Angry MRT2 workers regret voting Pakatan  

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 9 Oct 2018 5:30PM · 16 Comments

Workers gathering near the breakthrough point (back, right) of the world’s first variable density tunnel boring machine (TBM) in Kuala Lumpur on January 9, 2014. The MRT project was a showcase of Malaysian engineering ability, says a civil engineer working on the second line. – AFP pic, October 9, 2018.

WORKERS on the Mass Rapid Transit Line 2 (MRT2) are venting frustrations on social media against Putrajaya’s decision to scrap the underground portion of the project and issue a new tender, with one saying his colleagues now regretted voting for Pakatan Harapan.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, engineer Justin Chin Jing Ho, 28, said he feared losing his job and also did not know how to comfort his colleagues.

Chin wrote about one of his foremen, as well as a single mother of three children and another colleague, who asked him what would happen to them following the government’s announcement on Sunday.

 “What do the three people above share in common? They all voted for you. They all voted for a new, better Malaysia; a Malaysia Baru. 

“And today they went home, blaming themselves for voting for you because perhaps tomorrow, they will be out of work and will not be able to put food on the table for their families. This is most certainly not what they voted for,” Chin said on the Facebook post.

“20,000 jobs, 20,000 families, and countless hopes and dreams. I have heard people saying that there must be pain before there is gain. But not this pain; this is pure, outright injustice to the 20,000 who have done nothing wrong but to give their lives and time to serve this beautiful nation. The blood will be on your hands.”

The Finance Ministry on Sunday announced the move to terminate MMC-Gamuda’s contract for the underground portion of the MRT2 to save RMM5.22 billion. Prior to this, the consortium and the government had been negotiating cost reductions for the last two months.

Other employees on the MRT2 project also took to social media, using the hashtag #prayforMRT.

“I feel so down…crying just thinking about my child’s future..I was one of those who wanted change for Malaysia and a new image…not to snatch happiness away from my child,” said Hasnah Ahmad, who described herself as a single mother.

Other employees expressed hurt at having sacrificed to be on the tunnelling job, for which Gamuda is reputed to be the best in Malaysia.

“Tunnelling expertise does not come by easily, Malaysia has been given this opportunity to make it their own, I really hope matters would be reconsidered in order for this expertise to not be lost,” said Lim Td.

The Kuala Lumpur MRT project was the first to use the variable density boring machine for the underground portions of the multi-billion-ringgit project in 2013. The second phase of the project is now facing delays as the cost escalates. – EPA pic, October 9, 2018.

Chin the engineer also voiced his hurt at having sacrificed lucrative job offers overseas after graduating in civil engineering to return to Malaysia to work on the MRT2.

“I decided to drop all logic and follow my heart to come back to serve my beloved country Malaysia and participate in building this nation I call home. I chose not to be another number contributing to Malaysia’s brain drain statistic,” he said in the open letter to Dr Mahathir.

He slammed the prime minister’s proposal for a third national car and said Malaysia could instead prove its world-class engineering capabilities with the MRT lines. 

The work done by the Malaysian team so far included “groundbreaking stuff” and has received international recognition and awards from the international tunnelling community, he added.

“All these engineering achievements and milestones were made possible because of the opportunities presented to the young and vibrant Malaysian team working on this highly complex and challenging project. It has given us room to grow, to build, to innovate, to dream. And soon, we will be robbed of all of this.

“In my simple mind, I cannot comprehend the logic of how re-tendering of the remaining works and awarding them to a foreign contractor can bring greater value to the nation or for the taxpayers’ money once the abortive costs, idling costs, compensation, etc are taken into account and considering other factors like unemployment and capital outflow.

“So now I choose appeal not to your logic but to your humanity and to your love for the rakyat of Malaysia. Don’t crush the hopes, dreams, futures and livelihood of 20,000 working class Malaysian employees who have toiled to build this nation,” Chin said. – October 9, 2018.

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Comments

  • During these trying times we need a cool heads, let's sent in an appeal and a dialogue session with MOF how this can be salvaged for the benefit of the workers at large. Pretty sure a solution can be archived but the matter must be pressed on and addressed orderly.

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • he is right. on one hand, Tun obssession with National car with Khazana money. Note..not rakyat money. on the other hand, he is destroying the market sentiment. For the record, I also voted for Pakatan and wondering should I have stayed at home!!

    Posted 5 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Me too don't understand why they have to cancel this. If there are elements of corruption or abuse of power in the award of this contract, resulting to the increase of costs, then get MACC to investigate. Why cancel?

    Posted 5 years ago by Yoon Fatt Ng · Reply

  • Bloody selfish retards. The rest of the nation are to suffer so that a few gets employed? Go find another job lah.

    Posted 5 years ago by Vincent Chan · Reply

  • You jokers had been unknowing or refuse to know you are actually sailing on a pirate ship not flying the black skull bone flag. Now you have a cannon ball hole in your hull and started cursing. Imagine the loot in your cabins. Stop your cursing and Start swimming !

    Posted 5 years ago by TC BOY · Reply

  • Selfish and short sighted lots. Don't you see what the new government doing? By continuing the contract by retender the Rakyat money will flows out to the previous corrupted thieves and will continue funds for their existence. How in the world business especially in construction can they discounted Rm5.3 billions not to mentioned hundred of millions. Don't anyone see the logic? By slicing big discounts they still have the profit margins to complete the jobs. Only the God knows how much this bloody vampires has sucked out Rakyat money for benefit of fews.

    Give the new government a time to clean all the previous contract to start a new to saves our money for future. We will feel a temporary pain now for the sake of betterment of tomorrow. God Willing we will endure this hard times as true new Malaysian.

    Posted 5 years ago by Corruption Buster · Reply

    • Maybe they were over paid in their current job. That's why they fear of losing their job. In private sector, people come and go. A lot of people losing their job and get a new job everyday. I didn't see them crying and whining? Just go out and get a new job. That's why I say maybe they were overpaid that's why they are unable to get the same amount outside than the amount they are getting now.

      Posted 5 years ago by Ke Lun Tan · Reply

  • Is he seriously a first class engineer? The project will still go ahead, if Garuda can offer better terms to the government or it is awarded to another company. That also he cannot understand. Regret voting of PH? Make sure you vote BN next time and let the country rot.

    Posted 5 years ago by Thuan Chai Chan · Reply

  • Is he seriously a first class engineer? The project will still go ahead, if Garuda can offer better terms to the government or it is awarded to another company. That also he cannot understand. Regret voting of PH? Make sure you vote BN next time and let the country rot.

    Posted 5 years ago by Thuan Chai Chan · Reply

    • He's damn selfish top class engineer. Other people can find other jobs & move on

      Posted 5 years ago by Ismawi Johari Johari · Reply

  • To late to regret my friend..need to wait for another 5 year's...weather we like this pakatan or not

    Posted 5 years ago by Balusamy gopal · Reply

  • To late to regret my friend..need to wait for another 5 year's...weather we like this pakatan or not

    Posted 5 years ago by Balusamy gopal · Reply

  • This Chin guy is a very selfish morron...& damn idiotic. Responsible Malaysiana from all walks of life are more worried to help current government to save Malaysia from heavi debts & all rakyat money, and yet this Axxhxxe is more interested to save his high paying job so he can live a comfortable lifestyle. Go find another job AH....

    Posted 5 years ago by Ismawi Johari Johari · Reply

  • Those jobs lost only temprorily....pl look at the bigger picture...

    Posted 5 years ago by Sweesing lee · Reply

  • Hello chin, are you sure you have a 1st class degree? You can't even read properly. The MoF never said the project is cancelled. Only the tunnelling contract with Gamuda is terminated. The project will still be carrying out but must go through proper tendering process. You can go ahead and vote for the corrupt to the core Be eNd in the next GE since you are so passionate about supporting the world no. 1 Kleptocrat lanun. But, do expect your ringgit you are earning now to be at par with Zimbabwe Dollar.

    Posted 5 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Gamuda seems to be populated by smug & self-important young punks. Of course everyone is concerned about their rice bowl, but until we find out whether the direct nego contract with Gamuda-MMC was marked up to benefit certain parties, you just have to accept that nothing in life or business is certain.

    Posted 5 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply