Spirit of High Performance

Hang Tuah would've shed a tear over such loyalty. In trying to save its master's face, the National Sports Council has shown that it is simply a coterie of bumbling bumpkins.

In a statement released today, the NSC said the Youth and Sports Ministry had never intended to build a full blown sports complex for the proposed High Performance Training Centre (HTPC) in Brickendonbury, England for RM490 million as claimed.

Heehaw! Beats reading the funnies.

Reports Bernama:
(http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_sports.php?id=208927)
The plan to turn the centre into a sports hub got off the ground with the approval of the Cabinet Committee for Sports Development, whose members include 15 cabinet ministers, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

As directed by the Cabinet, the NSC was instructed to explore the possibility of coexistence with the current occupants - TARRC with consultation with the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB).

Thus, the figure of RM490 million for the HTPC as quoted widely in the media was absolutely wrong and highly speculative, said NSC in the statement.

But, but.... the media had to quote it from somebody, no? And as it turns out, it was your dear minister Azalina who said it. So, she lied? Cooked up facts? Just like the time she said each vocational institute (IKBN) would cost a whopping RM100 million to build?
(see http://bumiku.blogspot.com/2006/01/welcome-to-my-vocational-taj-mahal.html) I mean, spin all you want, govt, but spin with some intelligence. It's getting too easy.

The funnies continue. In just one evening's edition of Bernama, you can read – and weep – about dunce policies and the politicans who are shaping our cultural landscape. If you have the stomach, that is.

More:
If you want to gain a place in our public university, make sure you do National Service. It scores you the highest marks in the co-curriculum component of university admissions. So what if you've represented the country in wushu or squash, done relief work in tsunami-hit Pangandaran, a kid who's gone through NS is one up on you. And too bad if your name didn't get drawn in the NS lottery in the first place (you do know it's a lottery right?); that's just the way of the land. Smells foul? You bet.

Our dear Higher Education Minister, that Mustapha guy, insists the controversial Ethnic Relations Module is cool once a few refinements are made. “From the 120 pages, only four are disputed and mostly the problem is in its interpretation only,” said the man. Far as I know, factual errors were actually found in the text and these have been highlighted substantially over the internet. More important is what the wise datuk elucidated – it's mainly over interpretation. Yeah, interpretations. With so much room for interpretation floating over May 13 and the like because impartial Commissions of Inquiry were never held, can you ever fairly teach this as a compulsory subject? Above all that, what is your real motive in having this module?

The Deputy Transport Minister made a startling revelation in the Dewan Rakyat which shocked all who toil honestly in this beloved land and fell us to our knees in gratitude. Tengku Azlan said this: All Ministers and Deputy Ministers who have been issued traffic summonses will have to pay up; no exceptions .................. (!) .................... He said the Cabinet even discussed this before making a decision. Our leaders are so thoughtful. Now how about setting aside some precious time on lesser issues such as racial and economic polarisation, and getting the best – and I mean merit-best not crony-best – out of our nation?

Oh, Bernama can be such a treasure trove, and you ought to go there yourself – it's free with good quality humour, if you choose to see it it that way. Which is about the only way without bursting a blood vessel.

And as always, the best is saved for last:
Samy Vellu has assured the rakyat that he will personally monitor the 9MP infrastructure projects.

That very thought just made me wet my pants. No prizes for what that means in double-speak. I must say, we are eternally blessed. In this country, the circus is always in town; it's a high performance sport.

Photo: http://www.clownjojo.dk/WorkshopFotos/images/circus%20workshop%201.jpg