A bridge too far…or a bridge too much of a fancy??

Lo and behold the saga of the scenic over the straits of Johore is over.

The bridge that will link us with our economic rival, Singapore is not gonna be built.

“It was because the rakyat didn’t want it” says one Menteri Besar, who enjoys zapin rather than sitting in the office thinking of a way of how to elevate the lagging Malays in his own backyard.

“It was due to Singapore putting unrealistic claims such as sands and Malaysian airspace” said another Minister, from Kota Tinggi, Johor.

The same minister who said last year that the bridge will be built nonetheless regardless of what the Singaporeans wants, (even threatening to demolish the existing causeway just to coax the Singaporeans to agree).

“It wasn’t a popular rakyat decision, we listen to the rakyat” said another top Minister, who is currently lonely.

Oh rakyat…let your voices be known and heed your call, for your voices has been heard and heeded. Oh yes…the orgasm of being noticed is almost mind blowing.

But I beg to differ!!? This rakyat who pays good taxes be it income taxes, sales tax or road tax, really beg to differ.

My arguments?

1. After all the saga of building the bridge ended, does anyone knows what actually going on?

Why appoint the contractor and signed the agreement to build the bridge even before the Singapore government actually agrees on it?

On yes, it was mooted out in 1996, during the time of our last Prime Minister, everything was hunky dory and the Singapore did agree.

Did they? Did they sign any papers saying that they agree? Like the papers the Malaysian government signed with Singapore 30 years ago about the supply of processed water for a paltry 30 cents per litre?

Did they?

Guess you lots assume a lot huh? Like you assume I am not gonna pissed about the fuel hike and just rolled with the punches…

2. The contractors are smiling all the way to the bank!

Who are the directors behind the company being awarded with the job of building the bridge? Are they not disappointed with the news? Kenapa tak issue statements that they are incurring huge loss due to the cancellation! Why mum over this issue? I would have fight tooth and nails if my project were cancel on a grounds that I was not totally in control of?

Perhaps they are not angry and that is a BIG perhaps, is because they initially know that whether the project is a go ahead or not, they are making billions already.

If the bridge gets built, they already won on inflated prices, if the bridge gets cancelled; there is a provision in the contract that warrants a huge compensation.

Now, that is a business model I would like to have! Lebih baik tak jadi, makan duit atas angina saje…

3. Where is your consensus of this ”suara rakyat”?

This statement has been mooted out several times by various ministers. But on what grounds, where is your databases? What is your “r” value? What type of questionnaires used? Likert method perhaps? SPSS used to tabulate the score?

Did you participate in this survey? Or the minister can now reads minds?

I totally cannot accept that we are somehow being blame for this! Totally unacceptable?! You piled the crap and I got blame for the shit, which is totally fucked up la dude!

Back in 1996, were we the rakyat “consented on this also? I believe no…the Minister always know better than us. Suara rakyat….oh suara rakyat

May be some of you beginning to think, eleh kutu nie komplen boleh laaa…bagi la suggestion? I am no politician just a simple man. A simple man who tries to make ends meet through honest and legal business.

1. Survey are easy to do

It is so easy to set up a survey that is can costless. A website survey that is accessible to the general public can be set up practically free! SMS voting can also be done. If the public willing to part RM 0.50 to vote for Mawi, Marsya and Felix, why not vote for this?

Surely we Malaysian, especially Malays are not too fickle about issue like this? Or are they?

Web survey can easily tabulated and shown to the public. The participation can be limited a specific time, like 21 days. If it is a popular decisions, wouldn’t it be easier to force it through becoz the opposition would not a grain of ammunition to lambaste you with?

Alas…the flesh is weak as well as some minister brain.

2. Projects that involve billions need thorough planning.

Ini tidak, persetujuan belum dapat dari the other party, sudah “syok sendiri”. Appoint contractor dulu laa, buat pilling siap2 laa.., heboh satu Malaysia laa.

Did you know that not a single news was aired in Singapore about the bridge cancellation?! Are they not bothered, are they not concerned that their government were blamed?

Perhaps they know that Malaysians gemar Jom Heboh, so let them key poh!

3. How many bridges la chief?

May be many did not realized that we already have a second bridge linking Malaysia with Singapore at Gelang Patah. Over RM 2 billion were spent on that bridge, the usage is still below expectations and the payback period was expected to be over 30 years.

If I were the holding concession on bridge at Gelang Patah, I will be pissed that the second bridge is being built less than 8 years after my bridge is completed.

4. Who needs who?

I believe it is painful to say this especially when I am a Johorean myself, but Johor Bahru needs Singaporeans more than Singaporeans needs Malaysian.

They come in droves during weekends, spends millions of ringgit on grocery items and fuels, injecting our economy. Bettering the life in JB itself with better facilities, wider roads, hotel fully occupied and job for thousands of workers.

Most Malaysian goes to Singapore for jobs with better pay, better education and better healthcare.

So who needs who the most?!

I have run out of superlative in describing this funny scenario. I just wished our “beloved” minister would stop patronizing us once in a while…I am so covered with your bullshit that my mum beginning to think I work in a cow ranch in Rawang!