Eurocopter scandal: No inspection done on choppers
by Syed Jaymal Zahiid
Defence Deputy Minister Abu Seman Yusop received a beating from Pakatan Rakyat MPs today when he openly admitted that the multi-billion ringgit military helicopters did not undergo any physical inspection.
MCPX
Abu Seman, in his Budget 2009 winding-up speech, said the ministry’s technical committee had decided to buy 12 units of the Eurocopter Cougar EC 725 helicopters based on documents alone.
What Others Said:
Din Merican:
In other countries like India or the United Kingdom, scandals of this sort can cause the government to collapse, but not in Malaysia. Here the government stays no matter what.
Mr Bean:
It is time we take the bull by the horns and do what has to be done - to restore public confidence in the government. Change has its cost and fear is being instilled among the Malays as to what could happen under Pakatan rule.
Anwar’s dilemma is to figure out a way of how to take away the candy from a boy without making him cry. Can that be done??
Robotman:
No wonder Malaysia is a good trading partner to the rest of the world. We are happy to pay RM1.6 Billion to a foreign company by just browsing their “marketing brochure”. Test flights will come later. Yep! We pay first then get to test the hardware. Don’t worry lah. Got guarantee one!
Malaysia Boleh!!!!
Shrek:
Before buying the helis the RMAF needs to put it through trials to see if it meets the RMAF requiements i.e. Search and Rescue, troop deployment, MediVac, and any other role the RMAF anticipate using the helis. You just can’t guage the helis by a few joy rides at LIMA. The helis must be tried under extreme conditions , in deep jungle, in torrential rains, monsoon storms and severe weather conditions.
Then the helis need to be evaluated on cost of operation per hour.
Next the RMAF needs to consider the ease of operations and maintenance, availability of spare parts, training for maintenance crew and any special tools required.
Then comes pilot training. Cost of training or conversion, real time or through simulator, availability of training and training aid.
Helis like airplanes can be powered by different engines from several engine makers. RMAF needs to determine that these engines are supported with spares and service personnel.
Next they need to consider the avionics.
This is not an exhaustive list A proper procurement exercise will consist of more, not just by looking at glossy brochures and slick presentation by salespeople.
Antares:
Why bother with Royal Commissions, I say. If every single sin commited by Umno-BN is to be investigated by a Royal Commission, we’d be forming Royal Commissions all the way to Kingdom Come & Gone. The Rakyat has a much more effective way to discern whether something is palatable or rotten - WE PUT IT TO THE NOSE TEST!
The Rakyat’s Verdict: Umno-BN smells worse than a million SB officer’s T-shirts (to quote former ISA detainee Malek Hussin) and is destined for the incinerator. Can’t leave it lying around, it’s so toxic the soil might be contaminated for generations!
AND SOME HYPOCRITES STILL ARE ANNOYED BY THIS UPSIDE DOWN INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF DISTRESS.
BY OUR SILENCE WE ARE ALLOWING THE FLAG TO BE TRAMPLED
BY THOSE WHO GOVERN US.
Whenever a life is snuffed out.....especially a young liVES like Gayle and our own seventeen year old Mustakim Minsawi. Mustakim was kicked off his bike whilst he was pursuing a snatch thief. He succumbed to his injuries. And we ask WHY? Why these young ones whilst the crooks and goons walk freely in our midst. These two young lives went out of their way, and they need not have to, to help the less fortunate. They are no more with us but the corrupt, the racists and the bigots continue to contaminate this land.
He who will not reason is a bigot,
He who cannot reason is a fool,
He who dares not reason is a slave.
My Friday Guest Blogger Crankshaft is angry too HERE.
I don't like what I read in Malaysiakini. The Federal Court today threw out the appeal by Anwar Ibrahim’s former speech-writer, who was seeking to remit his sodomy charge to the KL High Court so that he could argue his case. And Zaki sat with two others over this case. I have read enough about this UMNO kaki and I am getting jaki about this ZAKI despite his acceptance speech. I have been foxed too often in the past by promises and growling chest-thumpings. I am cynical and that is putting it mildly. Once associated with UMNO, the cancer cells grows and no amount of chemo-promises can change things judiciary-wise. Forked-tongue! Heard of this I am sure. If the legal eagles cannot be convinced here (read Kim Quek' take on Zaki) and here who else can?
Bar Council President Datuk Ambiga says to give him a chance......fat chance I say.
I am still feeling the effects of yesterday's festivities and cannot do much thinking. So let me just copy and paste something from Malaysia Today for my readers who have been fed only with English texts. Here is something in our National Language. I have asked the Malay Male to do an translation but he is not answering my sms. So here it is:
NO....ON REFLECTION YOU GO HERE FOR THE FULL STORY....WHILST I DWELL ON THIS BEAUTY
Angela Ooi, took this initiative to organise the above. The least we could do is to support this effort. Should you need more details you are free to call her at 019-3628367 (she consented for her # to be published).
CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE
Besides the map these are some instructions:
From KL: Take Exit 218 Seremban. After toll turn left
Drive on that road and pass 4 traffic lights. DataranSerembanPark is on the left after the 4th traffic light. Get creative on the parking.
From south:
Take Exit 218 Seremban, Turn left after the toll,
Keep left and U-turn under the bridge.
Drive on that road and pass5 traffic lights. DataranSerembanPark is on the left after the 5th traffic
Angela says that she has informed DAP's reps but have had no response from PKR and PAS. Let's be very clear on one thing. This vigil is not a political initiative. It is a call for the ABOLITION of the ISA. We are aware that there are many in politics who are against this draconian law. This is an opportunity for you to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Malahsian in their effort to SAY NO TO ISA.
UPDATE AT 5:48PM
AK said...
It is also convenient to take KTM commuter train to attend the vigil as the train station is only 5 minutes walk distance from the venue.
A Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) division leader has described Umno at the federal level and Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) in Sarawak as ‘too dominant’ and indeed are ‘bullies’ in their dealings with smaller component parties in the Barisan Nasional.
Taking a cue from the statement of former MCA president Ong Ka Ting who has expressed similar sentiments, PRS publicity chief Beginda Minda said this tendency of one party dominance has an adverse impact on public perception and intra-BN relationships.
“It is my view that in Sarawak, PRS, a component party inside the state and federal Barisan Nasional has been bullied by what could collectively be called the 'BN leadership'," he said in a statement toMalaysiakini
Naturally Badawi denied such bullying but that UMNO fossil of a MisInformation chief opened his big mouth and and you and I know where his foot landed when he asked for proof. Baginda gladly gave the two instances:
The first was during the 2006 state election when a component BN party was ‘allowed’ to steal a PRS seat
“Neither the state nor federal BN intervened effectively to stop a component party from interfering in the affairs of another. Where was BN when effective action was needed?
"It was as if the BN was shutting its proverbial 'eye' to the intra-BN infighting in Sarawak. By letting the problem fester, it was acting as a bully, not a problem solver,” Beginda pointed out.
The second incident was during the March general election when two of the party’s candidates were rejected without any reason.
Beginda queried why was PBB allowed to choose its candidates to contest on PRS seats.
“Where is the principle that component parties ought to be free to conduct their own affairs and make the selection of candidates themselves? Is this not a case of dominance and bullying?” he asked.
“As a result, PRS was caught in a dilemma. The choices were two: PRS could have rejected the suggested replacements or it could have accepted them.
"A refusal to accept the replacement candidates could have left the party open to accusations of being disloyal to BN, a grave enough political sin. Such a move would have put PRS leadership in hot soup and perhaps alienate the party from BN.
“The impact on PRS was that it was a tremendous 'let down'. To paraphrase Dato Seri Ong, the perception was that a partner in Sarawak BN - the PBB - was being 'too dominant'."
Exactly a month and 1 day ago my daughter Patrina did a posting on Bullying in her blog: Life is a Beach. Read her TAKE on this subject.
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I really do not get this about the coalition partners in BN. After all these years they have been bullied and only recently they are crying foul. Did MONEY make them dumb? Did MONEY numb their tongues. Did MONEY castrate and neutered them into toyboys of UMNO?
In real life, when bullied in school we have a few choices: tell your parents, complain to the teacher, join a gang, or change to another school, or hire a guru-gi to throw a spell on the bully. However, if you do none of these, then, to borrow Haris' salvo: You are just JACKSHIT....an expelled lump of shit!
In political life, no point telling your parents (leaders)....they just talk ...taking action is foreign; complain to the teacher (BN Chief). Pointless because he will say, "Where got?"; join a gang (opposition party?)...option always open but where got money?; throw a spell? Datuk KKI will want a huge deposit; change to another school? Aha.....that is probably a good possibility.....PR should be a good school of choice. New Smart School, if I may say so.
Bullies Beware by Hannah D.
bullies beware
bullies swear
they do not care
bullies scare you
they won’t spare you
if you’re a bully beware
others are starting to care
WE CARE SO THINK HARD ABOUT THIS
Billy Abit Jol a five-term MP for Hulu Rajang and vice-president of Party Rakyat Sarawak, is the sole Barisan Nasional MP to have signed the petition urging the prime minister to prioritise the debate on the Internal Security Act when Parliament reconvenes on Wednesday.
The petition signed by 85 MPs - 81 from Pakatan Rakyat, three independents and one from BN - was delivered to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s
At 7.30pm a small crowd had gathered. Former teacher Patrick had brought along a mini-loud hailer that was put to good use last night. Then two guys Vincent and John from Kajang strolled in closely folllowed by Clair (Clare?) a hardcore RPK fan from Cheras.
In the absence of Haris, I took over the emceeing part. Earlier on in the week I read in MT that Michael was traveling from Singapore for this vigil and would return the same night by bus to Singapore. I called out for Michael and the crowd gave him a resounding ovation. "For what RPK has done for us, I would be here at every vigil if it was on Saturday. It is difficult to pay back to RPK and his family. My presence here is my little contribution." A Towering Malaysian.
After Marina reported on her visit to Pete on Saturday, ex-ISA detaianee Hishamuddin Rais took centrestage and praised the audience for conquering FEAR to be here at the vigil. He had the participants in stitches when he claimed he was the only one amongst us who is certified by the government as clean to mix in society.
Champion anti-ISA preacher, Fr O C Lim despite a bad throat, vehemently stressed the evil that is the ISA. He was followed by MP for Klang YB Charles Santiago, YB Lau Weng San, adun of Kg.Tengku and Professor Robert Chew, PA to ISA-detainee MP Manoharan. After lecturer and activist Wong Chin Huat announced that tonight was the 21st anniversary of Operation Lalang, two young guitarist Marcus and Basil entertained with their own composition.
I was distracted then by a lone voice that asked: Why don't anyone organise a vigil in JB? Suzie and husband had travelled up from JB for this vigil. We talked about this after the vigil and chances are that JOHOR WILL HAPPEN.
Relish those moments caught by delCapo (Danny Chuah). Whilst he captured the events, Danny themed the young who came with their parents.
TOMORROW whilst I celebrate this festival of lights with my Hindu friends, my thoughts will be with our Hindraf 5 and all the detainees in Kamunting. Let us not forget these:
THE DETAINEE'S: Yazid Sufaat, Suhaimi Mokhtar, Dr Abdullah Daud, Shamsuddin Sulaiman, Mat Shah Mohd Satray, Abdul Murad Sudin, Zaini Zakaria, Zainun Rashid, Wan Amin Wan Hamat, Sulaiman Suramin, Sufian Salih, Mohd Khaider Kadran, Hasim Talib, Zakaria Samad, Ahmad Zakaria, Terhamid Dahalan, Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Mahfudi Saifudin, Mulyadi, Arifin, Mat Tarmizi Zakaria, Artas Burhanudin, Francis Indanan, Mohd Nazri Dollah, Mohd Arsad Patangari, Adzmi Pindatun, Idris Lanama, Aboud Ghafar Shahril, Jeknal Adil, Binsali Omar, Husin Alih, Yussof Mohd Salam, Ahmad Jamal Azahari, Pakana Selama, Kasem Dayama, Shaykinar Guat, Argadi Andoyok, Ng How Chuang, Ng Keat Seng, Mohd Azuan Aniffa, Mohd Faizol Shamsuddin, Zulfikli Abu Bakar, Zulfikli Marzuki, Amir Hussain, Mohd Nasir Ismail, Ahmad Kamil Hanafiah, Muh Amir Hanafiah, Tan Choon Chin, Mavalavan, Lian Kok Heng, Sundaraj Vijay, San Khaing, Shadul Islam, Abdul Sattar Sarjoon, Faycal Mamdouh, Mohamad Nakhrakhel, Muhammad Shuaib Hazral Bilal, Muhammad Zahid Zahir Shah, T Vasanthakumar, P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau, M Manoharan and YM Raja Petra Kamarudin.
I RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS DICKY LEE VIDEO TO ALL WHO ATTENDED CANDLELIGHT VIGILS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND TO THOSE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO LIGHT THEIR CANDLES AT ON-GOING VIGILS. I SALUTE YOU.
I thought today is Friday.....resulting from which I forgot my weekly duty to pick up my 88 year old mum from her hair-dressers in Section 17 YESTERDAY. Did I get hell? That one for another time. My Guest Blogger is MAR-GEE-MAR*....retelling how the sins of the father is more often visited on the son. Here it is:
* Guest Bloggers inevitably gets into my blogroll.
Syed Jaafar bin Hassan Albar was the father of the current controversial Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar. His staunch defense of his political party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) — which leads the governing Barisan Nasional coalition — led to him being given the moniker "Lion of UMNO". Like his son, Syed Jaafar was also known for his radical views on Malay sovereignty over Malaysia, and Malay supremacy in politics. He is of Hadhrami Arab descent and came to Malaya from Indonesia as an immigrant just before World War 2 at the age of more than thirty. This makes Syed Hamid Albar, just like the other racist Former Selangor MB Khir Toyo, only first generation Malaysians as they are both sons of immigrants. It's rather strange that non Malays who are 4th and 5th generation Malaysians are still referred to by the Malay ultras from Umno as 'kaum pendatang' (immigrants). Both Syed Jaafar and his son Syed Hamid are known Malay ultras.
Syed Jaafar bin Hassan Albar served as the Secretary-General of UMNO during the early 1960s, but resigned after Singapore was allowed to secede from Malaysia. After the 1963 Singapore state elections held shortly after Singapore merged with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia, it emerged that the Singapore UMNO branch had been terribly defeated by the ruling Peoples Action Part (PAP). Albar then travelled to Singapore to address the Malays, and denounced Malay PAP leaders such as Othman Wok as traitors to the Malay race and UnIslamic.
Later, he had participated in verbal duels with the charismatic Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, over the issue of Ketuanan Melayu (Malay sovereignty over Malaysia). Lee accused Albar of being an "ultra" for making remarks such as "Wherever I am, I am a Malay." Lee excoriated him for this, asking "If I had been going round and saying what [he] has been saying — wherever I am, I am a Chinese — where would we be? But I keep on reminding the people that I am a Malaysian. I am learning Bahasa Kebangsaan (Malay, the national language) and I accept Article 153 of the Constitution."
Albar also accused Lee and some other Chinese Malaysians — referring to them as kaum pendatang or pendatang asing (immigrants) — of being lodgers (orang tumpangan), abusing the hospitality of the Malays who were the "masters of the house". This provoked a response from Cabinet member Dr Lim Swee Aun, who insisted "we are co-owners, not lodgers, not guests."
Lee took a swipe at his politics by arguing "According to history, Malays began to migrate to Malaysia in noticeable numbers only about 700 years ago. Of the 39% Malays in Malaysia today, about one-third are comparatively new immigrants like the secretary-general of UMNO, Therefore it is wrong and illogical for a particular racial group to think that they are more justified to be called Malaysians and that the others can become Malaysian only through their favour."
Tunku Abdual Rahman, eventually tired of the bickering and told Singapore to secede from Malaysia. The matter was hushed up, with not even the UMNO Members of Parliament such as Albar being informed of what the August 9, 1965 Parliamentary session would be concerned about. When Albar demanded more information on why their presence was demanded, he was rebuffed. Upon discovering that day itself that the purpose of the meeting was to allow Singapore to secede, Albar left Parliament House, not participating in the final unanimous vote. As this was directly contrary to his orders, the Tunku insisted on sacking Albar as UMNO Secretary-General, but was later persuaded to permit Albar to graciously resign instead.
Albar was opposed to the idea of allowing Singapore to secede, because he felt that imposing emergency rule over Singapore and removing Lee as Prime Minister would have been an ideal solution. Before secession, he had vocally called for Lee to be arrested for destroying racial harmony through his "Malaysian Malaysia" campaign, which the Malays saw as threatening the special rights granted to them under Article 153 of the Constitution. This explains why just like his dad, Hamid Albar also has the same sadistic, evil and cruel streak in him in continuing to use the ISA and brute police force against any citizen who dares to stand up against the evil BN/Umno regime. Syed Hamid Albar also considers a 6 year old girl as a threat to the dominance of the evil BN/Umno regime.
Albar also served as Minister of Rural Development for a time, and later had a son, Syed Hamid Albar. Albar died in 1977. His son, Syed Hamid Albar, currently serves as the Malaysia's Home Minister.
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The Board of Directors of the Fart Chamber
has instituted a new award "DICKHEAD AWARD"
upon any third-time guest of the Fart Chambers.
The first recipient of this despicable award goes to.....
I declared yesterday as IMPOSTORS' DAY. One impostor signed in at Marina Mahatir's blog as Zorro and the other came into my postings as Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
Yesterday evening Marina M texted me this message: Hi Bernard, how r u? Missed u at open hse, Just wanted 2 ask, I just got a comment fm a ZORRO on my blog wh was extremely nasty. I know it is not u. But just wanted 2 let u know smone else has that name. This Zorro also uses the name Sesat.
I assured MM that in my comments I never spell my name in caps. I told her this has happened in Mahaguru's and the People Parliament's blog. MM sent me the nasty comment:
ZORRO aka Ikrak, I am not publishing your comment because the real blogger Zorro objects to you using his name.
October 23, 2008 10:51 PM
++++++
The second impostor is more the retarded species. He came into my comment box as Raja Petra Kamarudin. He had a google account and his blog name is "petra-unmasked". Of course he has not done any posting. This was his first message:
Posted by Raja Petra Kamarudin to zorro-unmasked at October 23, 2008 7:15 PM
( I showed this to Marina Lee, Boom, Rody, Haris, Tengku Vic and we all had a right royal laugh. Marina said that she is jealous that her husband messaged me instead of her....I bought her a nescafe tarik to appease her)
Then this morning this message came into the comment box:
AH WELL, IF THESE THRILL LITTLE MINDS, SO BE IT....REALLY ENTERTAINING ON A WET EVENING.
DICKHEADS.....HAVE A FITFUL NIGHT WILL YA?
I WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH NANIE AND BIDI BEFORE THEY LEAVE FOR DOHA TOMORROW. AFTER DINNER IS KARAOKE TIME....LET ME GO GARGLE WITH SOME MALT BEFORE THE SINGING BEGINS.
Malaysiakini posted this report:
It is also convenient to take KTM commuter train to attend the vigil as the train station is only 5 minutes walk distance from the venue.
I will be there.
October 28, 2008 5:13 PM