared to expose their identities when they came out to openly support RPK.
The writer ended his letter by asking: ‘Frankly, do you people really understand what I am talking about? If you do, good for you. If you don't, I hope God will help you to understand...’
I think I understand what the writer is trying to tell us, but frankly I cannot understand why he has to hide behind the anonymity of a pseudonym,
He was already brave enough to be among the less than 200 people who appeared for RPK's trial and vigil.
Perhaps he appeared at RPK's trial and vigil under some kind of disguise?
Frankly, I also cannot understand why he had to invoke the name of God in his letter.
When the writer understands why he himself hid behind the anonymity of a pseudonym, then I am sure he will understand why the millions of Malaysia Today visitors did not turn up in person at RPK's trial.
Finally, when the writer picked ‘Truly Malaysian’ as his pseudonym, I hope he was not implying that all true Malaysians, besides being brave, should also hide behind the anonymity of pseudonyms.
JTB: Every time I surf Malaysiakini, I cannot help but noticed the advertisement clip of the World Games to be held in Chinese Taipei in July next month.
My curiosity got the better of me and from what I found out, there is scant news in the sports pages of our local newspapers on any Malaysian team participating in this meet.
Apparently the World Games is under the auspices of International World Games Association (IWGA).
On Oct 20, 2000, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) signed a memorandum of understanding with IWGA.
One of the many clauses in the MoU is the IOC will encourage the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in its member countries to support and assist their national multi-sport delegations to take part in the World Games.
There is a lot of talk about increasing the standard of sports in Malaysia.
Perhaps the newly minted sports minister would care to ask the Olympic Council of Malaysia why is Malaysia not sending a team to the World Games?
Is it because our team is a national embarrassment on the world stage or is it because there is a lack of funds?
Of the 30-odd sporting events the Wold Games has, body building, karate and squash are included. Surely we stand a chance of bringing back a medal or two in these events?
Perhaps someone in the ministry or the Olympic Council of Malaysia would care to explain to all Malaysians.
On Iranian developments worrying
KBG: The writer frets about a worrying trend if people are not going to accept the results of the polls.
He says this is a dangerous precedent that can lead to chaos and the downfall of modern civillisation.
Well, actually in the Iranian case, you can't blame the loser for being dissatisfied with the result. The recent Iranian election is a lesson on how not to conduct an election.
No independent international monitors were allowed. Counting was done in private without representatives from the candidates present.
How then do you convince a populace that a candidate has won fairly, especially if the winner is seen as being aligned to the bodies which conducted the election?
The winner may have won fairly and legitimately but the way the election and counting was conducted means that the public will have to accept the result as a matter of faith.
This is nothing more than a pseudo-democracy. Never, never conduct an election this way or charges of fake election will result.
