vox populi big thumbnail‘How much longer can the ruling government be oblivious towards the current trend? By doing what they are doing, they are earning hatred from the public.'


On 2-day remand for Jamaluddin, 5 others released

Paran Chinniah: How much longer can the ruling government be oblivious towards the current trend? To me, it seems that they were born oblivious.

Why are the ACA, the police and the government suddenly 'acting' super efficient and arresting opposition members and creating this false sense of integrity?

Have they forgotten that similar tactics used in GE12 failed them miserably?

By doing what they are doing, they are earning hatred from the public. People vote for the opposition not for because they like or have faith in the opposition, but because they simply hate the ruling government and want to show their discontent.

How difficult is it for the 'geniuses' to figure this out? Going by this case, I understand why we are where we are now.

In 2000, they used to say 'Malaysia is five years behind Singapore'. Eight years later, in the month of our 51st independence anniversary, I believe we are 51 years behind.

Bringing down the opposition for you to win is just one of the arts in the Art of War, but is not necessarily a winning formula.

Thanks to all the effort by BN, Anwar will definitely win Permatang Pauh. However, Sept 16 will not be realised, at least not in 2008.

Politics is an arena for tacticians, brainiacs and, to a certain extent, cunning leaders, but BN is proving this to be wrong in every sense.

Good luck BN - your self-destruct button has just been pushed and is now on.


On Zuklifli Nordin, we were not born yesterday

Tanya: The writer is like a breath of fresh air in the current stultifying atmosphere of bigotry. I am sure many non-Muslims are grateful for Muslims like the writer, the few, lone brave voices of reason.

Too many Muslims are afraid of rocking the boat and so they go along with the bigots, burying their heads in the sand and refusing to see the stark reality of what is happening all around them and when challenged, going on the defensive and refusing to be engaged in discourse preferring instead to threaten and warn the non-Muslims against treading on dangerous ground.

The extremists among Muslims are taking on the mantle of ‘defenders' of the faith and the others are unquestioningly letting them do so without asking themselves whether this is what they really want.

Their behaviour as proponents of their religion earns for their religion the scorn and contempt of the non-Muslims. Is this what they really want?

Do they not want to portray their religion as so pure that its followers earn the respect of everyone?

I am sure there are many more people like the writer out there but they are terrified of being targeted as ‘traitors' to their religion.

Come on, you people, do you want to allow these extremists to sow hatred between the races. Speak out against people like Zulkifli Noordin who stir up the rancour of the non-Muslims.

Shame on the PKR for having this man in their ranks. PKR would be well advised to boot him out without further ado as he does more harm than good to their cause.


On Guan Eng: PKR's Zulkifli no different from Umno

Barbara: As Zulkifli had the right to assert his views, how is it not palatable when the Bar Council does so? That is absolute hypocrisy.

In my opinion, Zulkifli is not keen to be the MP of Kulim Bahru.

The fact that he did not submit certain documents to the EC and the case is in the courts now and his willingness to give up his seat for Anwar all say that he wants to concentrate on his religious pursuits and now his participation in the demonstration.

He must know he cannot wear two hats.


On Lim vs Koh: Lively debate on land scam

Alfred ho: Having heard the debate between Lim Guan Eng and his predecessor Koh Tsu Koon, it is my personal opinion that the former is not as dynamic as his father.

Had Kit Siang been allowed to face Tsu Koon in the debate, I am quite certain that the latter would have been trounced.

It was rather unfortunate that Guan Eng allowed himself to be mercilessly attacked by Tsu Koon during the debate, though Koh's attempt to defend both himself and his former administration was reprehensible, to say the least.

I wish to take to task the moderator of the debate, Johan Jafaar, for being very biassed by asking a question like ‘Is the current Penang government going on a witch-hunt against the former Gerakan administration instead of delivering it's promises to the electorate of Penang to rule fairly without fear or favour?'

In short, I feel that Koh Tsu Koon won the day, not because he was not involved in wrongdoing, but because he was the better speaker.

However, like many other correct-thinking Malaysians, Guan Eng and his administration should pursue the numerous land scams with vigour and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay, as millions of ringgit are involved.

Justin Santiago: After watching the televised live debate between Lim Guan Eng and Koh Tsu Koon, I was so impressed by Lim Guan Eng's sincerity and forthrightness that I thought of him as future prime minister of Malaysia material.

He would definitely put all the current candidates-in-waiting to shame. Unfortunately, the response in my office when this suggestion was put forward was, ‘Mana boleh?'

We used to have the same response before, at the time when there weren't even suggestions of denying BN a two-thirds majority in parliament.

But it has happened. It happened because we focussed our strength towards achieving the impossible. So let us know turn mana boleh into boleh! - Lim Guan Eng for prime minister!

CPL: Koh's comment that Lim is still acting like one of the opposition despite the fact that he is now CM reflects Koh's stand for the past 18 years as Penang's CM - he means once you are on the job, please close one eye.

No wonder you were rejected by the rakyat, Koh.

I am so glad to see the change of administration in Penang and hope this will happen to the whole of Malaysia, especially at the federal level. We definitely need the change.

Laugt: Penang people are not stupid - Koh Tsu Koon thinks he is clever but, in actual fact, he is a shame and disgrace to the rakyat, particularly the Chinese community in Penang.

Keng Yaik is smart to choose him to be the next Gerakan chief because Keng Yaik can manipulate this Tsu Koon bloke anytime - if Gerakan, too, were to sink like BN, all blame can be shifted to Tsu Koon.

Cheers to the Gerakan members in Perak who are brave to demand the withdrawal of their party from BN. To save Gerakan, members must not only demand the party leave BN, but must also kick out old foxes like Keng Yaik, Tsu Koon and their cronies.

Tsu Koon is only remembered for his apple-polishing capability, especially for Umno after he assumed the CM's post from Lim Chong Eu. What is he good at, besides that?

What has he done for Penang in 18 years, besides taking instructions from Umno? He looked really silly standing next to Guan Eng in the debate, defending BN.

Malaysia boleh with this kind of quality in BN.


On Barisan Nasional, a fast sinking ship

One Malaysia: When Malaya gained independence on Aug 31, 1957 from the British, that independence was being steadily replaced with oppression by BN.

Today, we have no more freedom - we cannot just gather together as we need a police permit, and we cannot protest as we are labelled as traitors.

Our hard earned money paid in taxes is squandered and pocketed by BN.

We have a rotten judiciary, rotten police, rotten businesses and rotten leaders. We have the ISA, OSA and all kinds of paksa. Malaysians should compare themselves with Singapore.

Look at the cleanliness of Singapore compared to our shoddy streets and untidy buildings.

Our public amenities are not cared for. Look around everywhere, you will find a lot of money lender (Ah Long) advertisements pasted on poles, walls, telephones booths, bus stops, etc, along with others that make Malaysian towns ugly and depressing.

Those in power do nothing.

In Singapore, it is impossible to find shops and houses boarded up by steel grills. Not only does one feel the serenity and security in Singapore, but it is an attractive sight for the eyes.

Our Malaysian homes and shops are replicas of the Sungai Buluh jail!

Look at Singapore's armed forces. Does Najib know that SAF could easily obliterate our defence system if they wanted to?

There is really nothing to be proud of in Malaysia when it is compared to Singapore. ‘Malaysia boleh' is just hot air.

The leadership typified by AAB and Najib is the worst combination for us. Both men are those whose motive is to be in power - not to serve the rakyat, but to serve themselves.


On S'wak PKR draws up list of projects to shelve

Sam: For those of us who have lived under the yolk of the Taib-led government in Sarawak for the past nearly 27 years, there is nothing more essential than for Anwar to win his by-election, enter parliament and then lead the charge to review all the mega-projects in Malaysia that are impoverishing the ordinary people and enriching the very few leaders like Taib Mahmud, his large avaricious family and cronies.

Everyone in Sarawak yearns for a change in leadership and for the old leadership to be brought to book for all its misdeeds and abuse.

But what is most essential for all Malaysians is that they clearly demonstrate to all politicians, whether opposition or incumbent government, that they are both willing and prepared to exercise their rights as voters and vote for change.

This above all will send a clear message to all politicians that they can be voted out and that governments are not in power by right but by the will of the people alone.

In all its nearly fifty years of history ,Malaysia has never changed its government and so of course all the Umno and BN politicians think that they are secure and above the law.

Now is the time to send them out into the big, bad world of opposition. So many people in Sarawak wish Anwar Ibrahim the best of luck next Tuesday and maybe one week from now Malaysia will be a different and much better and more just country.


On Lim: No Merdeka with Umno Youth

Ken Wong: This Nazri guy is a joke to Malaysia. The whole Malaysian government has lost the plot.

All that BN components can talk about is Malay rights, bumiputera and non-bumiputera, etc. As a Malaysian, I am getting really sick and tired of all this hogwash.

Why can't the government concentrate on how to better our economy? Why can't we eradicate corruption? Why can't we clean up the government, especially the judiciary and police force?

The only reason is that our own government is in too deep that if they start cleaning up, it would mean to change the whole government. We are the laughing stock of the whole world.


On Mara is progress not fascism

Samsudin Awang: Azly has written well and rightly too.

UiTM and Mara (and MRSM) have been mechanised for too long and abused by Umno and BN warlords for their own advantage.

While UiTM has been treated as Umno's property, Mara has secretly been directed by BN leaders to give priority to the sons and daughters of Umno leaders where admission to MRSM is concerned.

When the policy of opening 10% of admissions to non-bumiputeras is activated, MRSM colleges will have to accept children of MIC and MCA (and other BN) parents, even without the knowledge (or approval) of the principals.

The division directors are just puppets of Umno - such hypocrisy.


On PM sees red over blogger's upside down flag

Tim Finian: Instead of running to the cops every time he sees something he dislikes on a blog, the PM should instead display his political mettle by engaging bloggers with an explanation rather than sending them to the bins.

Like it or not, Mr PM, bloggers are here to stay and your job is to explain or refute whatever you feel is an untruth.

Be a good PM and face the bloggers instead of running to the cops every time you feel uncomfortable. Wake up or simply go home.


On Stop bashing UiTM

Ted: I am a non-bumiputera and was subjected to discrimination in education 30 years ago. My bumiputera classmates with poorer test results got much better deals than I did.

Looking at the big picture, I would say this: affirmative action is still necessary for the Malays, Orang Asli and East Malaysia natives, but should be confined to education only.

Education is the tool for levelling the playing field.

Other NEP polices - such as discounts in housing purchases, business licenses only for bumiputera, minimum percent of management that must be bumiputera in all listed companies, etc, are simply political decisions, a la Ketuaan Melayu.

It would not benefit them in the long run.

What would help the bumiputera in the long run would be to provide them with education opportunities so that they can compete with others on a level playing field after graduation.


On M'kini mentioned in Singapore's national day speech

Q Ali Mohammed: I refer to your above report that you seem to flash as a badge of honour. I shall direct you and readers to the Reporters Without Borders, especially their annual report on Singapore 2007 from which I quote

‘The government headed by Lee Hsien Loong, with his father Lee Kuan Yew behind the scenes, has been engaged in a fierce battle with several foreign publications and at the same time has cracked down on Singapore bloggers and cyber dissidents.

‘While hosting a World Bank and International Monetary Fund meeting in October 2006, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke out against the international media, which he said were trying to impose ‘their norms and their standards' on the country in relation to freedom of expression.

‘The head of government justified control on the press in comments in July when he said that Asian countries who got the best financial results were those whose media were less aggressive.'

Malaysiakini takes pride in freedom of the press and they report without fear or favour.

Jeff Ooi will first and foremost will not be able to publish from Singapore, and if he stands for election, he will face defamation writs before the elections and be barred from standing for elections.

Let us look at the case of Gopalan Nair today in Singapore. Lee Hsien Loong must be an ardent fan of Dr Syed Alwi Ahmad and Helen Ang for their sycophantic praise of Singapore.


On Malaysiakini, what is your aim?

Jennie Yip: Very good answer. The independent media should hold those in power responsible. Whoever are in power should be accountable to the public.