'In fact, the people miss not having more three more by -elections in Perak - at Jelapang, Changkat Jering and Behrang. This would have caused an outbreak of spontaneous joy.'

On Najib: Not the time for another by-election

True Malaysian: Najib is wrong to say that the people dislike by-elections. On the contrary, they love by-elections.

It is a time when goodies and ‘instant mee development projects' rain from the sky.

Roads are tarred, drains unclogged, streetlights installed and contributions to schools, surau, mosque and other deserving causes come in abundance.

Even land problems and citizenship problems a can be resolved. There may even be unexpected bonus like free entertainment by go-go girls!

Although it's not a nice thing to say, sometimes a YB can help his neglected constituency more by resigning or dying to trigger a by-election.

In fact, the people sorely miss not having more three more by-elections in Perak - at Jelapang, Changkat Jering and Behrang.

This would have caused an outbreak of spontaneous joy among the people.

Kwee Leong: Instead of groaning over another by-election, we should welcome the culture of accountability among Pakatan holders of public office to resign in the face of scandals.

This is a refreshing change from the BN way of holding on at any cost even when implicated in corruption and scandals.

BN's dubius power grab in Perak has also forced the opposition's hand. PR can ill-afford to have another assembly person turn ‘BN friendly independent' after being charged for corruption.

It is superfluous for Najib to complain about the cost of yet another by-election as huge public funds have been wasted by the BN government on useless projects and dubious procurement.

For instance, the commission paid to a third party for the purchase of submarines and fighter jets could have funded a hundred by-elections.

I do not think that PR is forcing a by-election unnecessarily as no opposition relishes the prospect of facing the BN in a by-election.

This because BN can channel its huge power and resources into a focused event. Remember it is the opposition's seat at risk, not BN's.

Sayu Sayme: If the reason for not going into this by-election is at all due to the huge sum of money spent in past elections, BN is just telling us one of the ‘bad habits' they have.

It is not a change for a better BN, or anything like that.

Go to the root of the problem and solve it if BN think spending a huge amount of money on by-elections is not right.

Stop spending during by-elections like nobody's business, like what they used to do. Stop stuff like having workers put up rolls and rolls of election posters on lam posts and such as if they want the lamp posts to fall.

Sometimes the posters are just too many that the workers have to just leave them on the ground.

BN can take part in any by-election. What BN needs to do is to stop wasting money like crazy.

Steven Yang:

Of course Najib is right when he said that there are too many by-elections because he and the BN are scared of losing again.

Who says it's a waste of money to hold by-elections? In fact, in this time of recession, it should act as a stimulus for the economy.

There is a need for temporary workers by the Election Commission and political parties. There is a need for printing, transportation and other miscellaneous businesses etc.

Hawkers and small businesses would enjoy brisk business when people come to enjoy and listen to ‘ceramah'.

Penanti, a sleepy area, would wake up again with this hive of activity.

N Tazetta: I agree with our prime minister that conducting by-elections is a waste money. Even worse is conducting state elections.

We should instead just let people hop from the ruling party to the opposition party and form a government that way.

Who knows that when our then DPM orchestrated this in Perak, he was actually finding a cheaper, more economical alternative of forming a new government as opposed to the expensive, legitimate way requested by Nizar.

Bravo PM. Such ingenuity should be lauded especially in this time of a global economic recession.

Yuvan: It was quite amusing to read PM Najib's statement that PR politicians should stop politicking and instead they should focus on solving the economy crisis. Oh my, did I read that correctly?

Who is politicking? Who played and are still playing political games since the last GE in 2008 - BN politicians or PR politicians? How did the political crisis in Perak come about?

By and large, BN is still in denial and has failed to comprehend and accept the outcome of the last general elections.

There is utter lack of maturity on the part of a majority of BN politicians who refuse to understand that the political landscape of the nation has changed and the ‘change' happened because they were politicking for too long.

If Najib and the BN politicians were really concerned about the economy of the nation and welfare of the people, then they could have easily averted the ‘Perak crisis'.

If BN politicians are sincere and believe in the welfare of the people, they should stop all the politicking and focus on improving themselves in their attitude towards serving the people and the nation.

Although the imminent by-election in Penanti appears to be due to non-performance by Mohammad Fairus and some ‘internal problems' between DAP and PKR in Penang, the rakyat can be forgiven if they think that BN had also done some politicking there and took advantage of the situation.

After all, going by what has happened over the past several months in Perak and Kedah, why should anyone think otherwise?

On BN may not contest Penanti, says PM

Peter Ooi: No, Najib, it is not a waste of time , energy and money. The amount of money spent on a by-election is pittance compared to the hefty commissions paid for the purchases of submarines.

The real reason is that you are afraid to lose in another by-election and this time, I believe, you would lose even more convincingly.

The people in Penanti very much prefer a good fight and are eagerly waiting to cast their vote of no-confidence in your leadership.

Alex C: Hahaha! Najib, did we hear you right? To get the consensus of your coalition parties?

Since when Umno ever asked any other component party of their thoughts? MCA, MIC or Gerakan would not have lost their credibility today if their consensus was sought.

I believe the reporters misquoted you guys again, as usual.

I think you might have said 'to ask their thoughts if there is even a remote chance of BN to win' perhaps?

What dignity do you have to lose when you do not even have the credibility to clear yourself of all the allegations against you?

On Dr M: BN should not be scared to contest Penanti

Doraisamy Karuppiah: The former premier is talking in line with his egoism and arrogance,

If BN goes to the polls and loses with the candidate losing his or her deposit, surely it will be humiliating defeat.

Let it be Mahathir himself who leads lead the campaign in Penanti. Can BN win then?

On Mixed reaction to 'no-contest' proposal

Doraisamy: Since MIC president is holding neither a ministerial post or a member of Parliament's seat, I would suggest someone nominate him for the Penanti state seat in order for BN to get another bashing.

Please be informed that BN has never won a by-election in Peninsular after the political tsunami of March 8.

If BN is to regain the public support, the Perak crisis must be settled by way of state elections. By doing so, maybe BN could retain some pride.