Yoursay: Emperor with no clothes seeks to deflect attention

Penang tunnel project needs more than just ‘tunnel vision’

SusahKes: Once upon a time, there lived an emperor who finally realised that he had no clothes. As we know, no one dared to point this matter out to him, except for one young boy who said the obvious.

Now that the emperor has come to full realisation of his condition, he asks his eunuchs and concubines, “I say, my lovely hanger-ons, what must I do to deflect attention from my situation? I could say I have ‘Nothing to Hide’, but nay, this might not go well with my image as a Chosen One by the Almighty.

“I know! Why don’t you, my hanger-ons, go look hither and thither for any darkly spots that you could find on my opponents? It matters not how insignificant or ridiculous your finding is, just find them, and thereafter blow your horns as loudly as you could, if only, so that my people’s attention could be whisked away from my lack of attire.

“Look if you have to even under my opponents’ pillows. Off now, lovelies! Remember, if you fail, then my love shall no longer be lavished upon you, for as you now know, I do have others whom I could easily befriend in your place.”

And the eunuchs and concubines, with gleams of wild passion and salivating longing looks over their much-beloved seats in the halls of the emperor, and in fear of what may be repercussions if they dared ask the emperor to himself get clothed instead, immediately replied, “Saya setuju!” (I am with you!).

Royal Salute 21Y: If the Penang tunnel project was awarded on open tender, then what’s all the fuss about?

Commenter ‘SusahKes’ is most right in that the naked emperor is digging for issues to deflect attention from his nakedness.

Did MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong raise any questions on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which has been shrouded in mystery?

Wira: The link between Vertice Berhad and the project deliverers, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC), is through their common director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli.

What’s wrong if Zarul Ahmad wanted his company Vertice Berhad to buy into CZC? MCA think they can deceive Penangites into believing that there must be hanky-panky if a fashion company is also involved in the tunnel project.

If Umno and Putrajaya can renege on their promise to improve public transport in Penang through the now-shelved monorail, they should not throw a spanner in the works of the Penang tunnel/LRT project being carried out by the Pakatan Harapan government, which was elected by the people.

Malaysians should replace those corrupt leaders in Putrajaya who could not do something good, and would not allow others to do it.

Amateur: Yes, Wee is simply hypocritical. He issued a statement regarding Vertice being a minor shareholder of CZC and demanded an explanation to the Penang people. An ordinary person could easily conclude rightly that it’s because of Zarul Ahmad being a major shareholder in Zenith and Vertice.

Why hasn’t Wee issued any statement to date over the illegal RM270 million land sale by Felda, where his colleague, a certain special officer, was allegedly active in pushing through?

Awang Top: Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy, you are absolutely right. Even if opposition parties created heaven, it would be viewed like a hell. It is what we call a “sour grapes” mentality.

Penang people are sick and tired of indiscriminating allegations about projects just because the DAP-led government carried them out, while they themselves did not even have the brains to even think of it.

Anonymous 2251681440225523: Well said, Ramasamy. I am shocked to know that the Chinese, who pride themselves on their hard work and dignity, can go so low just to please their Umno masters, when Umno itself failed in their endeavour. Shame on you, MCA and PCM.

Where were you when the 1MDB scandal broke?

Boeyks: These people who question the tunnel project have not questioned where colossal amounts of people money had gone missing or are unexplained in 1MDB, Mara, Felda, etc. Why is this so?

Maybe these people do believe it is really an Arab donor that had put billions of ringgit into MO1’s (Malaysian Official 1) private bank accounts after all. Just ask them to confirm this. Then we know if they are sincere in asking these questions.

Cogito Ergo Sum: The main problem with the tunnel project is that it was thought up, and is being implemented by, the opposition. That is what is so wrong with it, no matter how good it is.

If you don’t vote, don’t moan

HaveAGreatDay: Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad is really a lightning rod for anger, not only among the Umnoputras who fear him galvanising the opposition, but also among many opposition activists and civil society members who can’t forgive him for his 22-year dictatorial rule.

But Malaysiakini columnist Mariam Mokhtar has a point – for better or for worse, Harapan has chosen Dr M to lead the charge to evict the Umnoputras from Putrajaya. If Harapan succeeds, we will know whether the leopard has changed its spots and whether Dr M will honour the commitments to the rest of the coalition for change.

If Harapan fails to evict the Umnoputras, Dr M will die a very disappointed and bitter old man, and opponents to Dr M as the prime minister-designate would never know if he has really changed and is really working to save our nation from MO1’s kleptocracy.

Ozzie Jo: I can’t believe there are actually people threatening not to vote. Voting is not only your constitutional right, it is your divine right to choose the government you desire, so don’t waste it.

If you choose not to exercise your right, then you deserve the government you get, good or bad. And if it is BN again, I say serves you right that you and your future generations will have to pay for your irresponsibility.

Cocomomo: Malaysians need to be realistic. The current circumstances warrant action that is not ideal.

The reality is that a mega corrupt evil setup has to be removed in the overall interests of the nation. Unfortunately, it seems like choosing between two evils. And we have to opt for the far less evil one.

Fair Play: The logic of those who want to boycott the elections is this: Eat poison food, and you are sure to die. Eat untested food, maybe you won’t die. But some believe if you don’t eat (don’t vote), it means you won’t die.

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