'Pak Lah should employ the best investigators to look into the matter. Never mind if we have to employ Scotland Yard or FBI for this is not small matter.'
On Raja Petra: 'Rosmah at murder scene'
Peter Ooi: Raja Petra's statutory declaration that Rosmah was at the murder scene of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu was shocking. Nevertheless, the authority cannot take his allegation lightly and dismiss it as nonsense.
This allegation involves the wife of our future prime minister and we cannot afford to have yet another one with questionable record. A leader with dubious past would allow others to hold him to ransom by threats of exposing him and would therefore be ineffective.
Otherwise, Americans would not spend months and money vetting past records of their presidential candidate. They know that a president with tainted record would bow to pressure from groups who are in the know.
As such, Pak Lah should employ the best investigators to look into the matter. Never mind if we have to employ Scotland Yard or FBI for this is not small matter. Our own police would not do as we know too well . At best they would pass it off as ‘no evidence found’.
Xroy: In light of Raja Petra Kamaruddin's statutory declaration, the police have to question RPK about his source of such information.
This is a serious allegation and needs to be investigated immediately. The allegations are serious enough that if Najib decides to remain silent, he should disqualify himself from his office because this is a direct allegation against his wife.
Najib should sue the RPK for all he has got so that he'll stop making these allegations against him, and teach others who make such allegations to think twice. This will also wipe out any doubt from the minds of the public of any involvement on his part or on the part of his wife.
It is important that he does it now, whilst he is not prime minister or Umno should really seriously rethink Najib's position as deputy PM and PM-in-waiting as declared by the PM himself.
He disqualifies himself from the position of PM if he chooses to allow the rakyat to doubt his integrity.
JD Lovrenciear: In the wake of the explosive statutory declaration by Raja Petra Kamarudin, the deafening silence in the mainstream media further destroys the credibility of the independence of the media.
The absence of any response from BN politicians equally erodes their standing in public ratings.
Truly, no one is in any position to lay claim to the veracity of the declaration. On the contrary, public interest must be given due regard by all those elected into power.
Lest we forget, here is a case that has put the nation under the global spotlight and for all the wrong reasons. To remain mum, or to give delayed response only fires more speculation and the entrenchment of negative perceptions.
Since the reputation of this nation is under siege, three considerations must be met with immediacy:
Firstly, the DPM must immediately resign and detach himself from all vantages that may or may not influence any body or individuals. This is to enable the impartial investigations to carried out in a transparent manner.
Secondly, the media must report in an independent manner devoid of any vested interest. Failing which the credibility of an any independent press will only be damaged further along with the nation’s democratic principles.
Thirdly, upon establishing the whole truth and nothing but the truth, whoever is guilty should not escape punishment. If RPK is guilty then the law must take its full course. If the DPM is guilty then no rod should be spared and likewise for the deputy PM’s wife.
Mere rhetoric and ‘guarded’ responses or 'safe' silence is not going to make any positive impact to nation, king and citizens alike. Likewise even to suggest that RPK's life is at high risk speaks most destructive of this country's global image let alone home-ground fears.
Hence denying that the nation is in crisis mode will only cheat us even further.
On Barisan MPs 'hijacked' overseas
Zi-zenn: This must be the greatest political gag of the year – dispatching some ten BN MPs with suspicious loyalty overseas. There is no such thing as official visist, why not just call it holidaying on government expense – yet another form of political bribery.
Perhaps more MPs will follow suit to earn a free trip overseas. Actually, why not? After all, politicians are politicians; one moment they say they support the BN leadership, next moment they think about a crossover – in order to bargain for a personal advantage point.
Many representatives vouch to serve their voters. In reality, this is seldom the case. In the final analysis, it is only human nature that they have to look after their own vested interest first, be it money or power.
My View: I don't agree with the agenda of appointing a chief minister on rotational basis. I believe many Sarawakians don't agree with this agenda either. Many years back, Sarawak and Sabah politics were not so racist as compared to semenanjung ’s.
Pakatan Rakyat is not much better than BN if choose to stick with racial politics.
The agenda should be replaced by selecting a chief minister during a state general election. In fact, the whole Malaysia should have the post of PM, MB and CM selected through elections. Only then, we can call him or her as the rakya t's PM, MB or CM.
On Your say: 'Where's public transport blueprint?'
Kaisim: The BN government has discarded fifty year in trying to find a solution for our transport problems in the cities and towns. It is still a nightmare to drive in KL during week days even with the many new roads and fly-overs that have been constructed. Our LRT is a shame as the stations are made for the healthy and strong only. Senior citizens and the disabled cannot possibly travel in the LRT.
Some stations are so poorly lit and look more like ghost junctions which don't look safe for the commuters. The monorail is a disgrace to our city as they only pull two coaches. To me, it looks like a toy from a distance.
Strangely, the stations are huge but little use of land and space is incorporated in the project There is no lift for disabled citizens too.
Rapid KL gave us hope for a better commuting system only for a few months. Now, they are back to the old ways - rude drivers and irregular trips. Some drivers don`to stop to pick up passengers if the bus-stop is obstructed. Once, I waited more than an hour at Jalan Tun Perak for a trip to Maluri.
Our bus lanes are not operational and we hardly see any enforcement being carried out. There are no police patrols along the lanes to ensure that they are clear during peak hours. We need strong commitment to enforce the rules less we will still be swearing on the roads for many more years.
We do not seem to get better. Thailand has also introduced a better public transport system and their roads have improved. Singapore is far ahead and advanced. There is no harm in learning from our neighbors when they can solve their traffic problems. We are still struggling to improve the system.
On Parliament debates Shahrir's motion
Garry Khoo: Who made the subsidies increase from RM8.8 billion in 2007 to RM27 billion in 2008? The government is the main cause of the increasing subsidies due to bad public transportation.
Now the government increases the oil price and the rakyat cannot do anything. To ‘help’, the government says ‘change your lifestyle’.
Last time, they encouraged us to buy cars and now they encourage us to sell our cars (for which we an already high tax). If everybody sells their cars, who is going to buy them? The government?
The government should setup an organisation to buy back all the cars from the rakyat . If not, who going to buy all these cars?
On Separate border petrol pumps for foreigners
GS: While we have been focusing on tackling foreigners buying our subsidised petrol but I have not come across any substantive figures from the government regarding this issue. How many foreigners do actually cross the border to buy everyday?
What is the total subsidy ringgit drained as a result? It's only logical to substantiate any policy matters with such figures. It will reflect a rational and worthwhile decision.
What if the numbers are insignificant? Are we then barking up the wrong tree? And when it is so, I can't help but to conclude that this is a government tactic to divert attention from its woes on the petrol hike crisis.
The BN government has good track record of that. So reveal the figures please, our dear BN government.
Just a Malaysian: How does the government plan to control the rampant corruption that will ensue when petrol station attendants ‘allow’ foreigners to fill up with the regular subsidised petrol pumps for a small ‘fee’?
Once again the government exhibits its shortsightedness by implementing meaningless policies that do not truly address the issue at hand.
On MPs pedal people's plight to Parliament
Lemon: Questions to Nazri: Why is cycling not in line with their (whose?) status? How does cycling defy one’s status? As an MP, you ought to know how most of the people that voted you into the office feel.
If you are too high a status to cycle, you are probably to high status to be an MP for Malaysians.
I would also like to draw to your attention of the wastage at the Inland Revenue Board. I passed by 8pm after work, it is lighted up like a shopping complex minus all the shoppers. My lesser paid colleague needs to save on lightings by turning off lights when they are not in use but the government brightens up its complexes for no apparent reason.
I can comprehend that the court complex is an icon and thus the extensive lighting, but are you expecting me to pay my tax at 8pm? How is this good for the environment ? Can you still justify the support for the fuel price hike? Should you not cut wastage first?
Only if you start feeling like how the normal people do (I felt insulted by Nazri’s remark on ‘status’ when one rides a bicycle) only then will you be able to make good decisions for the country and survive in a mature political climate.
To do this, you need to go get down from your chauffeured car and ride a bicycle.
On Penang, Kedah at loggerheads over logging
Shriram Venugopal: I read with utter shock and disgust the statement by Azizan, the MB of Kedah, that he will log all the water catchment areas if the federal government doesn't give Kedah RM100 million. What nonsense!
Who does he think he is? Im wondering if PAS and Azizan's government only have respect for religion, because its clear that he couldn't care less about the environment. Clearing water catchment areas would be a death sentence for Kedah.
Does he even know what he is talking about? He should be given the boot for even thinking of such a ridiculous thing, because his arrogance and ignorance is precisely why Umno was thrown out in the first place.
As far as I’m concerned, he has been blacklisted on my list because he dosen’t have the qualities our leaders should have.
On Zaid: No more persecution of judges
Halimah Mohd Said: The move to compensate former judges who were purported to have been unfairly dismissed with an ex-gratia payment defeats the very notion of integrity that members of the judiciary - past and present - must uphold.
For a society and a government to think that monetary compensation can buy back a person’s dignity clearly points to a distortion of basic values and principles. And for the former judges to accept it, while hitting out at leaders they once served, speaks volumes of a higher form of moral corruption that exists in Malaysian society.
It would have been more honourable for the ex-judges to hold their heads high and politely turn down efforts to buy their support and loyalty. They would have demonstrated the highest level of integrity had they accepted the government’s gesture of an apology for their ‘unfair’ dismissal without being ‘paid’ for it.
If the notion of the separation of powers of the judiciary, legislative and executive is to be seriously understood and implemented, any attempt (past and present) to influence any one branch of the government must be seen as an act of interference or corruption.
By allowing money to publicly exchange hands between former members of the judiciary and the present executive shows a society and a people whose values are being overtaken by material considerations.
Salleh Abas and his former colleagues should have stood tall and deserved the country’s recognition of their integrity.
On Khir: Some councillors 'not locals'
Lilian Tan: I don't understand why the ex-menteri besar of Selangor is going on about some Selangor councillors not being local. If those appointed to these positions are trustworthy, hardworking and effective, that's enough for me.
They might not be experienced, but this is not a problem if they are willing to learn the ropes. What the rakyat doesn't need are ‘local’ councillors who only care about enriching themselves and their families.
I just wish the likes of Khir Toyo will wake up to the fact that Barisan Nasional can no longer dictate to the rakyat what their priorities and requirements should be.
We have had 50 years of corruption, incompetence and waste under the Umno-led government, and we are ready for meaningful change under Pakatan Rakyat.
On Selangor launches 'communitarian economy'
Balakrishnan Manickam: Since the last many decades, it is indeed a breath of fresh air manifesting itself in the states of Selangor, Penang, Perak and Kedah.
The 'cup has indeed runneth over'. In just over the last three months, the state governments of PR are removing the barriers which had long being set by personal interests rather than being for the rakyat’s welfare.
They have indeed proved their mettle. Any government which cares for its people above race, creed, colour and religion and purely for altruism is set for permanency. Why rely on 'rotten dishes', just change the cook!
On English right choice for science and maths
English Ah Lian: How do we move forward with this disheartening scenario where teachers are unable to fully use English to teach because of their students who are unable to understand the lesson conducted fully in English?
I pity the teachers. My teacher friends tell me it is especially difficult in the rural areas.
Yes, there is the case of the inability of students to comprehend. However, it is also true of teachers who really cannot teach in English fully due to their own incompetency or lack of proficiency in English.
My friends who are teacher trainees speak of teacher trainers who can’t speak English proficiently and are required to train the teacher trainees in English. They end up using Bahasa Malaysia and English.
And their excuse? The trainees can’t understand the lecture in English. So what is the ministry going to do? It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
On Chin Peng loses bid to return home: lawyer
Dorai Dubai: Forgiveness is our culture so why are we making a big fuss over Chin Peng coming back? Does anyone in a right frame of mind think that Chin Peng will go around and preach to the people to accept communism.
As we know, the world’s biggest communist blocs like Russia and China are turning to other policies. We are na V ve if we are still looking back at the1960’s and being afraid of it.
We are talking about no identification documents to substantiate Chin Peng’s claim to being a Malaysian citizen. Come on. I have read in my Form 5 ‘Sejarah’ that Chin Peng was a Malaysian who founded the Communist Party of Malays and attended the failed ‘Baling talks.
Now we are saying that Chin Peng is not a Malaysian and so our history is wrong or fabricated. I am sure PM can use his ultimate power to instruct the JPN to issue any relevant document for him to return and enjoy the last days of his life.
On Disabled councillor: It's a calling
Umm Anas: Congratulations on your appointment, Anthony. It's long overdue. With your appointment, I truly hope that the plight of the disabled will be materialised.
One piece of advice though - don’t easily get discouraged if your fight does not materialise yet.
I believe it will be in due time with the Pakatan Rakyat’s people-friendly ' government in power. So keeping on fighting till you achieve your destination. May God bless you.
