vox populi small thumbnail 'This is clearly a ploy by our new PM to garner votes for himself. This is nothing but a selfish act. If our new PM thinks he can buy our votes by doing this, he is gravely mistaken.'

Steven Wong: Although I read with joy the news that 13 ISA detainees will be freed, I cannot help but wonder ‘why now?’.

My question is, why didn't BN do it earlier? Why do it on the first day you take over office? Haven't the rakyat shown enough about our feelings regarding the ISA before this?

All our candlelight vigils and visits to open houses were all peaceful acts to tell BN that we do not want the ISA. No action was taken and instead the police were called in to disperse such peaceful protests.

But then, on the first day of taking office, our new PM announces this release of 13 ISA detainees.

This is clearly a ploy by our new PM to garner votes for himself. This is nothing but a selfish act. There are no thoughts whatsoever for the detainees and much less about the erroneous principles behind the ISA.

If our new PM thinks he can buy our votes by doing this, he is gravely mistaken. We, the rakyat , are not so gullible.

We want change, transparency and most of all a government that we can trust, and quite frankly, BN is not what we want.

Toh SP: This clearly shows that the BN government is manipulating the law. Those persons detained under the ISA are supposed to be a threat to national security. They were sent to Kamunting so that they can be rehabilitated before being released.

They must appear before the advisory board which will then make recommendations to the Home Minister before they can be released.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the move to release the 13 detainees was Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s own decision. This shows that the PM has usurped the powers of the advisory board and the home minister.

It was further reported that Najib had ‘...put the interest of the nation above self’. Is the PM satisfied that these individuals are no longer a ‘threat to national security’?

On what basis did he arrive at such a conclusion? If these people are still a threat to national security, the PM could be jeopardising national security by releasing them.

How did the self-interest come into the equation? It looks like the home minister is not aware of the law and his responsibilities. Better we get a more qualified home minister.

I get worried whenever the home minister speaks, he speaks rubbish.

Chuacj: This is very dangerous. Everything depended on one person's decision.

Even the home minister had no say in this. By simply catching somebody and releasing them when they feel like it, it shows that there was no basis to catching them in the first place.

We will not know what is the PM's agenda. Most people think these two gestures of his are due to the three by-elections.

My opinion is that the PM is trying to clear some room in Kamunting. The next time somebody utters the word ‘Altantuya’, he will be transported there for a stay.

Peter Ooi: I rejoice with all the detainees and their families over their new-found freedom - a freedom which should not have been denied them in the very first place. But make no mistake.

It is a mere release of a few detainees under ISA and does not spell more freedom for others . As the saying goes, one swallow does not make a summer .

In fact, the release by Najib on his first day in office as PM is well-read by the public as a stunt to win votes on the eve of the three by elections.

No, Najib, we do not buy your act - an act already known by majority as an attempt to enhance your tarnished image.

On 13 ISA freed, ban lifted on party organs

Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria: This is indeed a breath of fresh air especially during this period of political crisis. It is in the direct direction to strengthen democracy and human rights in Malaysia.

Najib Abdul Razak has started in the right direction and my prayer is that he will be consistent and decisive in his leadership to uphold the fundamental principles of good governance.

His promise as the new PM is that he will ensure that no one will be marginalised in Malaysian society. This is the message and vision that ordinary people are looking for.

What is essential in our society is for the PM to ensure that the machinery of government - especially the delivery system - is inclusive and will provide access to all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion, region or gender.

His emphasis on a ‘One Malaysia’ is a thrust beyond just words which must be realised in practical ways.

Malaysians congratulates you, Mr Prime Minister, and awaits the transformation of our society trusting that you will do the right things for all Malaysians. We are with you and will work with you.

Frank Xroy: Yes, he is looking good and he is managing to pull wool over the eyes of the rakyat , the same way his father did. Najib Razak is no fool, but he is no saint either.

Malaysian have to be on the lookout for he is attempting the soft approach, he is trying the holier than thou approach and remember he has Dr Mahathir Mohamad as his mentor.

A kind of a ‘forced to accept’ mentor for if he fails to follow Mahathir's advice, Mahathir will roll over him and hit him with more venom than he did with Abdullah.

Mahathir must be sidelined. But that he (Najib) will not allow Mahathir to do. So he will be a puppet of Mahathir and this country will witness the return of Mahathirism.

In the interest of the Malaysian public, the ISA should be kept in place only for Mahathir for he is a danger to our internal security.

Bukit Gantang, and Batang Ai should send the message to the BN and Umno in particular that we are finished with them.

Also send an un equivocal message to the BN that Najib is the last BN prime minister and Muhyiddin is the last BN deputy PM.

Nik V:

Many of us may have got that e-mail circulating about the ‘tow-truck operator scam’. It is claimed that oil is spilled on certain stretches of road by tow-truck operators.

So when cars can't brake and skid into the embankments, the tow-truck operators conveniently show up to ‘help’.

Whether it is a hoax or the truth, there is a message behind this story that bears a strong semblance to the ‘release of the ISA detainees and lifting of the ban on two publications’.

The doing and undoing of the detaining and banning were done by one and the same administration under questionable circumstances and then conveniently ‘helped’ by the same administration at an appropriate time when it needs good ratings.

Suddenly it doesn't sound so much like a noble a deed anymore, does it?

Dear rakyat . Think carefully. Have we not learned? Know that a chameleon changes its colour to suit its current environment so that its prey feels safe. Then suddenly, it is too late. Don't be so naive.

Be warned that if we keep the current administration, we will see our civil liberties being exploited during periods between elections and given back to us just before an election.

This is corruption and power abuse in every sense of the word - not democracy.

Gooi Hsiao Leung:

Seriously, Najib, releasing the 13 ISA detainees, including the Hindraf 2, was the right thing to do. Arbitrary detention without trial is wrong. Period.

We need to remind Najib that half-measured concessions made purely to win by-elections and coining new slogans won't cut it with the Malaysian public anymore.

Whether it is ‘Bersih, Cekap and Amanah’ or ‘Work with me, not for me’ or now ‘People first, performance now’, we’ve have heard it all before.

On taking office in 1982, Mahathir released 21 ISA detainees, only to arrest 106 more in 1987.

Just 10 days ago, the government wanted to ‘punish the opposition for inciting hatred against the government’ thus the ban of the two publications.

Then Najib, who was prime minister in-waiting at the time of the ban and who obviously hadn’t played any role or was consulted in the suspension of the two newspapers (really?), decided to lift the ban. Malaysia's very own 'Ripley’s Believe it or Not?'.

A year ago, the Hindraf 2 were a threat to national security. Today, without any trial or hearing by any competent authority, Najib has arbitrarily decided that the Hindraf 2 are no longer a threat to national security.

Why, then, are the remainder of the Hindraf leaders - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan and T Vasanthakumar - still held under ISA? It makes no sense.

Unless, of course, the King of Spin is intending to release them as a reward to the electorate in the event of a BN by-election win.

One can but wonder what further half-measure announcements Najib has in store for us in the last two days of by-election campaigning.

On Najib sworn in as PM

Yuvan: Now that Najib is the new PM, the entire nation will be eagerly (and also anxiously) looking forward to three important events soon.

The first is, of course, the results of the by-elections in Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai.

The results cannot be taken as a full endorsement of support or non-support for both BN and PR as the people’s response and reaction will keep changing based on the volatile political and economic happenings.

Whatever the outcome, the ‘verdict’ to be given by the people of these three constituencies could show, to a significant extent, where the BN and PR are heading to.

The new cabinet to be formed by Najib is the second most important event that the public will be eager and also anxious about. Eager because everybody wants to know who will be ‘retained’ and who will be ‘booted out’.

Anxious because everybody hopes that the new cabinet will consist of ministers and deputies who are 100% clean and trustworthy and above all are fully committed to the belief that all Malaysians are equal.

Any wrong or negative opinion about the new cabinet will further damage the already battered image of the BN government.

In fact, the announcement of the new cabinet, if it happens before the by-elections, could be a deciding factor for the constituents concerned.

The third event and the most anxiously awaited, especially by the Indian Malaysian community, is the release of the remaining three Hindraf ISA detainees.

And if this happens before the by-elections which are just around the corner, it could create some ‘impact’ and increase support for the BN candidates, especially in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang.

Apart from the above, Najib’s popularity and the support he could expect in the long run will depend very much on how successful he is on uniting the people, implementing reforms and most importantly on wiping out corruption

Eugene Tan:

In April, the world will see three politicians ascend to the highest political office in their respective lands.

Najib in Malysia, Jacob Zuma in South Africa and Benyamin Netanyahu in Israel. All three are portly. All three call themselves nationalists but also play the racial card.

Instead of discourse, all shout on election platforms. Two of the three are tainted with corruption in financial dealings and one even worse than mere corruption.

Of the three, only one is highly educated and also the only with any real achievement, in turning th Israeli economy round. The other two are party hacks and party warlords.

In all three cases, whenever their biographies or a history of their time as PM or president is written, the corruption and scandals will feature prominently.

What does all this say about politics and politicians or indeed the people who put these men in power?

On Will Najib save us? Only God knows

Jrizal:

Is it my imagination or is a new dynasty is coming into the picture soon? Najib's eldest son and daughter whom the people has never seen or heard about suddenly reappeared on the day Najib was sworn in as the PM .

Apparently, his son is a Youth member of Titiwangsa Umno division and his daughter has just returned home three months ago after 10 years of working and living in UK.

Is this a coincidence or is it time to board the gravy train since daddy is now the prime minister?

According to Mukhriz, Mokhzani is rejoining the Merbok Umno division. Mahathir has also rejoined Umno. Deja vu?

It's no surprise to me the old dynasty is back and a new one is starting... So will Najib save us? I don't think so...

On MCA tells Najib to create a 2nd DPM post

Deva Guru: Dear Mr Loke (MCA deputy sec-gen),

Your idea of having a Chinese second deputy PM and Chinese deputy BN chairperson is ideologically correct but, the justifications are ethically wrong I would say.

Your statement: ‘Also, if given the portfolio, the MCA president could in his capacity in cabinet, help to draw up a fairer and a more justifiable policy which is beneficial to all, especially in areas relating to the Chinese in the fields of economics and education’.

Is the post to help only the Chinese? How about the other ethnic-based party that doesn't have the majority to seek the post? Would they to be left out just like that?

Your justification could cause more damage than good. In the last election, I voted for an MCA candidate thinking that they would help me.

But now I think the MCA also another-raced based party that would not take care of the minorities that are not Chinese. Maybe my vote would not be a big loss for MCA.