On 49 BN MPs off to Taiwan beginning today

Sam: I have worked in the agricultural sector in Sarawak for the past thirty years and have been a farmer all my life. I have learned over time that imposing technology or so called 'modern methods' onto farmers never, ever works. So, this study trip to Taiwan will accomplish nothing as it will never be translated into improvements in farm outputs and yields.

Farmers are the most rational of beings and the reason that they do not produce enough food for self-sufficiency in Malaysia is simply because they have no incentives whatsoever to do so. Farmers have only one priority in their minds and that is to grow and produce enough food to feed their families for the year.

Any extra time or resources that they have left after doing that, whether it is labour, fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides or land, they will use to make extra money. They will not spend time and resources on producing more food if they can only sell the extra food at low prices. They are much more likely to use their labour in outside employment or in producing good cash crops like pepper or rubber.

There is no need for the MPs to go to Taiwan to study so-called modern farming methods because the answer to the problem of producing more food is so simple and has been proven to work nearly everywhere else in the world.

Just raise the farm purchase price of staple crops like rice to a level that makes is attractive to the farmers. Then, they will on their own accord, go out and find out how to increase yields themselves.

But then again, I am missing the point anyway. The MPs have not been sent to Taiwan to learn anything at all, apart from experiencing the continued largesse of Umno and the desperate BN machinery.

Zi-Zenn: Why are we suddenly sending 49 MPs for a study tour to Taiwan of all places? Are they going to study first hand how the ex-president squandered and laundered the nation’s money? Don’t they have more sensible things to do? Or have they forgotten their pledge to serve the rakyat ?

This is an incredible move on the part of our seemingly mentally unstable if not near insane government. It’s the magnitude of inaptitude compounded by sheer propensity that is simply beyond comprehension.

The whole government machinery seems to be collapsing. While the people hunger for solutions to the soaring inflation and worsening unemployment, their elected representatives choose to fly away en bloc on public expense.

Is ours a despotic or deranged nation? All signs point to a resounding ‘yes’.

Arianna: Carrots await BN MPs on Taiwan agri tour’. That should have been the headlines. And if the Anti-Corruption Agency has any brains, it should start investigations into this so-called study tour. Any way one looks at it, it smells rotten.

The majority of us may not be products of Oxford but even a farmer can see the ruse behind the intent. No matter what Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and his deputy, Najib Tun Razak say about the trip, Malaysians know it was done to foil Anwar Ibrahim's September 16 plan to form a new federal government.

Never mind Sept 16. I want to know where the money for the trip came from. It has corruption written all over it.

Don’t talk to me, a Sabahan, about democracy and respecting the mandate of the people. You Umno and BN, yes, I am talking to you. Did you not set the precedent way back in 1994 in Sabah? Remember the coup d'etat ? We in Sabah did not give the mandate to BN to form the state government but the Umno-led BN staged a coup d'etat that forced then opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah out of office.

But lo and behold, what goes around comes around. Now you Umno/BN leaders, know exactly how we, the rakyat, felt when you ignored our mandate, lured some unprincipled and mercenary MPs so that you could rule Sabah.

Now, it's your turn to cry.

Tim Finian: Bon voyage Bung. There's always a possibility of returning to find that your country has changed hands and you are without a job.

So, if I were you, I'd keep a level head with my feet planted firmly on the ground and not enjoy myself too much. You never know what's in store.

ChanCK: A lot of events happening these days are very coincidental.

Do we need 49 ministers to learn agriculture technology at this time? Since this is an agriculture boot camp, shouldn’t our agriculture minister and his deputy minister go on the trip, along with a handful of agriculture officers? This would have been cheaper than sending 49 ministers.

Furthermore, are the other 47 ministers so free as to attend this great agriculture boot camp? Haven’t they got more important things to attend to at their own ministries ?

JTB: A study trip to educate our members of parliament is certainly a good idea. Okay, so you have detractors saying that Barisan National is so afraid of its MPs crossing over to Pakatan Rakyaat that it is taking them out of the country. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that BN has been spooked by Anwar Ibrahim.

However, that is not my point. I am disappointed with the insensitivity of Tiong King Sing, the chairman of the Backbenchers Club. I find it highly offensive that Tiong has not taken into account that it is the month of Ramadan and most of our Umno Muslim members of parliament are supposed to be fasting. This is an appropriate time for them to contemplate and reflect on their deeds, not go gallivanting overseas.

Tiong is an East Malaysian and I do not know if he realises that Sept 16 is Malaysia Day, when Sabah and Sarawak joined the Federation. Tiong, do you not think this is a valid reason for you to be with your fellow rakyat in East Malaysia to commemorate this event instead of being a tour leader in Taiwan?

From your actions, it seems that you subscribe to the BN notion that Malaysia Day is not that important. If that is the case, say so, get out of East Malaysia and move to West Malaysia.

YUMCIOUS: Of all places in the world, why Taiwan? If you really want to learn agriculture, you should visit Israel and see how they manage to cultivate great products under the most hostile environment on earth. Oh wait, we have no diplomatic relations with the Zionists.

Perhaps these 49 MPs are there also to visit their Legislative Yuan to learn how to throw punches and have cat-fights? Isn’t that what Taiwanese representatives are famous for? Oh wait, we have no official diplomatic relations with the Taiwanese either.

Oh, I give up.

On 'Get people's approval first for 916'

Isaaj: The rakyat are uncertain if the new coalition government would be able to cater and adhere to the needs of the people which BN has undoubtedly failed to do. Is the new government going to be any better, or are we just replacing thieves with robbers?

Amid all this uncertainty, Pakatan Rakyat has succesfully garnered the support of the people. Why? Simply because the new government offers hope. Something which has vanished in the current administration. With hope comes new meanings to live for, with hope people have the extra motivation to move forward and with hope, a new vision is outlined. Anwar Ibrahim has given us all hope.

Now we, the rakyat , hope that Anwar will listen to us and take the nation forward. I sincerely hope that Sept 16 is not just a political ploy but a new dawn for Malaysia.

Meng: Before March 8, 2008, many BN leaders and ministers dismissed Anwar as irrelevant, going as far as saying that he is not a threat to their political future. I wholeheartedly believe that their constant repetition of that mantra only revealed their deep fear of Anwar.

Now, BN leaders are singing another tune, saying Sept 16 won’t happen. Although they say this over and over again, they say it with much trepidation.

It was most appropriate that at the Permatang Pauh by-election, Anwar supporters donned masks of their leader. I believe this would have given sleepless nights to many a BN leader. I am sure they would have had panic attacks seeing Anwar everywhere. Whether or not Sept 16 happens, it is funny to see BN leaders sweating and shivering.

Yee: Sept 16 is a test not only for Pakatan Rakyat and BN, but every government agency and the Malaysian public. Will it be a parliamentary coup that would bring about a peaceful transition of power?

I can only hope that the police will continue to serve the rakyat by maintaining peace and order and allow for a peaceful transition of power. We only hope that the government agencies will continue to play an independent role regardless of which political party governs the country.

Kenny Gan: It is odd that many people continue to question the morality of defections to change the government when the incumbent government can best be described as a morally bankrupt one.

How else can we describe a government which has perverted all the instruments of justice to send an innocent man to prison on trumped up sodomy charges and is now set to repeat the same act?

This government has abused all its powers of incumbency to ensure its hold on power election after election such as control of the mass media, use of draconian laws, misuse of development funds, rousing racial sentiments and perverting the Election Commission, among others.

They can cling on to their moral high horse as the country slides down a slippery slope but I, for one, prefer to give a chance to Pakatan Rakyat who remains the best bet for setting the country on the right course.

An often heard caution is that Anwar Ibrahim wants to be PM in a hurry and at any cost. If this is true, Anwar would only had to give in to whatever Mahathir wanted to become PM instead of going to prison and taking a long and arduous route.

I prefer to think that Anwar is in a hurry because the nation is in trouble. Another four years to the next elections would see it floundering on the stormy sea of globalisation and global recession while we continue to retard ourselves with racial policies and argue over ethnic rights.

Kumar: In an ideal world, Anwar Ibrahim would get the people's approval first before forming a new government. But the political situation in Malaysia is far from ideal. We are dealing with the morally bankrupt and astonishingly corrupt BN that will use any means at its disposal to stay in power.

Did ex-PM Mahathir get the people's approval first before launching his persecution of Anwar in 1998, using and abusing every democratic instrument in the process? Did the current BN government get the people's approval first before launching a fresh persecution of Anwar, going to the extent of enacting the highly contentious DNA bill to further its evil intent?

Waiting until the next general elections will only give more time to BN for even more evil deeds. Anwar can do the people a favour by striking when the iron is hot.

On Don't be like American Jews, Chinese told

Gerakan Sympathiser: Mr PM, what is your stand on this matter? Why are you silent? By now, Umno should have kicked Ahmad out of the party. Instead the party leadership is keeping silent on such an explosive issue.

Koh Tsu Koon, what are you waiting for? You have been humiliated to the maximum. No BN leader has been humiliated like this before. It’s time for Gerakan to leave BN. It’s time for the PM and DPM to step down since both their words were not respected by an ordinary division chairman.

Chow Man Wah: I urge all Malaysians not to give power to this man by taking the bait. Most likely, he and his brethren are running on borrowed time, especially after March 8. They hope by creating chaos and emergency rule, they can regain what they have lost.

Fellow Malaysians, it's time to show these mindless people that we have moved beyond such cheap tricks and we will work together for a better future for all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion.

Writing from Overseas: The PM has called for a stop to such racial tiffs. Yet Ahmad Ismail is stoking the flames of racial strife, unrepentant and unapologetic.

His action of smashing and tearing up the picture of Koh Tsu Koon is nothing less than an open challenge. He claims he is speaking for the Malays. If this is true, why did the Malays vote for Anwar Ibrahim in Permatang Pauh?

The whole of Penang, which used to be a Gerakan stronghold, has spoken clearly that the opposition is their choice. They have clearly rejected Umno and other BN parties. The only thing left for Koh to do now is to stop being a BN ‘yes man’ and stand up to this injustice. For once, have the courage to speak out for your community.

Russlei: Now we know where Ahmad was when he disappeared after the controversy over his speech broke out. He was hiding and scheming his next move to capitalise on the issue, which we can now see unveiling. He is itching for a fight and is desperately hoping that the incident boils over.

I hope our leaders across the entire political spectrum will see through this obvious ploy, and not take the bait. May common sense prevail.

Tim Finian: The infantile shenanigans by Ahmad and his ilk can best be described as desperate crewmen aboard a sinking ship. It’s going down and the captain has lost his power.

Likening Chinese Malaysians to American Jews is an analogy that will never hold water in any book. Do I detect a tinge of envy in Ahmad’s rantings? Is he attempting to unbury the skeletons of '69?

Having been in the political wilderness for so long, he appears to be suffering from a severe case of ASDS (Attention Seeking Defeciency Syndrome), that is to be the centre of attention, all the time despite the consequences.

Not having displayed any sign of rationalism, he appears to be a mere pawn in a much bigger game played by hidden hands, which is clearly evident in the fact that he gets bolder with every applause. An indication that he solely lacks a mind of his own.

His grouse, as we all know is with the ex-chief minister. Retaliating with below-the-belt body-blows at the community linked to the CM in question, simply gives new meaning to the term 'infantile politics'.

Justice 4 all races: I refer to the issue of Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail calling Chinese Malaysians ‘squatters’ which left me and my fellow Chinese Malaysians feeling very upset and appalled.

What Ahmad said could not only spark possible racial riots in a multi-ethnic society like Malaysia, it also shows that he has a backward mentality. Do we really want another May 13? The answer is ‘no’ and never again.

How dare he call Chinese Malaysians ‘squatters’ and pendatang . To be frank, men like Ahmad are a social threat and do not belong in a country with an ethnically diverse society. If he had the guts to call the Chinese ‘squatters’, why can't he be man enough to apologise for his misdemeanour?

An apology is not enough. He should stand down, be barred from any political party, be stripped of his Datukship and be made to serve a harsh punishment to teach him a lesson. This will also be a lesson to those who incite racial tension in our peaceful nation.

Ahmad should have paid attention to his history lessons in school that Malaysia was not built by the Malays alone but by many people of different creed, ethnicity and religion. Without the different races, would it be possible to see Malaysia standing tall alongside other first-class nations?

He should have thought of the consequences of his words, for words can not only cut like a knife but they are also not easy to take back when they hurt others.

James: While I must agree as a Chinese that what Ahmad Ismail said was really shocking and completely the words of an insensitive person, I am very tickled to see people like Lim Kit Siang and his son Guan Eng, PKR members and of course Koh Tsu Koon of Gerakan shouting out from the rooftops about the need for Ahmad to be ‘shot’, to borrow a word from Ahmad’s colleague .

I am concerned that Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Khalid Ibrahim are very quiet. Could they also be concerned about the racist elements in their party? Worried about the backlash if they comment on it or are seen to want Ahmad's head?

Sharmini Sugunan: We all know that all 3 major ethnic races were migrants who arrived at these shores in waves - at least that's what our history books taught us back in school.

Chandra Muzaffar maintains that the special rights of the Malays may not be questioned. He said that the Malay sultanate was the only system of rulership and the other races of Indians and Chinese were traders to whom ‘home’ was India and China respectively. So when 'Malaya' came into existence, it was an appropriate reason to establish special rights of the Malays.

At the time Malaya was established, the ancestors of present generation Indians and Chinese may not have called this peninsula home. 51 years have passed since the Indecence of Malaysia.

I and the rest of the Indians and Chinese in the country have worked and contributed to this land we call our home. This is our homeland. Not India. Not China or any other nation. Malaysia is the land I was born, bred, educated, work, married and raised a family in. I also hope that one day I will be able to retire in it.

I am Bangsa Malaysia . My lineage bears both Indian and Chinese heritage. I was an ardent history fan and as such, embraced the early history of Malaysia. It does not matter to me whether or not the first rulers were Malay. I studied our history with pride and enjoyment.

I served as a Malaysian volunteer in Laos. I shared my Malaysian heritage with the young diplomats and civil servants unreservedly.

Our laws were made for its citizens not the citizens for the law. We Indians and Chinese are not immigrants nor sojourners in this land. Over half a century since independence, we have ‘naturalised’ into this land. We have toiled and laboured as citizens of the country.

We do not ask for the special rights of the Malays to be abolished but that we too be included in the bestowing of privileges.

Would it be so hard for some politicians to give us due credit and acknowledgment as such? Is a little hard-earned respect too much to ask?