On Trip not aimed to derail Sept 16 defections
Gman: Another case of BN not getting its priorities right. Is an overseas study trip really necessary at this point in time? And at the expense of the taxpayers. With all these unnecessary expenses, no wonder we've got a deficit in the budget. We put MPs in Parliament to run the country and not to make unnecessary trips. Please, for the sake of the rakyat , do away with overseas study trips.
George Wong: "He (Tiong) asserted it was more profitable for parliamentarians rather than civil servants to go on the study trip as MPs could transfer the knowledge to the people more effectively".
When has any MP ever transferred knowledge to farmers? If farming was so easy, all our farmers would just need a few weeks overseas to learn what others take a lifetime to learn. I guess this is where the "profitable for parliamentarians" comes in, a holiday paid for by tax payers. Well done Datuk Tiong.
September 16: Why should the MPs go for a study trip during this fasting month? Why not earlier or later? Why the sudden rush to pack up and leave? Maybe they are too afraid to face Anwar Ibrahim, come Sept 16.
Well, the Backbenchers Club, lead by Tiong King Sing, better enjoy their trip. It is likely to be the last of such extravagant junkets if Pakatan Rakyat takes over.
On Paid overseas holidays won't stop crossovers
Peter Ooi: The rakyat are suffering, and yet the government deems it fit to finance an all-expense paid holiday for its MPs. Is this the reason why the prime minister is always harping on the people to ‘ ubah gaya hidup ’ (change your lifestyle)? Are we breaking our backs being thrifty so that MPs can enjoy such lavish perks?
The BN government should have woken up from its dangerous slumber a long time ago. The rakyat can no longer be taken for a ride. What is the real purpose of financing such an expensive trip?
It was reported that the trip was not meant to take the BN MPs away from PKR. This is a laughable excuse. There are 365 days in a year. Why must this so-called trip coincide with Anwar's targeted day of takeover? Even fools would find this hard to believe.
Looks like BN will never, ever learn.
On Acid test as 'power' deadline looms
James Chin: Assuming Anwar Ibrahim gets his 30 MPs or more crossing over to form the government with Pakatan Rakyat, can we safely say that he will be allowed to just move into office and take his seat? I’m afraid not.
I wholeheartedly believe that Umno will do everything in its power to stop the take-over and will not rest until it gets back the government. 35 crossing over? Assuming it is peaceful, this is a very small majority, easy for BN/Umno to wrest back by initiating their own crossovers, and then what will we have? A new government every 90 days or so? I fear this will lead to the destruction of our country.
Changes will take place, be sure about that. Umno and BN know that before the next general elections, positive changes must happen, and a bigger opposition in Parliament means we will have these changes. The opposition should also be aware that they too can be ousted at the next general election if the rakyat feel they are not pulling their weight.
Therefore the solution to the country’s problems is change, not crossovers. We don’t need any more political instability. Politicians should start working for the people who elected them into office instead of wasting time thinking up elaborate political ploys.
Tim Finian: Out of production. Totally-obsolete. Irreplaceable parts. That's how my old PC lying in the store room, reminds me of Umno. You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. The only humane thing to do is to put it to pasture or to sleep.
Umno suffers from the curse of going against its original charter as advocated by its founding father, Onn Jafar and that was, for it to be a multi-racial party. If it had adhered to those principles, Malaysia would have been an economic, cultural, educational and sporting powerhouse in this region. Not forgeting a multi-racial marvel and a role-model democracy.
But alas, some viral-elements with primitively supremacist tendencies had to infest the party and transform it into the deceased entity it has become today.
As the adherents of Umno would love to fantasise that theirs is a noble struggle (struggling against what, may I ask? The so called 'colonial-masters' went home more than half a century ago) that must be protected at all costs, little do they realise that the rot is from within.
Self-denial, hypocrisy, patronising-loyalty and cash-culture have made them spiritually blind to the progressive decay that has set in.
Like my old PC with a corrupted hard-disc and a crashed mother-board that has resigned itself to firing blanks at my monitor, Umno today appears to be doing the same, albeit with a lot more noise.
To the MP for Jerlun, I admire your noble intentions but I must add, you are in dire need of a reality-check.
On Syed Hamid: ISA can be used on Raja Petra
Sang Kancil: The same ISA can be used against Syed Hamid Albar for creating uneasiness among the rakyat . He is intimidating the tax payer who is actually paying his salary by always bringing up the ISA. This is really creating instability in the country and I feel he is a treat to national security.
Thus, the AG or the PM should immediately arrest him under the ISA, the law Umno leaders are most fond of. Only then will Malaysia be peaceful.
On MIC took land meant for school: MP
Tim Finian: Well, folks, now we know why the Malaysian Indian community is socio-economically challenged. When the octopus head is in shambles, the tentacles will not function effectively.
Brace yourselves, the land-grab is one of the many scams that will be emerging from the MIC 'dirty-book library' in the foreseeable future.
On Crossover politics not the answer
KC Gan: If Dr Chandra Muzzafar, the self-styled "Champion of Justice" wishes to let loose his vitriolic tongue, he can find more than enough dirt to grind his teeth against in BN’s corruption of practically every democratic institution in Malaysia.
Instead, he has chosen to be a sledgehammer against the Opposition and a pretty ineffective one at that too, preferring to concentrate his diatribe on the personal profile of the unstoppable Anwar Ibrahim.
Rather than the intelligent and broad-minded academic that he should be, Chandra sounds at times like a whining old woman with a chip on her shoulder. Blind to all the inconvenient truths about BN, he clings to the hope that the ‘truth’ about Anwar will be known one day.
Rather than become increasingly bitter and hate-filled as Anwar’s star rises, he may do well to retire to the ivory tower and employ his talents to a critical analysis of the ex-PM Mahathir. The task may prove to be highly educational.
On Doc defends his sodomy examination
T Shan: I applaud Dr Osman’s decision to appear in public to settle matters. I am touched by his honesty and above all, his professionalism. He proves that he is a devout Muslim who doesn't need to swear on the holy book to uphold the truth.
We can manipulate and escape from the justice of the land but not from the justice of the Almighty. The very basis of any religious teaching is to create a consciousness among its followers on what is right and what is wrong in accordance with the values of society and humanity.
But when this consciousness is not inculcated in oneself, only greed of worldly pleasures and power will prevail as the rightful sense. In Malaysia, as Islam takes an upfront role in nation building, many seem to be followers without really perceiving its true teachings and practices, especially the politicians.
On Mazlan submits evidence against Pak Lah to ACA
TETRAIGRAT: I am astonished beyond words at the timing of this report. Is this an effort to gain some cheap political mileage or a real act to uphold justice? It’s common knowledge that BN has been using government machinery during general elections. What’s new and why the fuss now?
The opposition parties have made numerous reports on this after each elections but there has been no precedent of any action being taken from the authorities. So, why now? And why is action being initiated by the son of a frustrated politician and a self declared "outspoken grassroots leader"?
Looks like all these people are jumping into the populist bandwagon lead by the ex-PM. Can't these matters be reported to the disciplinary committee of the party? Where were these sorts of revelations during the era of our ex-PM?
This group knows very well that no action will be initiated against the prime minister and yet they make such reports. I believe this is a strategic, populist move to glorify themselves.
On RM10m worth of teaching equipment 'missing'
Peter Ooi: The report did not surprise me at all, in view of the poor leadership in the Ministry of Education. The minister himself is lacking in direction and is seemingly powerless in dealing with serious cases. The recent incident of a teacher passing racial slurs on students proves my point.
For such a serious offence, the teacher in question was just transferred to a better school, which was perceived to be a promotion. So what fear do education officers have in committing lesser offences?
After all, missing computers could easily be passed off as being stolen by thieves or students and thereby absolving themselves from blame.
Similarly, when leadership is weak, many in the Education Department or school would take advantage of it. When asked to certify any questionable actions, they would do it without batting an eyelid, knowing full well that they are immune to punishment.
The Education Minister must start taking his job seriously. He cannot let unsolved issues slide and fester, and hope they will blow over. He can be sure many more negative incidences will crop up if he does not take any stern action from Day One.
On Bernama's computers stolen in Parliament
Tim Finian: Listen up! Let's not be naive. Parliament has been unsafe from day one. The number of repressive laws passed since its birth have robbed millions of Malaysians of their rights in some way or another. Let’s not make a big fuss over the loss of some computers.
Furthermore, I strongly feel the sanctity of the word 'parliament' should not be sullied to describe the local August house. This age-old icon has come to represent everything that's unfair, unjust, repressive, racist, fallacious and corrupt which clearly explains the frequent leaking of its roof.
