'If you had asked Dr Mahathir Mohamad to step down during his 22-year term of office, what would his answer have been?'
On Pak Lah has 'no shame' for refusing to quit
Zorgen: BN’s failure is not solely due to our PM's fault. The root of the problem had been deeply implanted since the days of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration. Now, Dr M wants to blame Pak Lah for everything. Even if Dr M were to contest in the 12th GE, I wouldn't bet he would surely have won. And if you had asked Dr M to step down during his term of tenure, I would bet anything you like that he 100% wouldn’t.
All in all, ask yourself this question: ‘Is Dr M making his stand taking into account all Malaysians?’ Or it's just to save himself because a clean Malaysian government will expose a lot of the dirty linen accumulated during the previous administration?
Richard Wee: Dr M seems to be the 'man of many parts'. He sets rules to suit his own purpose and changes them when the rules and policy are not in favour of his grand plan. He caused deep damage to the judiciary. He spent billions of dollars of our nation's reserve as well as Petronas’ funds on mega-projects such as Putrajaya, the Twin Towers etc.
He set the quota system for Umno to prevent him from being challenged as its president. And now when Pak Lah is now in the same position as he was, Dr M is calling for a change so that he can encourage others to challenge Pak Lah. Whether the PM is effective or not is another point of contention but for a person like Dr M to speak like he does now, it really shows the real character of a person. Is he a person that is worth respecting in spite of his years as our PM?
Ken: The Tun is right to ask for ‘credible foreign agencies’ to investigate the 1998 judicial affair as there is no one credible enough in Malaysia for the task (no trustworthy judge, no straight community leader, no corrupt-free senior civil servant, in fact, no decent Malaysian with the required capability as assessed by the Tun). Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should respond to the Tun's call and immediately appoint a ‘credible foreign agency’ for the task.
While Pak Lah is on this task, he should also seek to clear Mahathir of the numerous ‘unfounded’ accusations made by various ‘irresponsible’ people against the Tun. After all, it is only fair that the Tun is given a proper chance to clear his name once and for all. The Tun is so confident that he has done no wrong or harm to the nation while he was PM.
Given the Tun's age and situation (he has had two heart bypasses and is in his 80s), the ex-PM needs to be cleared first. Abdullah should ask the appointed ‘credible foreign agency’ to investigate the Tun first. It is up to Pak Lah to act now or prove the Tun right once again is his accusation that the current PM is incompetent and sleeping.
Jane: I'm no fan of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He's a dreadful letdown as PM and I hate the apparent hold his upstart son-in-law has over him. But I take issue with Dr M's never-ending tirade. What's his definition of a ‘strong leader’? One who changes the rules of the game when it looks like the going is going against him (May 1988)? Or one who cracks down on those who oppose him (Ops Lallang)? Or one who sacks and imprisons his deputy on spurious charges (Anwar Ibrahim)? If these are judged to be the mark of a strong leader, then one can almost say, thank god for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi!
The 2008 election has given an unprecedented opportunity for the opposition to prove what they can do, and they should seize the moment and show they can be a legitimate government. Does anyone honestly think these election results would have been possible under Dr M? People would have been too afraid of the consequences, given that history is littered with examples of what happens to those who oppose him.
Santhi: Tun Dr Mahathir must know that we Malaysians are much happier under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi than under his own 22-year- rule. There is more freedom of expression as newspapers have more freedom. The people feel a cleaner air in the wind as compared to his rule when the people feared him and nobody dared asked him to resign. TDM is a specialist in criticism especially when it comes to Abdullah. As an elder statesman, why is he not able to advice Abdullah and Umno?
S Nack: In 1998 when Anwar Ibrahim was accused of sexual misconduct, corruption, power abuse and eventually sacked by Mahathir the tyrant, I couldn’t believe what was happening. Even a legal ignoramus like me could see how the entire legal system was manipulated to fabricate this flimsy case.
Mahathir is firing salvo after salvo at Abdullah to not only attempt to destroy the man but also the party. When Abdullah took over the helm of the nation, many of us felt it was going to be really tough as he was inheriting a country that was wrought with corruption and cronyism that Mahathir had planted and nurtured for 22 years.
My fellow Malaysians (especially my Malay brothers), please wake up and recognise this man called Mahathir for what he is - he who mortgaged the country to the Umnoputras and Barisanputras.
On The return of the tainted ambassador?
Retired Wisma Putran: The contents of this letter are not all true. For example, the issue of concocting false evidence against Anwar took place during the time when Dali Hashim was ambassador and not Ghazzali Sheikh! It was because Dali Hashim did not want to be involved that the skullduggery did not succeed. In other words Dali Hashim did not play ball!
As for that bit regarding giving funds to Jack Abramoff, the ambassador was merely acting under instructions of the government. ‘Concerned Malaysian’ should find out who was then head honcho!
It is quite common in Wisma Putra for jostling to take place when it comes to filling up plum postings or for promotions, and I am quite surprised those who are now eyeing the Washington post have resorted to concocting false stories to justify their intent.
As civil servants, they should abide by the ministry’s intention for the good of the country.
Peter Yew: We do not hate or dislike Ahmad Abdullah Badawi per se. It is the fact that he is silent when leadership is expected or crippled when action is demanded. We feel he must go. Ahmad Abdullah Badawi is worse than an armchair PM. Is he allowing his ministers to set policies on their own? Or has made clear instructions to them to clear with him before making public announcements or decisions?
Zaid Ibrahim's declaration that the government seek to apologise to Salleh Abbas is now believed to be his personal opinion. So is Syed Hamid Albar's refusal to entertain the release of the Hindraf 5 also his personal view? We want to have clear understanding of what are official stands and those that are personal views of ministers.
Jane: Try as I might, I can't figure out what qualifies Najib to be PM. This is a man who apparently has no real views on anything. What has he done in his ministerial portfolios? What has he done as DPM? Having a dad as PM does not automatically qualify you to be one; you have to earn your right to that position. Do Malaysians have to exchange a weak leader for one linked to controversies?
On DAP-PKR-PAS' betrayal of the Indians
Pakatan Rakyat Supporter: Please note that Indian population in Malaysia is less than 10% of the total population of whole Malaysia. There are 82 MPs from DAP-PKR-PAS and out of the 82 MPs, 20 of them are Indians. It accounts for 24.3%. It is far exceeds the 10% in terms of the population ratio. The maximum number of Indian MPs elected from the MIC in BN was only 11.
There are 10 exco members in the Perak government so if there is one Indian exco member, it is 10% of the total exco’s composition. From this, I believe DAP-PKR-PAS is very fair to the Indians. Making history - An Indian as speaker in Perak soon. Making history - An Indian as Deputy CM in Penang
To my Indian supporters, please do not ask for the sky. During the present globalisation of the world and after the 12th Malaysian election, what all Malaysians want is ‘Anak Bangsa Malaysia’. We are not interested in racial politics anymore. No more Indian politicians fighting for Indian rights. We want equal opportunities given to all Malaysian regardless of the race and religion. Malay and Chinese politicians can also fight for Indian rights.
Malaysian: I feel the writer has been influenced by the same mentality propagated by BN over the past 50 years and that is only Malays can champion Malays, only Chinese can fight for the rights of Chinese and only Indians can look after the interests of Indians. Let’s us all progress to a nation where we think of ourselves as Malaysians first and last. Only then, can our country progress to a first class First World nation.
The state excos have been formed. I think we should let them administer the five states without any further complaints. If after a fair period of say two and a half years (halftime), we can look at what they have achieved for everyone and especially the poorer sections of our community. If it is unsatisfactory, then I will join you in protesting against their administration and letting them know that they have failed us.
George T: To all ethnic Indian state assembly persons in Malaysia. We the ethnic Indian electorate has gone through an exhausting general election, part stressful, part exhilarating. Our congratulations to each and everyone of you for capturing the votes of Indian, Chinese and Malay Malaysians. Not only the elections, but the subsequent posturing and sabre-rattling by some of the losers were stressful as well. So, your very public performances in the run-up to forming the respective state excos have given us all good comic relief. The resignations, U-turns and flip- flops would do credit to the trapeze artists of the Great Royal Indian Circus.
Hopefully, you will not only entertain us, but also do some work in the next five years. A word to the self-proclaimed champions of the Indians: your mission is bring to bear issues affecting Indians on your government. You need not be an exco member (or menteri besar, for that matter), to accept this mission. Let us your electorate see you visit your constituency and thereby become truly a knowledgeable and effective wakil rakyat . Let us hear you raise pertinent, constructive questions in the assembly and follow up until satisfactory answers are forthcoming. Let us not see or hear your name associated with corruption or abuse of power. Let us not find you missing from your post.
If you choose not to accept this mission, you will self-destruct in five years.
On 9MP review: EPU should call Indian NGOs
J Dhanaraj: Let me remind all Indians to refer this matter to the newly formed union of PKR, DAP and PAS which will think and represent for them with regards to any matters of this nature. Do not get anything done unilaterally without the support of the new union of these parties.
Your message to the government must be firm and solid as steel, that your welfare will be taken care of by PKR-PAS- DAP. Please remember that we have a new entity to represent us.
On 'Reform cabinet' can't free Hindraf 5?
Abolish-the-ISA Supporter: I wish to express my disappointment with the federal government's decision to not release the Hindraf 5 from ISA. I hope the Malaysian government charges these five as soon as possible if they are a threat to national security. Otherwise, free them.
If the Malaysian government cannot press charges against the Hindraf five soon, it is likely that at the next general elections, the BN coalition will be voted out and Anwar will be the next PM. The electorate cannot understand why the five are kept in detention. Please show their links to terrorist organisations as claimed by the present BN ruling coalition. Malaysians are waiting eagerly for this evidence.
Worse, one of the five, the elected state assembly person from Selangor, M Manoharan, was not granted a temporary release for his swearing-in ceremony. I am not an Indian but I can feel the utter disappointment and bewilderment now in the minds of the Indian Malaysians with this government action. I can feel the helplessness.
On 'Islamic' housing loan rip-off
Catherine Rodriguez: Phew, someone has spoken out for us victims of this Islamic housing loan. When we got into this charade, we were not briefed on how this loan worked. We were just asked to sign documents for the housing loan we applied for.
Our case went one step further - the developer never handed over the property. Since under this concept both the bank and the purchaser are co owners of the property, why does not the bank take some action against the developer for not handing over the property since they have released the monies to them? The real victim here is the purchaser - the so called 'co owner' - no house, no property and owing the bank far more that what is paid to the developer.
How is this loan arrangement called 'Islamic'? On the contrary it is daylight robbery. Now we are in a legal tussle over this. The developer - with their promises - has cheated us, the bank has misinformed us about the loan arrangements and we are the losers having in the end to pay legal fees to settle this. Where is there justice for people like us who want to own a property? Thank you Encik Idris for bringing this up. I wish someone would throw some more light on this issue.
