Speech at DAP Bukit Bintang Branch Dinner

by Lim Guan Eng

(Kuala Lumpur, Friday): The advertisement today in Sin Chew Jit Poh placed by 71 Machap Baru new villagers is public acknowledgment of DAP's important role in the Machap by-election in getting benefits to the people and affirms the crucial role played by a strong opposition in establishing democracy in Malaysia. The advertisement today read, 

Thank You, DAP

Machap Baru New Village greatly thanks DAP for contesting in the Machap by-election. DAP contesting in Machap has allowed the villagers to receive all forms of allocation grants, incentives and benefits, including a recreation park, upgrading of roads, new street lights, upgrading of drainage systems, a low-cost housing project, upgrading the Machap Rural Clinic and allocation for the three Chinese primary schools in Machap. 

All these were not available and basic amenities not able to be enjoyed by the residents for the past 50 years. Only because of this by-election, the residents' standard of living have changed greatly for the better overnight. This is a blessing to the residents. For this, we wish to thank the DAP. 

From a group of Machap Baru residents who 'know the source of the water they drink'.

Clearly without the pressure by DAP exerted on BN, BN would not have spent so much money in development projects to "buy" votes. Amongst the projects valued at tens of millions of ringgit were:-

1. Newly paved roads all over Machap;

2. Hundreds of new street lamps;

3. A RM 1.2 million recreational area near the Durian Tunggal Dam;

4. 102 grants for housing lots for second-generation settler families at Felda Tun Ghafar Machap;

5. RM3.7 million will be allocated to Felda Machap with RM3 million for upgrading water pipes, RM600,000 for the construction of a multipurpose hall and RM100,000 to repair the mosque;

6. approved the application for 7,000 square feet of land by 50 second-generation Chinese settlers with a 99-year lease and a low premium of RM12,500;

7. approved the 20-year-long demand of Machap Baru villagers to build 80 units of low- and medium-cost houses, which will be sold at price below RM60,000 each;

8. Ministry of housing and local government's special allocation of RM650,000 to upgrade roads and drainage system and to build a new air-conditioned hall;

9. RM 400,000 to relocate the telecomunnications tower in Machap Umboo to build a new replacement and unspecified amount to extend the land grant lease to 69 years from the present 34 years with reasonable land premiums;

10. Health ministry will spend RM160,000 to upgrade clinics in Machap; and

11. Education Ministry will give no less than RM50,000 to each of the three Chinese primary schools in the constituency.

The people of Machap Baru can see that it is only the presence of DAP that has ensured the people’s lives has become better by forcing the government to perform and deliver the goods. Machap Baru’s voters increased their support from 22% in the 2004 general elections to 37% in the by-election. Only with the strengthening of the opposition and democracy, can the people seek equal opportunity, a fair share of the country’s wealth for all and prove that the government is our servant and not our master by voting for PKR.

Ridiculous that the cancellation costs amounting to RM 1,277 million is RM 164 million more than the cost of building the half-bridge of RM 1,113 million

A government with 90% majority would only lead to abuse of power and corruption. The latest scandal involves the announcement of Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu that the Public Works Department (PWD) has paid RM 257.4 million compensation to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, the contractor for the Malaysian side of the half-bridge to replace the Johor Causeway which was aborted by the Government on April 12 last year. The RM257.4 million compensation to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd has caused an absurd situation whereby it is cheaper to build the crooked half-bridge than to abort it, as the total cost of cancellation of RM 1,277 million far exceeds the construction cost of RM 1,113 Million. 

The original cost of the crooked half-bridge of RM 1,113 million did not include the cost of the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex that has already been built at cost of RM 1,266 million. However the government may have to pay more than the original cost of the bridge as the cancellation costs amount to RM 1,277 million as follows:-

• RM280 million to build a permanent eight-lane overhead road connecting the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in Johor Baru and the Causeway;

• RM190 million to build other flyovers and connecting roads to the elevated highway;

• RM170 million for preliminary work done on the project; RM 257.4 million compensation to project contractor Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd; and

• Land premiums for Johor state government at RM 380 million.

It is outrageous and ridiculous that the cancellation costs amounting to RM 1,277 million is RM 164 million more than the cost of building the half-bridge of RM 1,113 million. Logic suggests that the government should save hundreds of millions from canceling the bridge and not lose RM 164 million.   

If the government is to pay up RM 1,277 million, then it might as well save RM 164 million by building the crooked half-bridge for RM 1,113 million! As a responsible Minister acting in the public interests, Samy should have refused to pay a single cent of compensation to the contractor to show Samy’s commitment and sincerity against paying unfair compensation to the contractor. Let the contractor sue the government if he is not happy. Let the courts decide on what is a reasonable amount of compensation!