vox populi big thumbnail ‘The intriguing thing about sweeping explosive matters under the carpet (or a dead body) is that one day, they will still blow up, much like the C4 explosives.'

On Razak Baginda is taboo, TV stations told

Peter Ooi: Just fancy that. TV stations must have run out of ideas. All of a sudden, Razak Baginda's name has become a sensitive issue.

In case those in power are lacking in grey matter, let me tell them this is an act in futility. Those bent on banning certain names must be still living in the dinosaurs' age.

No wonder our country is still stagnating while our northern and southern neighbours are forging ahead.

In this modern age where news travel at the speed of light, it is impossible to ban any news.

Let us say if Najib were to make an official visit to a foreign country, the news media over there would not give a hoot to what is taboo to Najib.

If Najib really wants to clear his name once and for all, as many had mentioned, let him set up an inquiry comprising international panelists (not ones nominated by the government).

As long as he remains silent on so many issues pertaining to the case, Altantuya's name will haunt him.

No matter how you ban Razak Baginda's name, Altantunya will always be associated with him. He has to live with that for the rest of his life.

What next will be banned on TV? Maybe the word ‘Mongolian'? We will be the laughing stock of the world.

David Yoong: The intriguing thing about sweeping explosive matters under the carpet (or a dead body) is that one day, they will still blow up, much like the C4 explosives strapped to hmm - no, can't mention her name!

Come the next GE, the exploded fragments of falsehoods can actually bury BN and Umno if they remain wishfully and foolishly steadfast about misleading the rakyat down pathways more crooked than their twisted cranial nerves.

Yuvan: It's okay. This is just the beginning of a long list of taboos that the local media will be forced to adhere to.

By the time of the next GE in 2013, this list of taboos will be so long that probably by then the BN government would have to publish it as a book titled, ‘Book of Taboos'.

And then the time will come for the people to decide if BN and if anyone or anything related to BN should also be included in the ‘Book of Taboos'.

Isaac Stepjen:

Its very sad that the government has put a ban on the use of the name of Razak Baginda in the case of the killing of the Mongolian woman.

Just because they have found the accused guilty but they have not found the mastermind behind the killing of the Mongolian woman.

Again some influential person or persons are being protected.

As a Malaysian, I am deeply disturbed with what is and has been happening in the country. How can we say that Malaysia is a peaceful place or country when people are being blown up?

On Rais seeks 'changes' in private TV and radio stations

Average Joe: If there were any hints that BN could possibly reinvent or change for the better, Rais Yatim's comments really ended all hope of that ever happening.

Blaming private TV stations (instead of looking internally on how they can improve) for BN's poor performance in the general elections is just pathetic.

BN is pretty much controls all the mainstream media. To heap blame on them is just ludicrious.

RJ Manecksha: Dato Rais, stop being silly. The media is not there to propogate the agenda of the BN for otherwise its journalists would be held in contempt.

Theirs is a mission to put forth the news as it is. If the news is supressed there are ways of sourcing for them elsewhere. The world is not what it was.

People are more enlightened and more curious. Most will seek until they find.

Start taking care of your ministry, be rational, be equitable to all citizens for otherwise you will be seen to be a stooge, a ‘yes man' and a failure.

Ngu Min Hui: The stand and purpose of TV and radio stations to the nation is that they are supposed to be remain neutral (they are not supposed to help the ruling party or to any group of people).

Their job is not suppose to extend ‘help' but to report every truth that is in the country. Then, you might ask, who actually can be benefit from this?

The answer is obvious - whichever party that does only goods deeds to the people it serves. Whichever party that is righteous and fair.

On Perak crisis: Judges have let Najib down

Richard Teo: Without a doubt, these five learned judge who delivered a unanimous verdict had failed the people when they chose to ignore our country's constitution and failed to administer justice according to the rule of law.

Even a layman could see that the verdict was against the spirit of the provision as embodied in the constitution.

Then how can five supposedly learned judge in the apex court came to the conclusion that is contrary to every one's expectation?

This blatant act of betrayal of the people's trust in the judiciary should not go unpunished. When Pakatan Rakyat do take over the government after the 13th general election, these five tainted judges must be made to face a tribunal.

If found guilty, they should be stripped of their positions and sacked from the judiciary.

Their act of acting in concert with the executive to render a judgement that was perverse and in complete disregard to the federal constitution is a betrayal of the people's trust in the judiciary.

The decision of the five judges have caused irreparable damage and will have a serious impact on the credibilty and integrity of the judiciary for many years to come.

It would be poetic justice to see the five judges being punished and sent into disgrace for their treacherous role in subverting justice.

Chew Swee Yoke: After reading the above article I could not help reflecting on Section 219 of the Penal Code which says:

‘Whoever, being a public servant, corruptly or maliciously makes or pronounces in any stage of a judicial proceeding, any report, order, verdict, or decision which he knows to be contrary to law, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.'

‘Public servant' is defined in Section 21 of the Penal Code as including every judge and in Explanation 1 at the end of Section 21 it is stated that persons falling under any of the above descriptions are public servants, whether appointed by the government or not.

What made Parliament enact these provisions in the Penal Code? Food for much thought.

Baiyuensheng: So the federal judges have committed a crime by going against the supreme law of this country.

By disobeying the constitution, they can now decide on anything they want. Surely this act alone can be considered treason, shouldn't it?

If found guilty, the judges should be punished befitting a crime of treason. So what is next?

The constitution needs to be protected and if so how should this be carried out?

On A place for all in Pakatan shadow cabinet

Jeremy Tankh: To have Tengku Razaleigh on board Pakatan Rakyat's shadow (and later, the real) cabinet would be a fantastic idea.

He is a great asset in any Malaysian government, especially in a major leading role, for his knowledge, experience, stature, integrity and fair-mindedness.

I have a small suggestion. Maybe Pakatan Rakyat can consider to slot for our beloved Kelantan prince, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, as Senior Minister or the like, as what they have for SM Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore.

Then Anwar can still be the PM to lead our new Malaysia, with the prince as his senior advisor.

And when the time comes, Anwar can become Senior Minister, while someone else younger (and able by then) takes over the PM's post.

True Malaysian: It is intriguing to note that Tengku Razaleigh has been proposed as a possible inclusion in the Pakatan shadow cabinet.

In a recent interview, Tengku Razaleigh did not deny outright when he was asked if he will be joining PKR, only saying crptically that nobody knows what will happen in future.

It's clear that Tengku will not have s chance for any high office as long as he stays in Umno, having being sidelined for decades.

To achieve his ambition of being PM is ony possible by joining PR and through a PR victory.

But the problem is that both he and Anwar want to be prime minister. At his age, Tengku can't wait much longer but Anwar is known to have an impatient streak.

Nevertheless, for Tengku Razaleigh to have any legitimacy to go for the top job, he must leave the comfort zone of Umno now and join in the struggle for a better Malaysia, knowing full well that the journey may even involve a spell in Sungai Buluh or Kamunting.

It's hardly fair for Tengku to waltz in and take the top job after Anwar has struggled, fought, suffered and cleared the path for a PR victory.

Tengku Razaleigh must throw his lot in with PR now and be part of the struggle. Only then can he lay a claim to the PM's job.