Wednesday, May 19, 2010

WHERE HAVE THE MILLIONS GONE?

Each time I take the route along MMR2 overlooking the newly built army housing complex at Sg. Besi camp, I say to myself that this was the place that I last served prior to my retirement. And seeing the new housing complex, I thought it will be the final solution to the housing problems of soldiers who had to go on rentals, since there were an acute shortage of public housing for the soldiers during my time.

The construction took a long period of time to complete; almost a decade; and it was only last night that I was told that the developer i.e. Syarikat Perumahan Negara (SPN) had done a shoddy job. If one were to view the housing complex from the exterior, it will look good, but getting into the houses speaks a different kind of story. I inquired further, only to be told that the military authorities in Sg. Besi have refused to take over most of the houses because of the numerous defects found to the houses. Now where do we go from here, and whom do you blame.

Millions have been spend, and millions more will be spend on infrastructure development for the Armed Forces, and each time a contract is awarded to someone, the result is full of uncertainty.Why has this to be so, if it is not because of the massive corruption that is all too familiar in the construction industry. Someone did say to me that the construction industry in this country is the most corrupt industry, and there is little doubt now that SPN has proven it to be so.

These are some of the real issues that the Armed Forces should be serious about i.e. proper housing for soldiers, and not be too enthusiastic about the procurement of military hardwares that costs billions. What good are these billion ringgit military hardwares if your soldiers are living in dilapidated houses, and where the maintenance money is never enough?

I did make a comment regarding the dilapidated and famous Army Combat Training Center (PULADA) in Ulu Tiram, Johore in some earlier postings. I say famous because even the former Ugandan President Addi Amin was trained in that center when it was occupied by the British Forces in the 50's. I did ask someone to make a visit to the center and to witness for themselves the terrible state of affairs at the center. I say, just throw one billion ringgit from the eight billion ringgit allocated for the 8x8 IFV project, and I can assure you that with that money, you can get three ultra-modern PULADAs that will benefit hundreds of officers and soldiers. At least with an ultra-modern PULADA, we will no longer be ashame to receive visitors from overseas and to show them that the Malaysia Army's training facility is comparable, if not better than that of other modern armies. I served PULADA twice, and I was terribly ashame to take my foreign visitors on a tour around the center.

Once again, I say where have we gone wrong? I think the answer lies in the leadership.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I say, just throw one billion ringgit from the eight billion ringgit allocated for the 8x8 IFV project, and I can assure you that with that money, you can get three ultra-modern PULADAs that will benefit hundreds of officers and soldiers."

Dear Dato'

I'm quite sure that when you state the above, you were thinking this : If I were given the 1B,I can assure you.......

No.I'm not saying that Dato' will be filthy rich if they allocate that kind of money to you!

What I'm saying is that if the millions spent did not get you what you expect,do you really believe that an extra billion will get you 3 high quality PULADAs. You'll just end up with 3 equally unacceptable PULADAs.

Dato' have so accurately, and I say bluntly, identified the real reasons for the unacceptable constructions mentioned. CORRUPTION,CORRUPTION and more CORRUPTION. No 3 ways about it. So another billion will only make the contractors and those who deliver the contracts that much richer, certainly not 3 PULADAs that you would be proud of.

One cannot help being disappointed, even dismayed, when one knows for a fact, that this country could be have been a great one, even a heavenly one if it were not misruled to the extent that it has been.....misruled.And it still is!

At this stage I see one and only one solution that all right thinking and everyday Malaysians must focus on. Remove the very cause of the ills that this otherwise great country is burdened with. Remove the ruling UMNO/BN regime. That will be the 1st step. The next step will never happen without taking this 1st one.

What say you Dato'?

Mej. A R Ramachandran (Retired) said...

"THE ANSWER MY FRIEND IS BLOWING IN THE WIND,THE ANSWER IS BLOWING IN THE WIND"
Bob Dylan

Anonymous said...

What happened to the military dictum that says 'the welfare and well-being of my men comes first everytime and my welfare and well-being comes last.
I suppose those kind of Generals don't exist anymore or have they reversed Slim's words?

Firdaus Omar said...

Dato'

Kalau Dato' nak tau SPNB ni adalah vehicle untuk politician nak buat duit.

Dari dulu sampai sekarang itulah kerjanya.

Masa Zahid Hamidi pegang macam tu, Kawan KJ pegangpun macam tu, la ni Dbudak Melaka pegang pun macam tu.

Sebelum budak Melaka ni, ada Dato' mana tah... dia menang MKT Umno walaupun tak terkenal.

Selagi jawatan ni jadi jawatan politik dan politik tu adalah politik Umno...ia akan jadi organisasi hantu raya yang cekik darah rakyat.

Jangan haraplah Dato' pada lahabau semua ni...he he.

komando said...

PULADA OH PULADA

PULAK DAH ! SHOULD BE USED INSTEAD.

Not in my memory has the problems in PULADA been ever solved or resolved from the first day I became a soldier, served there once and now retired!

IT has become a real P.U.L.A.D.A. -"PUSAT UNTUK LANYAK ANJING DAN ASKAR SAHAJA" LAH !

SAD BUT THAT IS THE TRUTH !

THE ARMY COMBAT TRAINING CENTRE IS THE "CREAM LA CREME"...WELL KNOWN WORLDWIDE...NOT IT IS JUST AN ICE-CREAM WITH NO FLAVOUR!

AS FOR THE OTHER POORLY MANAGED PROJECTS OF MINDEF, IT WILL NEVER EVER CHANGED UNLESS UMNO AND BN IS DEAD AND BURIED 60 FEET UNDER !

abdulhalimshah said...

Dear Dato' Arshad,
The construction industry is supposed to be the prime mover for the sick economy whenever the hard times befall the country. But unfortunately it is also in a quandary owing to a combination of factors, of which under the counter money is the most mentioned about.
But what the public is unaware about is despite the existence of many professional bodies responsible in ensuring compliance to quality and standards in the building sector, what is most disappointing is the attitude of the authorities in regulating all the laws pertaining to it. The situation is extremely complex and there are many levels of authority which makes corruption as the be all end all method of getting around it. The military housing woes is just the tip of the iceberg, the billion ringgit industry is beyond redemption. We hope we do not become another Greece in making.

Hazil said...

When we talk about corruption, I can only say that 'Rasuah mem'bangun'kan negara' Yeah Malaysia Boleh. Well, why do you think we have those white elephants all over the country then?

Capt's Longhouse said...

dear dato,

,,,indeed,its all part of the "corruption culture" within the system and nothing will improve it unless the top leadership be replaced !.
,,,my house in Punchak Jalil was handed over 4 years back but i still can't live in it due to its shoody 'TALANG'workmanship and now trying to get the various building permit for renovation but again there are so many delays unless am willing to pay under the counter for its fast approval !. Am dead against such payment as such having to wait and wait...geee i can't even retire into my home, at this rate i might just kick the bucket b4 my retirement home is finally ready !.
,,,guess am still kind of lucky to have my island Longhouse at Kapas to pass the time away. (but am getting too old nowadays and my aging bones is aching from the weather at times !). Apa-lah nasib si-tua Uban ini ?. Merana menunggu saja-lah. Adoi !...sakit pinggang.

maurice said...

If PULADA is to remain the Centre of Excellence for jungle warfare training, the Army should not redevelop it into a modern complex.

The training facilities must be as close as possible to natural environment.

PULADA should teach its students in the making and use of IEDs.

Officers and soldiers must get use to a life of harships and therefore living conditions should be made spartan.

Remember reading a book how a Japanese General deprived his soldiers the comfort of life when training for the invasion of Malaya.

Malaysian said...

Dato

I've nothing else to say about our corruption culture. Have you read the article about Sime Darby by Dr. Chan Chin Cheung? Dr. Chan clearly listed how the certain folks managed Sime Darby to enrich several individuals only. UMNO saving the Malaysia?

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/breakingviews/article/the-true-story-of-sime-darby-dr-chan-chin-cheung/

Salam

komando said...

MUARICE - I beg to defer
PULADA !

Yes that centre of excellence for jungle warfare & survival training must be as close as possible to the real fighting environment, agreed.

But when there is a lack of VITAL training apparatus what do you do!

Be realistic !
What we need is BASIC training aids & proper infrastructure !

NOT BILLION DOLLAR MEGA PROJECTS WITH THE LATEST HI-TECH CLASSROOMS AND STATE OF THE ART "WAR GAMES" FACILITIES ( NEVER EVER GOING TO SEE THIS SETTLED )MAYBE AFTER THE WAR BREAKS OUT WE GET OUR WAR GAME CENTRE!

komando said...

How can this country solved any corruption cases!
It has NO WILL!

The Azalina Case:
Pencil - 100.00
Screw Driver - 400.00
Lap top - 40,000.00
Camera - 9,000.00
Tourism Video Clip - 80,000.00

BILA MAU SELESAI- TAK AKAN KAU TIM...TUTUP FILE DAN TUTUP CASE?

Mana itu AG - Tak guna Petai ?