Gerbang Perdana smiles to the Bank with $257mil

RM257mil compensation and claim from Gerbang Perdana for the wrongful termination of the Crooked Bridge project.

Works Minister Samy Vellu officially announced that the government has compensated Gerbang Perdana a sum of RM257.4million.

You believe it? Did I hear wrongly?

Many months ago when JKR contract department were assessing the claims, they boasted to me that the claim will not exceed RM10mil. I told them no way as they will be pressured by their political masters to give a golden "alimony".

Can any JKR auditors and assessors come forward to explain why their conviction and belief in their truthful assessment had gone so damn wrong, that the RM10mil is now RM257mil?

If you are good engineers and God-fearing, why did you fear the political master? Datuk Seri Wahid and Tan Sri Omar were never afraid to speak the truth and to stand firm based on their principles. Both of them only feared God. Did the engineers now fear man more than Allah? Abdul Rahim has proven he didn't fear man; did you other engineers have now feared man over Allah?

There are many who loves to claim their love and devotion but ultimately the evidence runs on the contrary.

Johor Sultan backs Mahathir's Cynic Bridge Project

What? What did he say?

Tear down Causeway!!!

Sultan’s Causeway remark causes a stir, proclaim The Star.

To the shock of the 2,000 people present and hundreds of thousands of viewers at home of the live telecast over RTM 1 and TV3, the Ruler said it was built by colonialists who had used dirty tactics to deceive his ancestors.

He said the building of the Causeway was to deliberately prevent ships from passing local waters, resulting in the development of Keppel Port in Singapore instead.

“The Causeway has to be removed to allow ships to pass,” the Sultan said before launching the multi-billion SJER.

"Causeway tu, bukakan...baru negeri Johor ni maju (the causeway has to be demolished, only then Johor will develop," the Sultan said before launching the project which was televised live.

At this juncture, the audience broke into laughter and applauded.

The Sultan said he would not “give face” (bagi muka) to the foreigners (Mat Sallehs) and urged the people not to hold them in high regard.

He also reminded locals and their children to be wary of them as they were “vultures”.

NO NEED TO GIVE FACE, SULTAN DECLARED!

Whose face is most hurt?

Didn't they said the Sultan Johor ask Mahathir to stop maing noise?

It doesn't looks like it. It is obvious from the latest evidence that the Sultan was upset over the scrapping of the crooked bridge.

I believe the Sultan used this occasion, an occasion that is to parade the Federal govt's effort in supporting Johor's development.

Since the State and Federal govt is planning RM382 billion worth of projects, wouldn't it had delighted the Sultan? Instead, the Sultan wanted the causeway to be demolished. It's like saying: "I don't care the RM382 billion shit; get the causeway out of my way, and I'll be happy."

Is it a slap in the face for Ghani and Pak Lah? They were there to hear him out, face to face.

The Singapore Foreign Ministry described the Sultan's remark as "curious".

A ministry spokesman said in a Channel NewsAsia (CNA) report that Singapore did not believe the call represented the Malaysian government's position.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said:

"I think the most important thing is for us to put the speech and comment in its proper context. I think what is most important is that we must always learn from the lessons of the past and make sure whatever development we are going to undertake will bring benefit to our well-being, for the good of our people."

What is Hamid Albar saying? Don't bother about the remarks? But the remarks is made is such a big occasion; it was intentional!

Cynic Bridge Compensation

Bridge claim worked out

Samy Vellu said the PWD had studied the claims by Gerbang Perdana and had decided on an appropriate quantum. Asked whether the quantum sought was reasonable, he said the PWD was always stringent with claims for compensation and required justification from contractors.

Gerbang Perdana had submitted claims totalling RM360mil for the cancellation of the project.

“We don’t give in easily as it is the people’s money. We must be careful in making our evaluation and only when we feel that their (contractors’) request is fair do we decide on their claims,” he said.

He said the Finance Ministry would have the final say as to how much the Government would pay Gerbang Perdana.

From my information, the PWD's claim experts had recommended less than RM10 million compensation. I just wonder how the treasury would award the compensatory damages. The question arise:

Has the PWD officers been reasonable in their assessment and would the Treasury and the minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop be far gracious to the "special ones"?

We will wait ... I just smell rats? Is it in PWD office or Treasury's office? em!!!!

Cynic $360 Million Claim

Gerbang Perdana’s claim balloons to RM360mil

The controversial RM100mil compensation sought by Gerbang Perdana Selatan Bersepadu Sdn Bhd for the cancellation of the Johor half-bridge project has shot up to RM360mil.

Samy Vellu said the contractor “has asked for all sorts of compensations” which the ministry could not entertain. “I have directed Public Works Department director-general Datuk Dr Wahid Omar to conduct an investigation into the claims,” Samy Vellu said.

“Everything will be done like an Anti-Corruption Agency probe. I have instructed Dr Wahid not to be afraid of anybody and do what he thinks is right, and to report only to me.”

He said Gerbang Perdana had been given until July 11 to provide all the documents to justify their claims. Gerbang Perdana had been given a RM470mil highway project in return.

Samy Vellu said it was “much less than what they asked for”. “I can't tell the amount. What we have seen from documents, payments made, cheques and personalities (involved), everything has been checked and that’s how we know the quantum. It is not RM360mil.”

Samy Vellu said that if Gerbang Perdana failed to produce all the documents by the deadline, the ministry would submit its proposed quantum to the Prime Minister and Cabinet for approval. “If they fail to submit all the documents, we will decide that they will not get any compensation or just a little.”

$360 million dollar claim for loss and expense? Original contract value is $740 million? Wow, about 50% of contract sum? Kaya lah!

Interestingly, Samy said: It is not so much! What does that mean? Is he saying: It should be slightly less than that, maybe, $340 or $300 million?

One for you and one for me.

Kautim Management. BTW, is Khairy and ECM Libra engaged to negotiate on behalf of Gerbang?

Habis Scenic Bridge

Oleh/By :DATO' SERI ABDULLAH BIN HAJI AHMAD BADAWI

Tarikh/Date : 12/04/2006
Tajuk/Title : KENYATAAN MEDIA

Kerajaan Malaysia telah memutuskan untuk tidak meneruskan pembinaan jambatan bagi menggantikan Tambak Johor. Keputusan Kerajaan ini dibuat setelah mengambil kira suara dan sentimen rakyat Malaysia keseluruhannya terutama berkenaan bekalan pasir dan ruang udara. Kerajaan juga membuat keputusan untuk memberhentikan semua rundingan bersabit dengan jambatan tScenic ersebut.

THE Works Ministry has ordered Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, the contractor of the “scenic bridge” meant to replace the Malaysian half of the 80-year-old Johor Causeway, to stop work immediately.

Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the Public Works Department’s director-general Datuk Dr Wahid Omar would officially inform the contractor of the government’s decision to scrap the project.

Why?

On 27th Jan 2006, DPM Najib and Samy Vellu confirmed that the bridge will be built. Samy Vellu even said work had started on a RM30 million road to link the Johor Causeway with the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, where the proposed bridge will begin.

Najib said that work on the "scenic bridge" across half of the Johor Strait would proceed even though Singapore had yet to give an affirmative reply. However, he said, negotiations with the republic would continue.

Asked what would happen if negotiations with Singapore were not successful, Najib said: "If it is not successful, then it will become a half-bridge or scenic bridge."

Samy Vellu, meanwhile, said the bridge would be built across Malaysia’s half of the Johor Strait, within the country’s boundaries. He said he had instructed Public Works Department director-general Datuk Wahid Omar last week to issue a letter of intent to the contractor, Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd, on the Government’s plan to go ahead with construction of the bridge.

The Foreign Minister (Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar) had written a letter Samy indicating the directive from the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) to commence the construction of the bridge. "We will start negotiating with them on the cost of building the bridge as soon as possible. "I have asked the Prime Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, for a lump sum payment for the project. We will pay the contractor once and will not be burdened with the possibility of increasing costs. I believe I will get the approval from the Finance Ministry, and then we will start work," Samy said.

Samy Vellu said that everything was in place and work was expected to start as soon as possible.

Why the about-turn? Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin. If the reason to scrap the project is due to Singapore, then the govt shouldn't have announce the go-ahead. You can't say something yesterday and do another thing today. The contractor was told that they would receive the letter of intent and to proceed the works. They had mobilise their plants and equipments and manpower. How much do the govt had to compensate them? Isn't this a waste of public funds? That's why taxes had to increase to plug the leakages in the system administration.

Is there no competencies in decision-making? Aren't there suppose to be leadership?

Johor MB: Let Us Build The Crooked Bridge

CROOKED BRIDGE

Johor has made a strong pitch to the Federal Government to go ahead and build the "crooked bridge" to replace the Causeway. State officials said that any further delay in the construction of the project would seriously retard growth in Johor Baru. This message was given to PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during a briefing yesterday.

The Johor government believed that the proposed bridge was an integral part of the re-development of the city centre, and that it was crucial that a decision on the project be made soonest possible.

"Everything hinges on whether the bridge will materialise or not," said a senior state official. "We cannot wait forever for Singapore to join hands to build a straight bridge."

Singapore has not indicated if it is in favour of a straight bridge to replace the whole Causeway, despite two rounds of talks between Abdullah and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. This uncertainty is of concern to Johor state officials, who feel the Federal Government should go ahead and build a half-bridge.

MAYBE, A CROOKED BRIDGE IS A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF OUR SYSTEM. That bridge may serve as a mirror for us, to remind us always of our cultured artistic impression!!!!