Media statement by Teresa Kok, Member of Parliament for Seputeh on 16 October 2010 in Kuala Lumpur.
Najib’s ad hoc 100-storey tower proposal a short term ego boost at expense of KL’s long term viability
Prime Minister Najib’s proposal to build a 100-storey tower in the Stadium Merdeka area smacks of egotism and complete disregard for the need for sustainable urban development in Kuala Lumpur.
Firstly, the ad hoc 100-storey tower proposal shows a lack of urban planning that will only exacerbate KL’s existing traffic congestion that is the bane of every KL resident, no thanks to DBKL’s couldn’t-care-less attitude towards their own plot ratio requirements. Traffic jams are already an everyday occurrence on Jalan Maharajalela and Jalan Kinabalu, what more with the addition of this 100-storey tower in the area. This 100-storey monolith could cause a gridlock situation that would paralyse the entire KL city center.
I hope Najib does not subscribe to his Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen’s childish keeping-up-with-the-Jones reasoning that “There is no end because everybody wants a tallest tower. Shanghai and Taiwan wants more, so why should we hold back?”
Secondly, Najib has not justified how this 100-storey phallic symbol costing RM5 billion might lead help Malaysia become the high-income economy lauded in his Economic Transformation Plan. This princely sum of RM5 billion would be better spent towards improving public transportation in KL which would benefit the lowest income KL-residents who need support the most.
In conclusion, I urge Najib to scrap this 100-storey tower proposal and not to sacrifice the health, safety and well-being of KL residents for the mere sake of stroking his ego.
Kuala Lumpur is looking looking more and more like a third world city full of rats and rubbish.
Don’t believe me just go to Bukit Bintang our so called premier tourist shopping belt & financial center and see it for yourself
(This is just one of the many areas my overseas friends went to and complained about the filth).
The nearby Jalan Alor tounted as a food paradise is akin to eating food in the mist of a rubbish dump, the horrible smell, rubbish and rats running around does not give Kuala Lumpur a good image.
I don’t think Kuala Lumpur needs another
tower costing billions but a good scrub-up costing only a few dollars. Get rid of the rubbish and bad smell, the chow-kit type of stalls selling cheap imitations, make it more green and make it comparable to Singapore, Tokyo, Paris or London.
I wish our PM would make an unofficial tour of these area and see it for himself.
Rakyat Kuala Lumpur.
Najib and the cabinet members are behaving as some spoil brats..with this kind of kindergarden kids brains..how on earth are they going to develop Malaysia, with the rate we are going..we are simply heading to be a bankrupt nation soon…or maybe we already are…We have to vote PR in and kick out bn in the 13th GE…….! Why a 100 storey building when a city like Shah Alam is struggling to built a hospital as they don’t have one..where is our priority?
100 storey building. mahathir croniesim is back on track !
i strongly disagree with this idea of building 100-storey building. what’s the point? look at our current petronas tower. how many floors empty? takde penghuni? it is just waste of money. our money!
Hi YB KOK,
Before you JUMP the GUN, I reckon it’s only FAIR if you adopt a NEUTRAL MINDSET & evaluate the “Good & Bad” of this so-called 100-STOREY TOWER proposal. Well, can you please try evaluating the points stated below before BARKING???
1) When there’s NO DEVELOPMENT going on during the SLEEPYHEAD days (PAK LAH era), you people from the OPPOSITION grumbled & barked about the LACK of DEVELOPMENTS in the country. Now, that this SLEEPY JOE had gone & come NAJIB….you dudes are now BARKING about the issue of “OVER DEVELOPMENTS”. What’s wrong with you people from PAKATAN RAKYAT???
2) In view to attract more FOREIGN INVESTORS & INTERNATIONAL CORPORATES to invest in Malaysia, it’s COMMON SENSE we have to have such 100-story tower as their base for its’ enterprise. Do you JOKERS from PAKATAN RAKYAT really think such ‘BIG TIME FOREIGN INVESTORS’ will actually come to the country & conduct their business in SHOPLOTS & SHOP HOUSES??? Please grow up, YB!!! Thanks!!!
3) Such a MEGA PROJECT initiated by PM will generate more JOBS. This will automatically REDUCE the unemployment rate in the country. Does PAKATAN RAKYAT donkeys really want ‘the rakyat’ to SUFFER by having no JOBS???
4) This 100-storey tower will SURELY put Malaysia in the world map. Malaysia will then make HEADLINES around the world & this will ULTIMATELY capture FOREIGN INVESTORS attention. Unlike PAKATAN RAKYAT who only know how to create UNNECESSARY HEADLINES with such topics like SODOMY, conducting meeting under a STUPID TREE, SUICIDE claimed MURDER & so on…NAJIB’s plan will definately bring POSITIVE CHANGES to the nation.
5) MAHATHIR had done this & it had proven it works. Thus, I see NO reason why we should ever DOUBT such a BOLD move made by NAJIB. Perhaps, PAKATAN RAKYAT is just simply TOO SCARED of NAJIB’s bold move becos’ it will dampen the confidence of ‘the rakyat’ towards the OPPOSITION alliance. Some said it will be the END OF DAYS for PAKATAN RAKYAT. True???
Dear YB, Oh YB. As much as you people from DAP like to BARK, I reckon use you use something GOD gave you called BRAINS before opening your mouth. Speaking STUPIDLY without using BRAINS does NOT make you any CHAMPION. It only makes you a CLOWN trying to speak to the WALL.
I seriously hope you can BUCK UP & be a little SMARTER in future.
Thanks & take care, YB KOK!!!
How to stop him?
Tokz…as usual u are talking kok..!
Tokz,
I stand with YB on her statement. Not yours !
What do the Rakyat get from the construction of this mammoth building? Nothing, essentially! You and I probably have to pay to get into the building! By the way….How many of you need not have to pay to get to the 88th floor of Petronas Tower? Or more appropriately, how many ordinary Rakyat like you and me get to go up to the 88th floor?
But what do the BN and the greedy businessman & corrupted politician benefit from it? Plentiful, I bet.
There is no doubt that we need continuous development in order to prosper, but to build another mammoth building before the Petronas tower or KLCC areas are fully developed is unwise. And to build it without improving the transportation network around the area would be disastrous, chaotic and counterproductive especially if simultaneous functions are held in stadium merdeka and the mammoth building. To create unhealthy competition on rental yield and land value would only benefit foreigner as rental income of Petronas Tower and its surrounding buildings will suffer as the center of gravity of KL’s center may shift towards the new mammoth building.
As PM proposed in the budget speech that private sectors are to lead all development programs; and, EPF’s money will be used to develop RRI land, I am afraid that the juicy cake may eventually be secretly shared amongst greedy businessman and corrupted politician at the expense of rakyat’s hard earned duit. Further, if the RRI development is not properly managed, EPF may suffer severe loses and Rakyat who place their money in EPF will suffer tremendously. Should that actually happen, the scale of the financial disaster will not be less than the Murdoch’s Ponzi scheme. You and I should definitely be concern about this proposal of using EPF’s money for housing and commercial development. Anyone still remember the PKFZ’s Scandal? What if the EPF in the PKFZ case happen to be the developer?
In view of this, I would urge the opposition party to demand for full transparency and 100% disclosure when awarding the development right of these prime lands to the private sectors.
Selective tendering and even open tender scheme adopted by the Government thus far are often being abused by the people in charge of the exercise; and, therefore it should never be trusted or considered as transparent way of awarding a Contract or Development right.
The best way would be to have an open competitive competition or open auction similar to that employed by Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s Government when awarding the development right. This would be the most secure and transparent way of ensuring that the development right ends up in the hand of the developer who is both reputable and strong financially and not to the greedy and ill intention businessman and corrupted official and/or politician.
EPF’s money belongs to Rakyat and not the Government, we, as rakyat have the absolute right to demand for full transparent and full disclosure as far as RRI land development is concern. Anyone who has objection to this suggestion must have his/her head examine.
I have a bad and bitter feeling that the budget 2011’s development program in reality is to designate all remaining prime lands in the Klang valleys to politically linked special interest before the opposition parties take over. I certainly hope that, it is just my imagination running wild. But noticing that all prime lands In the Kalng Valley and other major cities such as RRI land in sungai buloh, the prime Merdeka Land, the East/west/north/south corridors are in the budget 2011’s development radar screen, I cannot help but turning a little bit skeptical. It appears that by the time opposition party takes over the government machinery, the only prime land left would be the Kampong Baru Malay reserve lands.
Let us unite and be vigilant of the Government’s action at all times in order to save our and our children’s future.
@TOKZ
Ok, let us take this at a neutral mindset and analytically deal with your complaints before you start bashing YB.
1) As an economist, I can tell you there is more to the term “development”, the very idea of injecting money into megastructures and the like is actually a very old-modern technique to boast the economy. However, America is a great example that such measures don’t always produce the desired results, as it did little to ease the 9.2% unemployment (an old article in the bbc states many are still waiting for their so called shovel jobs, but that is your 3rd point). What opposition members such as MP Tony Pua are arguing for is a greater focus on long term development such as a revamp of the education system, the retention of talents through schemes and better providences to new entrepreneurs.
2)Your point is perfectly valid but one wonders if this is the best time to contemplating such a move. You will find it on this website, but MP Teresa quoting UNOTAD, stated that investments are down by 81%, we are simply not even attracting the people who will be occupying the place and I highly doubt the lack premises are the problem. If I was an investor, my greatest pull or deterrent is not going to be the following thought; “Gee…….I like an office in such a tall building”.
3)I addressed partially in my first point using the case of the US, might I state that these facts are replicated in the UK and honestly, worldwide. What people don’t realize is injecting money in the economy through such means are only useful when channeled properly and backed by incoming investments (as I already said is failing in my second point); How is it going to create more jobs when it typically goes to foreign workers, and will it really create the huge number and range of white collar jobs that our market desperately needs. Plus I feel that building a better transport system allowing us to travel further, quicker and for less is going to be far more beneficial than just one building.
4 & 5)Mahathir put us the map, and he gave us a symbol, I admit that is true, what I than question is really necessary to replicate it. We needed it at a time when we lacked a true monument to our development, now that we have it, do we honestly need to replicate it for a short period of buzz before we are beaten yet again. We are already famous for a great building (2 even which makes it all the more impressive) and we have already marketed it as such.
Perhaps, you my gentleman/lady friend need to cool your head and come back in more cordial tone and perhaps read up more before you choose to comment. However, I highly doubt you have ever read beyond the cover of any true economic/politics/infrastructure development/history journal or textbook.
Let us compel our Government to emulate Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s government dealing with prime land.
“Let compel the Government to auction off all these prime lands – RRI land, Merdeka land, Dataran Perdana land etc..- to private developers; and, stop the Government from involving in these mammoth projects.
The proceeds from the auction can then be used to improve Rakyat’s standard of living, improve our education system and to build affordable houses for the all of us.
By doing so our deficit will also be narrowing rather than widening.”
Tokz, you are rude and brainless.
no need for this crappy idea to build this!
TOKZ, you are hopeless. If there a demand surely there will be supply but it our case here there are abundant of empty units around Klang Valley. Economics 101 lah.
I would not be proud if we have a 100 storey building! The rakyat won’t benefit from it. Many never had the chance to even set foot on the Mahathir Twin Tower let alone to use it. These are only for the elites. Have our nation reached a stage where we put our focus on the elites? We don’t have enough hospitals. Our public universities have been dropping in rankings. Our public transport system is not effective(Many still need to use own cars with no choice). Mr. Prime Minister, please take care of the rakyats needs. The elites can take care of themselves. There’s no point in beautifying the house if there’s happiness in the home. There’s no point in dressing up expensively if there’s no substance in the person. There’s on point in having beautiful cities if many people still lack civic mind and educations, do not respect the laws and the authorities don’t have a STRONG DERISE to enforce them. There’s no point in having Famus Landmarks, Famus personalities, Famus world records etc. etc. if the Leaders don’t have the COMMITMENT TO UNITE THE RAKYATS and create a harmonious and healthy environment to move the nation forward!! The Twin Tower did bring us developed nation status, the 100 storey building would not make us a high income nation either! So leaders of this government, please do not insult the rakyats’ inteligence!!
correction:
One of the sentence should read: …There’s no point in beautifying the house if there’s no happiness in the home…
Another aorrection:…The Twin Tower did not bring us developed nation status…
what would a 100 storey building brings….and out of the horse mouth comes CONTRACTS.
and what CONTRACTS brings….MORE PLUNDERING ….
RAHMAN trilogy has ended….TIME FOR CHANGE
Can the Prime Minister provides the Rakyat the actual breakdown of how the people will benefit this 100 storey building ? Obviously the actual main contractor for this project would benefit the most and its related benefactors. On the sidelines we are saying to introduce GSTs and other measures to increase the government revenue but on the other hand the government watering the grounds with billions of ringgit like monopoly money . This is absurdly crazy to digest , is our policy changes to ” We people for the fats cats and their fat pockets ” . Before even coming up with such short term scams can the government let the people know how the tax payers will be invested in this so call potentially to be another White Elephant project can get the returns . In a business logic how does the government plans to get the returns by leasing out the office space and what will be the projected revenue than before.
I make a stand to be in favour of this project, and these are the benefits:
1. To show the world that Malaysia is robust in its economy and doing much better than other countries. I can be proud that we are taking the right direction so far. This is especially important when Malaysia is showing positive sign in these challenging times.
2. As a result, more investment comes in as Malaysia is stable enough as a country politically, and economically.
3. Further enhance the local construction/consultation industries. many of our contractors and consultants have went abroad, exporting our skills and competing with international companies, learning from the mega projects experience from Tun Mahathir’s time.
4. An opportunity to do something different. perhpas it can be the tallest AND greenest building in the world, become a model for environmentally friendly skyscraper- the model for the future.
5. (potentially) Another shopping mall for my wife and I to swing by over the weekends.
I mean they are spending 5 B over 5 years anyway, is that so bad?
He needs a 100 storey to make 1 MALAYSIA a success.RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN,PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN.
The 100th floor will be fit for the KING.
PM takes the 99th Floor.
All cabinet ministers will occupy 98th to 80th floor.
The opposition MP and other wakil from both sides will take 79th to 60th floor.
THE PARLIMEN will take 59th to 55fth floor.(HOME & WORK IN THE SAME BUILDING TO AVOID JAMS)
54th to 45th floor will be expo halls,convention halls, Malaysian products etc.
44th floor to 30th Floor will house a 5 star hotel to attract foreigners and FDI.
29th floor to 20th floor will be ministers offices.
19th to 11th floor will house BUKIT AMAN,THE AG ,MACC ETC.
10th floor to GROUND will be deparmental stores,hawkers stall, kopitiam ETC business distributed fairly to all races.
There, all 100 storeys used up.So project must go on.
And BEST OF ALL ,With BERSIH, CEKAP AMANAH total cost will be 4.8 billion, saving 0.2 billion.
After HARRY PORTER will be this tale. Do you believe it?
I DON`T
Talking about Rakyat so easy. If everything is about rakyat, helping the rakyat is never ending. So don’t just talk about of helping the rakyat la. Look at Penang, what DAP has helped the rakyat? I see the normal rakyat in Penang are suffering now. So if the country ruled by PR, the PR ministers will busy of helping the rakyat.
Look at Selangor, what the PKR has done? You are complaining about no FDI flowing in to country. Then why the investors not coming to Penang? You complaining about Mahathir’s cronyism, but why you such ignorance of the recent corruption, abuse of power, cronyism and nepotism cases involving DAP and PR. Why there is PKR’s nepotism and Anwar’s family nepotism. So, the more you complaint, the more I look at it as manipulation from PR.
Native Sabahans living in Mengattal, KK have no running water today. They voted BN in the last election who will spend RM5billion on a tower in overcrowded KL city. Why???…
I recently received a desperate call from UNICEF Malaysia begging me to increase my donation to the organization in order to install water supply for rural and native children.
I was dismay, appall and utterly shock!
I naturally declined the request as I strongly think that our Government’s has the duty to ensure that all Rakyat regardless should enjoy clean and safe water. It should never be the responsibility of the generous public to provide running water.
It is equally appalling to know that Mengattal, KK native communities have no running water.
BN turning a deaf ear to the Mengattal resident’s desperate call for help may be due to the fact that they have conveniently abandoned their duty by sub-contracting it to the greedy businessman!
That being the case, it appears that the only way for Mengattal’s native community to have running water is to enumerate UNICEF i.e. to beg for donation from the generous public.
The following fact is crystal clear.………. hoping for BN to install running water is futile……. as the $$$$duit supposed to be used for installing water supply in native communities………… has all been diverted and use to construct Warisan Merderka……………. and…………… N.S.E.W corridors;…………… and………….. to foot the bill for traffic disperser scheme………….. and………….. to provide special funds & incentive to initiate these mammoth projects.
Despite under heavy and severe criticism & curse………….. and……………. further….. knowing that the acquisition will benefit the Businessman and behind the scene politician………………PKR’s Selangor state Government still attempt to regain control of the Selangor state water supply for the sake of the Rakyat.
What are the benefits to the rakyat,you may ask?
The benefits come in the form of reduced water bill as the charge rate will only be based on operation cost; and, for those Rakyat -unfortunately it does not include Mengattal’s native community- who is in dire need of running water, the installation of water supply will be based on need rather than profitability.
So….. Sabahan-really-poor……. may be you should ask the Sabah’s native communities to demand that their state Government takes over the Water supply in order that their cried for help will not hit a deaf ear.
So……….. PNB claimed that they won’t use money from investors or Government to construct the Menara Warisan………,
do you believe them?
…..Chotto Matte Gudasai…..
Wasn’t PNB a Government-linked Company or GLC?
If you tell a lie many times it becomes the truth!
Similarly, if you let someone else in charge of your money, it becomes his/her!
Similarly, if you give the power to someone else to manage your affair, they soon only manage their own and turning a deaf ear to you.
This appears to be the scenario for all GLC companies and some self-serving corrupted politicain.
To arrogantly state that PNB can finance the project on they own without external finance is unbelievable.
Let us make sure that PNB actually use their internally generated funds- a whopping RM 5,000,000,000.00 btw enough to circle the moon several time- to construct Menara Warisan as well as to improve the traffic situation around the Warisan Mederka Project.
Let us form a community to ensure that not a single penny from the government or the Government Link Bank is used for the Warisan Merdeka Project.
So the PNB’s chief said he expected the project to yield 8-10%.
Based on RM5,000,000,000.00, the return over 10 years will only be RM 40M to RM 50M; and, on the average only a meager RM4 to 5 million a year.
If that is the real scenario, I would advise PNB’s board of directors to sell off the land as the profit will far exceed RM 40~50 million and there will be zero risk to the shareholder.
The calculation is simple, original land cost is RM 310M based on RM220/sqft; now worth RM1.13B based on RM800/sqft, so profit from direct sale of land is RM820M.
By this way, no risk, no work but astronomical gain!
Bumiputras who make up most of the shareholders can then expect a big fat bonus!
In view of that, I would suggest the chairman and deputy chairman of PNB board of trustee i.e. PM and DPM veto the project and put the land up for open auction.
Build it in Sabah lah! If it is so miraculous in bringing up the economy and country. Shouldn’t BN think of starting another economic centre after penang, selangor, JB… then KK at the eastern end of Malaysia? I don’t think KL needs another Skyscraper…