Hey, sometiems the guy talks senSE!

Desi is late in posting today because catching up with a diplomat enjoys higher priority. Especially when a freelunch is thrown in.

And for late dessert Desi is surprised that our immediate former Prime Minister had shown much humility in the recent days, starting with the visit of his erstwhile nemesi in the form of George Soros who called him "A menace to your country" in quick rebutal to Dr Mahathir Mohamad labelling the money trade a "moron".

They handshook after Dr Mahathir admitted he barked up the wrong tree by holding Georgie boy responsible for the Asian finanscial crisis a decade ago, and Thailand almost had a "deja vu" last month of a similar scenario, but much reined in this time.

Back to second confession -- which is very much in VOGUE as Desi also chalked up a second one jest a few days ago, discerned by aweOFHELEN, but that's not of concern. The following is your concern, not mine because I deem it still a part of UMNO's sandiwara, and The Play on the PWTC enters another Act with the nu'e year 2007, how exciting for mundane Monsoon/s cup runneth over. The same politics eroding NegaraKu's competitiveness -- CRONYISM spelt in capital letters and BOLDed because some politicians are pretty myopic, self confessed. Not contested by many but these masters of bodekism. a cute local word these politicians should have no excuse not knowing its mean-ing or -ness. (I refrain from using the term 'carrying balls' too often lest some ER lable me crude, or crass, for I long to be clAssic, can I.)

Tue, 09 Jan 2007

From the Sun,

WEB EDITION :: Local News

DrM: My cabinet may have erred in toll agreements
R.Manirajan

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 8, 2007): Acknowledging that the government during his time may have erred in signing the toll concession agreements, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today urged the present administration to be more careful before agreeing to toll hikes.

He also urged the toll concession companies to be open to the idea of re-negotiating the terms, especially if they are doing well financially.

"This is one of thing that we need to correct. What you have is a cabinet which is not very knowledgeable all the time because it is not made up of experts but politicians (and) some politicians like myself can sometimes be stupid," he said when told by reporters that all the five tolled expressways were constructed during his 22-year tenure as prime minister.

Mahathir said the agreements were drafted by officers and submitted to the cabinet and usually the small prints are not there.

"The cabinet merely gave approvals in principle and never really studied the implications in some parts of the agreements."

Citing an example of the purchase of a battleship, he said: "The agreement stated that if there is a delay, the company compensates the government. If the delay is more than six months, the company does not need to compensate the government.

"The delay was two years. We need to have a checklist."

He said when the toll concession agreements were signed, the government had very little experience about growth and reaction of the people.

"Civil servants don't think of reaction of people as much as politicians. They (civil servants) think it is a reasonable agreement and the cabinet okays it and now the government is stuck."

"There is a provision in the (toll) agreements that if there is an increase in traffic and the company collects more than the projected amount, the government gets a share.

"If the traffic volume is lower than projected, the government has to compensate. It works both ways. Currently we don't have any figures," he added.

"From what I see on the road as I drive, they collect quite a bit of money. The roads are jammed up even to pay toll as there are too many cars and in some places toll booths are increased."

Mahathir was speaking after holding a press conference on the upcoming Perdana Global Peace Forum.

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He also resumed his criticisms of the administration of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

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Responding to various questions on local matters, Mahathir said he had kept quiet in the last few months not because he didn't have anything to say but because he did not have the forum to do it.

"I had a small heart problem but my heart has been repaired, but I didn't have any forum to say anything so I appeared to be very quiet," he said, adding that his brain was still ticking away.

He went on to talk again about Proton, saying the company needed a new management more than a new partner. Other matters he touched on included Khairy Jamaluddin, Scomi and allegation that the Turkish-built yacht that was reported by a Turkish newspaper to have been bought by Abdullah was actually a gift for him (Mahathir) by a Malaysian tycoon.

"Actually I am quite interested if I could buy, but I don't have the money," he said. "Turkish wooden yachts are beautiful and I thought we could bring them here to Langkawi (so) I asked someone who has the money to bring the yacht to Langkawi as it will look nice, (but) he said no (because) wooden boats won't last in Langkawi."

He added: "If anybody wants to bring a wooden yacht to Langkawi, I am for it but don't ask me for the money, I don't have that kind of money."


Updated: 05:48PM Mon, 08 Jan 2007

DESI:

"This is one of thing that we need to correct. What you have is a cabinet which is not very knowledgeable all the time because it is not made up of experts but politicians (and) some politicians like myself can sometimes be stupid," he said when told by reporters that all the five tolled expressways were constructed during his 22-year tenure as prime minister.

Yeah, such frankness and humility, or is ist sarcasm? You, dear ER who koweth more than Desi, tell me!

Dr Mahathir is back in his element, and half-past six journos and bloggers lap it up like bees to honey, or is it rats to newly-born white mice? Another Chicken and Egg Conumdrum? Visit allofhelen.blogspot.com for an insight.