Loud-mouthed Ng ripe for roasting
By Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz
The more pointed criticisms about deficit budget are the hidden financial indiscipline that goes along with wanton spending.
The ministry waiting and wanting to be crucified is the Tourism Ministry because its minister, Dr Ng Yen Yen, is loud and appears to be pushing her bravado image to the limits.
And so she shall reap what she has sowed.
The Tourism Ministry overpaid nearly RM270 million for advertisements when it chose to use direct bookings instead of open tenders.
So the paying of RM1 million to RM2 million for setting up websites is peanuts compared to the cost of placing advertisements.
It is indicative of the minister’s inability and incompetence of putting her ministry in order.
The same vendor has been at it – placing exorbitant advertisement fees for years.
If the same vendor can control the Tourism Ministry in an almost a cartel-like embrace, it does raise concerns of a possibility that ministry officials are more than just good friends with the particular vendor.
Paying for lost racks
It can suggest that corrupt practices and favouritism in return for consulting fees is rampant at the Tourism Ministry and the loud-mouthed Ng is not able to do anything about it.
The ministry also spent a whopping RM1.95 million to buy 1,000 racks – at RM1,950 per rack – to hold its tourism pamphlets for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign.
Perhaps it’s time for the ministry to set up an in-house workshop for the fabrication of display racks since these are going to be used continuously.
