12 theSun | TUESDAY MARCH 24 2009

speak up!

another lesson learnt

RM2 billion and counting

THE invite was supposedly
exclusively to theSun but when
I got to the Drainage and Ir-
rigation Department’s SMART
Why is control centre in Jalan Ampang
Gamuda-
last Wednesday, a coterie of
MMC colleagues from the other press
given a were also on hand for a briefing
40-year on the operations of the Storm-
con-
water Management and Road
Tunnel project.
cession “We are sorry about this,”
to collect said one of the corporate com-
toll when munications officers explaining
that someone higher up the
its invest- pecking order decided to invite
ment everyone else.
is only “It’s okay,” I replied, saying
RM600 there was no need to split hairs
million for when what was imperative was
that a government department
work on is reacting positively to media
3km of criticisms of the mega project
the 13km that cost taxpayers RM2 billion.
project, I was then escorted to a seat
next to DID deputy director
with the general (operations) Datuk K.J.
balance Abraham, who seemed genu-
funded inely pleased to see me. “We set
by the this up especially for you fol-
govern- lowing your column,” he said,
ment?
alluding to the March 6 article
that questioned if the people had
been misled into forking out
big bucks for the stormwater
project when flash floods were
still plaguing the city.
Abraham along with officials
from DID – SMART chief engi-
neer Low Koon Sing, DID Fed-
eral Territory director Hashim
Osman and Kuala Lumpur flood
mitigation (KLFM) project en-
gineer Lau Chuan Teng – took
pains to explain the system to
the media and field questions.
While one lauds the pro-
activeness of Abraham and his
officers in wanting to be trans-
parent and accountable when
dealing with public perception,
unfortunately the rest of us from
the media were left wanting.
This is because everyone
agrees with the virtues of the
tunnel, especially knowing now
that it was meant to only solve
half of KL’s flood woes. So any
technical briefing and site visit
would not answer the following
queries:
» Was it a marketing gimmick
when the people were told that
the tunnel would end KL’s flash
floods once and for all?
» Was the public misled as
we were not told that taxpayers
would have to fork out another
RM528 million for the KLFM
which would complement the
tunnel to truly make the city
flood-free?
» Was it a mere puff when the
tunnel was sold to the public
by the then administrators that
traffic would be easily dispersed
during floods when the March 3
floods saw a major traffic snarl
in the tunnel?
» Why is Gamuda-MMC given
a 40-year concession to collect
toll when its investment is only
RM600 million for work on 3km
of the 13km project, with the
balance funded by the govern-
ment?
» Why was PECD Construc-
tion Sdn Bhd (formerly known
as Peremba Construction)
awarded the KLFM project via
direct negotiations in 2003?
» What sort of penalties would
be imposed on PECD for delay-
ing the delivery of the KLFM?
The project was due to be com-
pleted in 2007 but was pushed
to end of 2008. Now it has been
delayed yet again due to the
company’s financial problems
and the DID has to source for a
rescue contractor.
» What was the criteria in
awarding PECD (then Peremba)
the job? Was due diligence done
on this company or was the
contract awarded
based on the famil-
iar means of doing
business in Malaysia
– who you know not
Down2Earth
what you know?
Abraham and by Terence Fernandez
even the people
operating SMART are in no po-
sition to answer these questions.
It would have helped if the likes
of the Economic Planning Unit,
the Finance Ministry, the Works
Ministry and some of those
from the previous administra-
tion could shed light on these
pertinent issues.
But fortunately for them, they
are enjoying their retirement
having made the mess and con-
fused the people; and have left
it to the likes of the DID to do
the damage control and answer
the public.
What is almost certain is now
that a rescue contractor has to
finish the job, taxpayers will
have to fork out more money
during these troubled economic
times to finance the project, al-
though Abraham reasoned that
awarding the 96%-completed
project to a new main contrac-
tor would mean digging deeper
into the kitty. So will this be
or one that we will
soon forget? Will
those entrusted with
the public’s money
continue with their
callous ways? Will
patronage continue
to be a primary force
in awarding projects
funded by people’s
money? Will for
once the welfare of
the people – in this
case KL folk – be of
paramount interest?
The verdict is still out on this
one but hopefully the incoming
administration will not only
continue but enhance the initia-
tives taken by the outgoing one
in promoting accountability,
transparency and merit in the
procurement process. And this
would also mean making those
responsible for creating a mess
answer to the people and not
hide behind the coat-tails of
government servants.
Terence is not convinced that we
were told everything that needs
to be said to justify the tunnel’s
construction, although he ac-
knowledges that it has reduced
the city’s flood problems. He ac-
cepts the invitation from SMART
for a tour of the facility. He is
deputy editor (special reports &
investigations). Feedback: ter-
ence@thesundaily.com

letters
letters@thesundaily.com

and a Malay nationalist. I too, am no less Indian

Doing right and Malayalee, just because I am able to speak

and write the language of the British.
The position of Bahasa Malaysia is firmly

by future entrenched in the Federal Constitution and there

can be no dispute of the fact of its premier status
in the country. But we must also take notice of the

generations gradual decline in the command of the English

MUCH controversy has been made regarding
the teaching of science and mathematics in
English. I have been a teacher for more than 30
years teaching both subjects, initially in English
and subsequently in Bahasa Malaysia. In the early
years of my teaching profession, I taught in Sabak
Bernam, and subsequently at St John’s Institution
in Kuala Lumpur. I can say with conviction that
students in rural areas were as good as their
urban peers in both subjects.
With the advent of information technology,
Internet and computerisation, English has be-
come the lingua franca of the world. It is for this
reason even the Chinese, Japanese, French and
Dutch, who are passionate about their languages,
have over the years taken the pain and initiative
to master the English language.
Suriname in South America, a multiracial
and multicultural country like Malaysia, is now
contemplating a switch from Dutch to English as
the national language. Other countries too, are
fervently embracing the language of Shakespeare,
as it is an option less game for them taking into
consideration global developments.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mo-
hamad took cognisance of these developments
when he advocated the switch from Bahasa
Malaysia to English for science and mathematics.
He did it because he was a patriotic Malaysian
language, particularly among the younger genera-
tion. We owe it to posterity to ensure that they
possess the same command of the language like
their fathers and grandfathers before them. Do-
ing anything otherwise would be inflicting grave
injustice to future generations.
The Education Ministry, when releasing the
results of the UPSR, SPM and STPM, had noted a
vast improvement in results and the increase in
the number of students answering questions in
English. Surely, this trend must indicate that our
policymakers and implementers must be doing
something right.
Like it or not, we need to master the English
language if we are to walk shoulder-to-shoulder
with others at international forums, seminars and
conferences. Otherwise, we would not be able to
effectively put forward our views and standpoints,
and this will be detrimental to the country.
Foreigners have frequently commended us
for our proficiency in the English language. Some
have even said that even though cab drivers and
those at shopping malls may not speak English
fluently, they can at least communicate to a
certain extent, unlike many countries where the
citizens can only speak their mother tongue. Isn’t
it something we can be proud of? Isn’t it also a
plus point for our tourism industry?
James Gonzales
Kuala Lumpur

Serve pupils nutritious meals

ONE good thing about school life is that all
schoolchildren regardless of their social or eco-
nomic background are required to wear the same
type of uniform. Even the children of the rich who
can afford to wear more fashionable clothes have
to abide by the school dress code. This gives a
nice feeling of equality among the students from
different social backgrounds and it is probably
also meant to remind teachers to treat all pupils
equally, without discrimination, fear or favour.
However, it is a different story during recess.
At the canteen the children of the well-to-do
are easily distinguished from that of the poor.
The children of the poor who have to settle for
cheaper fare, would see their well-to-do class-
mates splurging on expensive food.
This may lead to a sense of deprivation among
the poorer children. Some of the more aggressive
among them may resort to extortion to supple-
ment their pocket money to be able to enjoy the
rich food they are able to see but are deprived of.
Such extortion in schools can be eliminated and
the health of all the children improved if school
canteens are permitted to sell only nutritionally
balanced food at affordable prices. Parent-teacher
associations can provide subsidies for pupils who
cannot afford the low-priced meals.
M. Ganeshadeva
Kuala Lumpur