Another Conspiracy Unveiled

I just read the latest news on “The Star Online”, today when I stumbled upon an outrageous report regarding the budget spent by the Youths and Sports Ministry for the National Youths Skills Institute (IKBN). They bought several items which were supposed to be used and given away to the participants during the programme such as technical books, sets of screwdrivers, and plastic vases. These items can be found at hardware stores and renowned supermarkets for a reasonable price. However, the people in charge of purchasing and signing contracts with the suppliers must have some screw loose or wires tangled up in their brains. If that’s not the problem, then there must be some kind of “business” going on under the coffee table if you know what I mean. Let me summarize some of the preposterous business between the “supplier” and the Youths and Sports Ministry below:

Sets of screwdrivers =RM40..... RM229.94

17 sets of technical books =RM417..... RM10700
comprising of 10 titles

2-tonne carjacks= RM50..... RM5741

650 sets of plastic vases =RM5.20..... RM42.80

A 3.1 megapixel digital =Not stated..... RM8254
camera

legend: green=market price (per set).......red=contract price (per set)

LOOK AND COMPARE THE PRICES!!! Some of the items purchased were bought at the price of 10 TIMES higher than the market price!!! WHAT KIND OF @#$&%* TECHNICAL BOOK WILL COST RM10700 PER SET!!! PLASTIC VASES FOR RM42.80??? A CARJACK COSTING RM5741??? AND WHAT KIND OF HYPER ADVANCE SUPER DIGITAL CAMERA THAT COST RM8254!!!! IS IT THE ONE BUILT FOR NASA TO CAPTURE PICTURES OF OUTER SPACE??? ARE THE BOOKS MADE USING SHEETS OF GOLD AS PAPER??? IF NOT, HOW COME THEY ARE SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!! Now, I’m just wondering who the culprit responsible for signing those contracts is. Apparently, there weren’t any minutes prepared during the negotiation meeting and signing of the contracts. Initially, the money allocated for the project was RM399.67 million but later ballooned to RM767.98 million after two appeals for additional fund allocation were made with the excuse of preparing for a bigger student population. There are 13 type of items altogether which not all were listed in the article. For the 13 items, the government has paid RM8.39 million more than the market price at that time. Think of how many people can benefit from the millions of ringgits if the money is properly allocated for development and aiding the citizens! Think of how many poor people at the outskirts of the cities that can lead a better life if the money is allocated for them to build better houses and start small business!

The government has always been giving the excuses that there were not enough funds to raise the wages of public servants. The reason is because of the corrupted officials in the ministry. Bear in mind that this is not the only business among that involves corruption and money laundering. If just buying items such as in this case need an additional fund of more that RM200 million, think of the other expenditures such as fuel allowances, building infrastructures, upgrading government and public amenities, etc. It would amount to billions of ringgits each year!!! If that money has been properly used, our country would be on par with many developed countries such as Singapore by now. Poverty among Malaysian would be an issue of the past by now. Public servants such as teachers and police force would not be underpaid. Indirectly, this would improve the education and security of the nation. Teachers could concentrate on their duties in the school instead of rushing to tuition centre to give additional tuition classes for extra income. Bribery among low ranked constables in the police force would be reduced as they are well paid for their service. Clipping a badge stating “I’m anti-corruption” (Saya anti-rasuah) is ridiculous as that won’t deter them from accepting bribes. I’m also wondering whether or not corruption and bribery also occurs in our Anti Corruption Association (ACA). Some of the conspiracy cases that have been settled lately made me sceptical on how these agencies did their investigations. For example, the news on how the 39 charges made against Zakaria has suddenly been dropped. When asked by reporters regarding the matter, he replied that the reason is because all the outstanding problems have been settled. However, there is one more question lingering in my mind. How did the outstanding problems which he claimed got settled and in what way?

Besides that, you would be shocked if you have read the past of Zakaria. Initially, he was just a low profile person. I can’t remember what he worked as. I think he was an office boy or a security guard. Then, suddenly he became a member of the municipal council. Then, he got into the police force with a high rank. At that time, there were allegations of corruption made against him involving a few millions ringgits if I’m not mistaken. However, the allegations suddenly disappeared from the mass media and were forgotten after a while. Then, he was elected as the assemblyman at Port Klang. Even with his position, he can afford to build a mansion worth more than RM1 million in a village. However, there were no allegations or investigations on corruption made against him. He was just charged with the offence of not obtaining a permit to build that mansion. I think that due to the fact that there were few news regarding corrupted officials were punished for their crime, the people are starting to think that bribery and corruptions isn’t such a big deal in our country. They are starting to think that they can escape from any predicaments as long as they have money.

May be we need to be a little more stringent and harsh when it comes to corruption. The government need to show that they are serious when it comes to corruption just like what is happening in China now. We should show what will happen to people who are involved in corruption to serve as a warning so that others will be afraid of committing such a crime in the future. We are considered quite reasonable and lenient when dealing with corruption compared to China. From what I know, the properties of the offcials who are found guilty of corruption will all be confiscated as they are considered "haram" because they are bought using sinful money. However, I rarely read or heard any news on any officials convicted for corruption and their properties being confiscated. It is as though our country is so pure and holy that all the officials are honest but yet we ranked among the lowest when it comes to the world corruption ranking system. We often hear our leaders and ministers telling the officials to be honest all the time and warn them that any crime involving corruption will be dealt with severely but I don't see anyone being prosecuted as what they claimed yet. In China, officials who are found guilty of corruption will be sentenced to death. In fact, China even built an online game which is used to set the mindset of the youngsters so that they would not indulge in corruption. The online game requires players to kill corrupted officials while avoiding attacks from their henchmen and their bikini-clad mistresses. The online game was so popular that the server for the online game overloaded and have to be temporarily shut down to be upgraded.