After I posted “Malaysia Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo fails to do justice to Malaysia’s image” on my blog two days ago, I received a long comment from one anonymous “Thumb logic” who strongly disagreed with me. This is my response:
Dear Thumb Logic,
I believe you are either the contractor or management head of the Malaysian Pavilion in Shanghai. I am amused by your explanation here:
1.The roof was built to specification. You may note that the rain in Shanghai is more agressive than the rain in Malaysia. Hence, you cannot balme the contractor for the leaks.
You said that “the rain in Shanghai is more agressive than the rain in Malaysia”. Are you saying that because the rain in Shanghai is different from the rain in Malaysia, that’s why the roof of the Malaysian Pavilion is leaks rain water until water collects on the floor?
2.We wanted to build two stairs. But we could not because the cement brought from Malaysia was insuffucuent
Is it mandatory to use only cement brought from Malaysia to build another staircase? If materials are short for necessary infrastructure according to your building plan, can’t materials from China or elsewhere be used? Are you saying that pavilions of other countries like Saudi Arabia and the European countries did not use the local materials from China at all?
3.The blackouts are due to the irregular voltage of the electricity supply to the Expo. 4.We have met all the requirements for the issuance of a CF. We were topd that it has been approved.
On the regular blackouts at the Malaysian pavilion, how come it only happened regularly at the Malaysian pavilion but not at other countries’ pavilions? After blaming the rain in Shanghai for being too heavy, now you blame the irregular supply of electricity to the Expo?
5.As regards the food, most of it was brought from Malaysia to be halal compliant
The food at the Malaysia Pavilion is cooked on the spot and sold to visitors right away. It had nothing to do with the issue of halal or non-halal. The problem was that the cook just failed to cook real Malaysian food. How can Malaysia impress to the Chinese and international visitors that Malaysian food is so delicious or justify how Ng Yen Yen could even attempt to “patent” Malaysian food?
6.In ASEAN we have a good understanding. We are all equal and we do not compete with each other for prominance and we can veto any resolution if we want to.
This reasoning and using ASEAN relations is irrelevant. Furthermore, it is no excuse for shoddy workmanship of the pavilion and poor presentation of the Malaysian pavilion.
7.As regard the queue, please be reminded that China is a Socialist nation and all VIPs are treated like normal citizens.
Your explanation on “No VIP treatment” is most absurd! When I used my Member of Parliament card to approach the management staff of all the foreign pavilions in the expo, they told me that all I needed was just a letter from Malaysian Pavilion and they would allow me to use the fast lane to enter their pavilion. Luckily my MP card was recognised by all these foreign pavilions.
After having visited so many Pavilions in the Shanghai Expo, I indeed feel very sad and sorry for the Malaysian Pavilion. It must play a very important role of an ambassador for Malaysia in this international event, and yet it has failed Malaysia.
To top it off, the Malaysian Pavilion management did not even assist fellow Malaysians, including Malaysian MPs at the Shanghai Expo. When I visited pavilions of other countries, I was well treated and I saw their Pavilion staff assisting their elected representatives, senior govt staff of their own countries to visit other Pavilions too. Why can’t Malaysian Pavilion staff do the same? Is this the so-called “One Malaysia?
Teresa
Addendum: Soon after I posted the above, I received an email about the Malaysian Pavilion from a little bird.
Dear YB. I think you are a bit harsh on Thumb Logic.
Didn’t Jesus prayed to God ” forgive them, Father, as they know not what they do”.
It is the same with these people like Thumb Logic.
They know not what they do. They are just following the Malaysian Standards. They just follow the specifications for Malaysian Public Works. Monkey see, monkey do. The Malaysian way. Even if it is known the rain in Shanghai is more aggressive than in Malaysia. It must be done the Malaysian way, not withstanding the leaks.
1. How can it be a Malaysian Pavilion if it does not leak, or if the roof do not fall, if the wall is not straight, or if the electrical supply do not trip?
2. How can it be a Malaysian Pavilion of it is not built with a cost that is higher than normal? Shipping Malaysian cement is expensive and justify a high material cost. Check if the cement were air freighted in on MAS?
3. Of, course the operation of the Malaysian Pavilion is ludicrous. It is not Malaysian if it is not.
All in all, I think the Malaysian Pavilion shows the real Malaysia. The Malaysia you and I know. And not the Malaysia truly Asia.
Thanks You.
cannot blame the contractor…make me laugh
there is a term call “fitness for purpose”…you pay for something and you expect the goods and services can be applied for its intended purpose
if the damn contractor is not familiar with the rain in Malaysia, why the heck the government officials selected this inexperience contractor?
we already have massive wastage of public funds with the colapse of that stadium in Terengganu…so now BN administration want to export this expertise, izzit?
the “don’t blame the contractor” term stems from a mentality nurtured from an uncompetitive and preferential selection environment. it also comes from an environment where the unqualified and not capable seems to give unjustifiable excuse and being very defensive when accountability is called
It would be more respectible for the individual to remain mum and not present itself a target of scrutiny and analysis
“Ng Yen Yen could even attempt to “patent” Malaysian food?”
That’s good one. A Minister, and an alumni of the illustrious Victoria Institution, how could she not know that a patent requires novelty and no prior usage. Malaysian food have been cooked and served for ages and is no novelty. How can something like that be patented?
Teresa,
Good morning. When u say the building does not represent Malaysia, you are wrong!
Very wrong…!
With the way its built with so much defects & silly excuses……..
You can be assured its “Malaysia”…!!!
What’s new to us arr???
Money wasted & how has it benefitted our country?
Thumb Logic, why so quiet now ???? Your reply is being ridiculed, come on answer back !!!
Thumb logic seeking advice from APCO!!
Thumb logic is a staged out actor, not the contractor, to create a public image that the ASSUMED contractors r stupid and teresa is brilliant, how many of u commentors know what it really is to make a judgement? baffles me by ur intelligences, would a anyone reply such ridiculous comment to make you look so good? yes i think i figured an answer to that. it is ur blog, i am expecting dozens of your supporters to flame me back, i don’t care, long as I pointed out my point. fakers.