vox populi big thumbnail ‘At a time when PKR should stand united to make an impact on the stranglehold that Umno has on Malaysia, some are tearing their hair out just because they can't get their own way. Spoiled brats.'

On PKR's Kalai quits over by-election snub

Dennis Madden: The selfishness and shortsightedness of men like Jerai division chief B Kalaivanar and his 500 followers will be the undoing of Malaysia.

At a time when PKR should stand united to make an impact on the stranglehold that Umno has on Malaysia, you are tearing your hair out just because you can't get your own way. Spoiled brats.

Umno are more or less united, albeit under bonds of dubious value to the nation but at least they are united...and they have money

PKR are a bit like Malaysian drivers - they all have their own agendas and their own set of rules and the result is chaos. And chaos is just what Umno wants because chaos will allow them to walk all over you - again!

I think I'm reasonably aware as to what is happening in politics in Malaysia, but for the life of me I don't know what PKR stands for

PKR appears to have no clear-cut set of policies that all members align with. In that regards, they are just like Umno with its policy of 'more-of-the-same'.

Is this yet another example of Malaysians inability to plan for the future?

Malaysian politics is far too personality-based and while this is still the case, there will never be a future for Malaysia, because personalities come and personalities go and with every change you get a change in direction.

Just look back to the outcome of your idolisation of Mahathir - and learn.

Yuvan: Kalaivanar's reaction is typical of a politician denied his ‘ambitions' and does not reflect well on his integrity and sincerity. He did not get what he wanted and he now cries like a baby.

His statement, ‘I am very unhappy with Anwar and PKR. The party has not done anything for the Indian community' clearly shows what kind of an immature and shallow person he is.

If he was chosen as the PKR candidate for the by-election, then he would have gone around blasting the opposite, ie. ‘I am very happy with Anwar and PKR. The party has done a lot for the Indian community'.

There is no other way he would have campaigned. The decent thing that he should have done is to have expressed his disappointment and unhappiness in no uncertain terms to his party leaders in private and resign quietly.

Gone are the days when politicians who felt that they were treated unfairly by their leaders and members would resign from their party posts quietly and in a dignified manner.

Nowadays we have ‘ambitious and overzealous' politicians who have no second thoughts about throwing away their principles and making a mockery of themselves by attacking the party they belonged to until a few minutes ago.

And all because they did not get the positions or the privileges that they were after in the name of serving the society and the nation.

I do not really care which party Kalaivanar or people like him belong to. It is better for these politicians to quit politics altogether and do nothing.

JTB: Reading the reasons B Kalainavar gave to the press for his resignation from PKR, I think he is better off getting out from PKR.

It looks quite obvious that he is going to be a rich man - very rich - and really he should join the Barisan Nasional and call a spade a spade.

He is an ultra-Indian, who thinks only for Indian rights but not the rights of Malaysians. PKR can do without such people.

The country is in a crisis now, a political crisis and here we have this man who capitalises on the situation to puts himself up as a candidate in the coming by-election.

To me, it is so obvious that blaming PKR is just an excuse, just like that lady from Jelapang who blames PKR because she was sidelined in the Perak government.

Let me tell you that even if DSAI were to offer him the seat and asks him to come back, he will not and you know the reason why?

Tell me, what is the difference with Kalaivanar's and the Umno delegates' line of thinking? They are the same in that they do not think of Malaysians, they only think of their own race and religion to the exclusion of the other races and religions in Malaysia.

I will not vote for a person like Kalaivanar.

Vastu Raman: PKR has made a good decision not to nominate Kalaivanar. He is good orator but not a good man. He has a case still pending in court.

What will happen if Anwar had said say ‘okay' to Kalaivanar's nomination and after a few months, the courts find him guilty? Another by-election?

If PKR had fielded him, then definitely my whole family would have voted against PKR even though we do not want MIC/BN.

That he quit is a good sign for PKR and we now definitely stand by PKR. Nothing to lose if he leaves the party rather then putting him up as a candidate.

I know the Umno media will play this up as a major story but if PKR had put him as a candidate, then for sure the Umno media would have highlighted his impending court case.

It was a good decision to reject Kalaivanar.

Sang Kancil: This is a real case of ‘sour grapes'. Look at Kalaivanar. How to select him as candidate for Bukit Selambau, or for that matter, any seat?

He is a grassroots party worker and should remain at that level. We must know the fundamental idea of leadership and supporters.

People like Kalaivanar have shown their true colour in that they are self-centered.

On Bkt Selambau creates history with 15 candidates

Maniam Sankar: Dear Indian bebas candidates,

What has happened in your constituency since the last elections that make so many of you want to stand as independents?

Are the Indians in Bkt Selambau suddenly so popular that all voters want to vote for an Indian? Surely not.

Indians are a minority and can have a great deal of influence if we throw our support behind the candidate who will care more for our community and who has a chance of winning.

By having so many of you standing, the Indians will not matter anymore to any winning candidate.

The winning candidate will now not bother so much about Indians as his victory will not be because of the Indians.

As Indians, you have done a great disservice to your own community. You have nothing to be proud of. All you have shown is that the Indians are divided and cannot be relied on.

On Umno to zoom in on Nizar's defiance of sultan

Baiyuensheng: There is no defiance of the sultan to speak of in the first place. We should all abide by the rules of the country.

If there are any doubts on the interpretations of the constitution or laws, they should be cleared. Defiance? Hardly.

SK: It is very sickening and disgusting to note that Umno is again making use of the palace to their advantage.

When they went against the rulers in the 1990s during the constitutional crisis orchestrated by Mahathir and also in the recent Terengganu and Perlis MB appointment issue, all these to Umno were not considered defiance.

Now, since they knew they have no answer against PR for the coming by-elections, they are trying to play up Nizar's refusal to step down as Perak MB as an act of defiance against the sultan.

What a shame Umno, be a gentleman. Bring out the real political issues and convince the people how you intend to make Malaysia a great developed country.

Don't hide behind the rulers. It is wrong and very disrespectful to the palace to use the rulers' names in political fights.

Just like in school,when Ahmad and Ali are fighting,we don't think it is correct when Ahmad uses teacher's name and tells Ali that he got the teacher's support and if Ali dares to fight against him, then Ali is defying the teacher. Is it fair?

On Language march: crowd wasn't unruly at all

Hai Hiung Lo: I still come across many Malaysians who lambast against street demonstrations. These Malaysians are against street demonstrations because their day-to-day routines are disturbed.

Or because they have lost one day of business, or that these street demonstrators have disturbed the peace of the society and have caused massive traffic jams.

I often find myself having to explain to these Malaysians that not all street demonstrations are bad. Some street demonstrations might cause us short-term inconveniences but may bring tremendous long-term beneficial reform to the country.

If the street demonstrations are about demanding free and fair elections, then it is a good demonstration.

Because a free and fair election is one of the many fundamental mechanisms to guard against creeping dictatorship in the country which could affect each and every one of us, including those who are against street demonstrations.

So, if you are one of those Malaysians who dislike street demonstrations, know this - not all street demonstrations are bad because these people on the street may be fighting for your fundamental rights.

For example, you right to vote anonymously. Also, it takes tremendous courage for these people to gather to have their opinion heard as one collective voice and risk arrest because of the repressive Police Act and the draconian ISA.

At least spend some time to understand what all the fuss is about. Your day-to-day routine might be very important for your survival today, but these people standing boldly in front of the baton- wielding FRU might be fighting for your and your children's long term survival into the future.

On Ban major surgeries at beauty salons

Ratormo: There are some very serious ethical issues here.

1. This botched surgery is nothing short of manslaughter (AG and the police, heads up! Please earn you paychecks!)

2. Are these surgeons certified to perform this type of surgery?

3. Are they even ‘real' surgeons? If so, is it ethical to perform a surgery in a beauty saloon of all places?

4. Seeing that there's a great demand for plastic (cosmetic) surgery by women and even men, there is a serious need for the health ministry to come out with an approved list of doctors/ surgeons and hospitals allowed to perform these operations.

This is not the first case and if the questions above are not dealt with any seriousness, this will not be the last case. Period.