Cabinet should postpone or stop the Bakun Dam, Broga Incinerator,
Half-Crooked Bridge in the South and the problematic 2-4-3 Formula and
National Service programmes before more damage is done
Press Statement
by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew
(Petaling Jaya, Thursday):
The government has decided to "postpone indefinitely" a
controversial multi-billion ringgit rail project, the Edge Daily financial
newspaper reported today.
The newspaper's online edition quoted unnamed government sources as saying
the decision to shelve the plan was taken at today's cabinet meeting and was
driven by "priority of needs" and affordability.
While we welcome the decision of the Cabinet (if it's true), we believe such
an important decision calls for greater transparency and accountability and
we hope the Cabinet could come out with an official statement to confirm the
report immediately.
The project ran into controversy recently when Malaysia dropped a consortium
of Indian and Chinese contractors in favour of the local joint-venture (MMC-Gamuda).
If the project was allowed to proceed, it would certainly severe the cordial
relationship between Malaysia and the two countries, besides tarnishing the
reputation and credibility of the Malaysian Government.
We urge the Cabinet to also postpone or drop the following projects as we
believe these projects were either insensible, on low priority, bad for
health and environment or simply unsustainable:
· The Bakun Dam and the related undersea transmission cables
· The RM1.5 billion Broga incinerator
· The RM1.1 billion half-crooked bridge linking Johor to Singapore
· The problematic National Service programme
· The 2-4-3 Formula (teaching Maths and Science in both English and
Mandarin for standard one students for all Chinese primary schools beginning
from 2003)
As the "No.1 servant " to the people and the nation, the new PM Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should have the wisdom and far-sightedness to see
whether such projects were actually viable and good. Abdullah has the power
to postpone or stop all the above projects and programmes before more damage
is done.
The last thing we want is another prime minister who fancies mega projects
and white elephants.
(11/12/2003)
* Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP national publicity
secretary and Selangor State chairman
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