In Bolehland, cronyism (defined as system of patronage) always capitalises on new global fads introduced to the country, at the inconvenience of the rakyat .

The last two decades saw the proliferation of privatisation projects (over 400 of them), which were supposed to take advantage of economies of scale by being more efficient - though we wonder how this could be, when we turn inefficient civil servants into employees of privatised projects. And when those enjoying contract awards, sub it out to others, who in turn sub-contract parcels out infinitum until the last sub-contractor actually doing the job can only produce shoddy workmanship at par with the reduced profit margins.

As a result, the corporate landscape is littered with expensive privatised 'white elephants' bailed out at the expense of taxpayers. Among the many projects rammed down people's throats include the Bakun Hydroelectric dam project and the Penang Outer Ring Road.

Now the drive towards a 'knowledge economy' in the Information Age provides another excuse for largesse towards favoured persons. We have all kinds of smart cards, including the MyKad, which we are forced to use in the pretext of marching towards embracing the future.

No consideration is given whether persons or companies awarded monopolistic licences have a track record or capability of handling these projects. Just as no consideration is given to whether the people affected want the products and services.

The latest is the awarding of the sole Terminal Migration Organisation (TMO) status to Rhythm Consolidated Berhad , a company listed on Second Board of KLSE. Rhythm has been awarded exclusive rights to ensure EMV (Europay MasterCard Visa) migration exercise is carried out and all card reading terminals are EMV compliant by end of 2005.

There are many credit-card fraud and forgeries which provide excuse in the name of prevention to microprocessor card based on chip and EMV technology. Here, instead of signing on foil to verify our identities, we probably have to punch a pin number as we do in ATM cases.

What a bother! I don't see there is any prevention against ATM fraud when inside job accesses to our pin number or hidden cameras record the secret numbers we punch!

TMO is a big deal because the terminals of all relevant banks terminals and merchants and vendors throughout the country have to effect the EMV migration, and Rhythm is a solely licenced company to certify that which includes the plum business to supply EMV terminals.

According to The Star, "major terminal vendors and several other players in local payments card industry met on Friday to make a collective stand that they are against Rhythm as TMO."

Rhythm is "a publisher of educational and children's books publisher" with neither track record nor experience in deploying payments solutions - I suspect the only way it carries out its monopolistic right (as always) is through sub-contracting the tasks out to those with experience.

It was reported that industry players terminal vendors as well as solution and service providers were not happy for being reduced to sub-contractors or driven out of business. The banks however, may not express their unhappiness, but that again is understandable because such awards are always given by the powers-that-be - regulator Bank Negara has no choice but to direct the banks.

Actually what is there for industry players terminal vendors solution providers to complain? In feudal BolehLand, this is only to be expected. Why talk about track record and ability to deliver when that which counts is having access to the right strings? It will like this for at least the next 500 years.

I am aggrieved because I am not IT literate and have intrinsic distrust for various smart cards and now I am forced to use EMV PIN for my credit card. If it were integrated with my ATM and everything else, what happens if I lose the card?

I will be forced to revert to cash payments. I know I have a third-class mentality on the matter, but let me be and don't force me to use first-world infrastructure just because the technology fad provides the excuse for crony company to profit through monopolistic advantage.