In the Malaysian Mirror:
Kok Takes Najib To Task For Excessive Spending On “Salam 1Malaysia”
Thursday, 10 March 2011 10:05
KUALA LUMPUR – DAP’s Teresa Kok is demanding Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to explain the sum of RM63,000 paid for the “Salam 1Malaysia” sent to 1.25 million Malaysians at the cost of 5 sen per email address.
“I am stunned to learn that Prime Minister Najib Razak wasted RM63,000 of taxpayers’ money to spam 1.25 million Malaysians with one same “Salam 1Malaysia” email at the jaw dropping cost of 5 sen per email address.” Kok said in a statement issued yesterday.
“In the Prime Minister’s Office written reply to MP for Batu Gajah yesterday, ‘Ucapan peribadi YAB Perdana Menteri telah dihantar kepada sejuta dua ratus lima (1,255,528) penerima rakyat Malaysia… Kos yang dikenakan adalah berjumlah Ringgit Malaysia Lima sen (RM0.05) setiap satu email.'” she continued.
“For all his purported use of Twitter and Facebook, Najib is neither IT-savvy nor cost-savvy. If he was, he would have recognised the insanity of paying the exorbitant price of 5 sen per email when the cost of sending email is negligible. ” she continued.
Kok further added that the cost of email transmission does not multiply with every email address added.
The Seputeh MP slammed Najib for the senseless spending and reminded him that the hard-earned money of Malaysian taxpayers is intended for public services which has to be managed prudently to serve all Malaysians.
The gutsy lady further questioned the company that was offered the “Salam 1Malaysia” project as there was no open tender process.
“Upon clicking on the URL of the “Unsubscribe” link in the said email, it appears that Najib awarded to contract to Lyris, Inc, a marketing technology company based in California, USA instead of any Malaysian company.” she disclosed.
“I encourage all right-thinking Malaysians to click “Unsubscribe” on Najib’s unsolicited “Salam 1 Malaysia” mailing list to save our taxpayers’ money and to send a strong message of protest against the excessive spending on his trite, hollow and insincere 1Malaysia message.” she said.