If you haven’t heard by now, the talks between Proton and Volkswagen over a possible partnership are off. Off, as in no way in hell are our political masters allowing “our” National Carmaker to be recolonized by ze germans. Mein Gott! Years of talk and talk and talk and all we have is a nein. Ok I’ve exhausted by German for today, but I’m still good at neologisms. Here’s one: whatthefuckmeingottyoufuckingidiots!!!!#$!%@ which translates to “aww, crap…”.
Interspersed on the road to this resounding “no”, however, were announcements, rumours and even a due diligence audit. What you should be seeing, though, is that all announcements were by “insiders, sources, government” and such - and no confirmation from VW themselves over these rumours and hearsay. Which isn’t surprising, when you consider that VW is a multi-national, professional outfit and not a two-bit workshop run out of a converted shophouse. They announce and speak when necessary.
Not like our ministers, Badawi included, and a plethora of insider sources who just can’t wait to blabber every single detail of this or that aspect of the Proton-VW talks. Who gains? Chips, of Motor Trader fame, speculates: why, the people who might have made a killing at the stock market, that’s who. And who gets shafted? Well, no one in particular, except those poor sods who lost money betting on Proton stock to rise and fall.
Is this what those 3 or 4 wasted years of talk were for? An elaborate wayang kulit to beggar some people and enrich a few?
Hmmm.
Tomorrow the cabinet will sit at some kopitiam to decide who should be in the Royal Commission investigating the whole Lingam debacle (now made worse with Bollywood-styled revenge and allegations of insanity - I think Bollywood movies are insane, anyway). Leading the pack is Lim Kit Siang’s wish-list of panelists for the commission, as reported by Malaysiakini.
I say why bother? I ask: does anyone honestly believe this government isn’t going to do just what it likes? And if the government is going to do just what it likes, damn all, then wouldn’t it be reasonable to suggest that this Royal Commission is what the government wants?
Cynical? Me?! God forbid!
Ahmed Fairuz is no longer Chief Justice. He has therefore outgrown his usefulness. IF the contents of the Lingam video bear any truth, then I suggest that Lingam too has outgrown his usefulness. So Lingam will now take one for the team - except, of course, no one’s on his side.
The government looks good by acquiescing to the Royal Commission, Lingam and Ahmad Fairuz are left to us wolves and once justice is seen to be done, Nazri will stand up blithely declare the matter closed - no more need to look into actual judicial reform.
Unless, of course, if Lingam can demonstrate his usefulness to the current regime.