On MIC says it again: Release the Hindraf 5

T Shan: Looks like MIC is employing the populist technique to woo the Indian community again. This is an expired technique and MIC needs to look at its own organisation before blaming its lack of support from the community on the arrest of the Hindraf 5.

I am an Indian and am not a supporter of Hindraf. However, I commend Hindraf for opening the eyes of the Indians in this country to the hypocrisy of MIC.

All I can say is Samy's ideology has expired and the third generation of Indians are more intelligent, in that they can see through these third-rate political games played by MIC.

Grow up MIC, for you are going to fade away soon and will only have a place in the history books but not in the hearts of Malaysian Indians.

DK: Finally, Samy Vellu has the courage to speak on behalf of all the Indians in the country. Please carry on doing so until the Hindraf 5 are released. Until that happens, I can confidently say that the Indian votes will never go back to BN.

With God’s grace, the Indian community has brought down the BN government. Pak Lah, it seems you are counting your final days as premier. Just before you leave, please consider doing something good for all Malaysian Indians by releasing the Hindraf 5. They have suffered enough injustice.

Tim Finian: Nice try, Samy. But we all know the real reason you and your party fared badly at the last polls and the reasons far surpass the Hindraf issue.

So, why don't you stop this Hindraf smokescreen and come clean about all the controversies plaguing your party? The people are still waiting for answers.

Please do not worry about the Hindraf 5 as we all know there wouldn't have been a Hindraf in the first place if you had been an able and effective leader. They are in there because of your short-comings.

Young blood: Who is Samy Vellu to speak for the Indian community? He and his party were rejected at the last general election for abusing the trust of all Malaysian Indians.

Even if the Hindraf 5 are released, we are not going to support MIC. MIC is an outdated party that only benefits a select few. MIC members must wake up and face the reality of being in a party that is disrespected by the very people it claims to represent.

Milton Yap: The MCA and Gerakan called for the abolishing of the ISA. And now, the MIC is re-iterating its call for the Hindraf 5 to be freed. Of course, all these parties did not say a word prior to them losing so miserably in the March 8 elections.

Umno has steadfastly refused to budge an inch on this issue. Of course, they are not the ones on the receiving end and they are using (or rather abusing) their power.

If the MCA, Gerakan and MIC are really serious about this issue, they should all resign and force fresh elections. They should have the courage and conviction to do this, rather than hanging on and benefiting from a few cabinet positions.

Do it if you really have the interest of the rakyat at heart. If Zaid Ibrahim can do it, so can these MPs from MCA, Gerakan and MIC. Do this for the long term good of the nation and be proud.

The election would then be a referendum on the ISA. Let the people decide on this. Don't wait for the next election. It may be too late for the parties as you could be wiped out completely.

Those MPs and parties in Sabah and Sarawak have not said a word so far. Are they in favour of the ISA? We would like to hear from them too. They should make a stand.

On PM under new pressure to quit

Kenny Gan: It is clear that Abdullah may be forced to step down as PM before the year is out. He may as well spend the last few months of his office completing at least one reform which Malaysians will remember him by.

All along, Abdullah’s proposals for reforms have been stymied by Umno warlords whom he feels a need to appease for their support. But these warlords have repaid him by demanding his ouster. If Abdullah had boldly carried out reforms which the people wanted, his popularity with the people would have maintained him in office despite internal forces trying to pull him down.

As the writing is on the wall, Abdullah has no more need to appease the warlords and he should push through at least one significant reform such as repeal of the ISA, setting up of the IPCMC, setting up the Judiciary Appointment Council or reforming the ACA into an independent body.

Each of our previous prime ministers are remembered for something so Abdullah better work towards making a legacy for himself.

HJ Angus: Circumstances in Malaysia are such that our besieged prime minister is now in the unique position of being able to reform Malaysian politics beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

We do not know the whole story but I guess our PM has been really struggling to introduce reforms but the challenge has been insurmountable.

The problems are really too deep and too complex. I believe that corruption has now engulfed the whole system that is too difficult to unravel.

As the PM looks at the years of his service to Malaysia, the greatest thing he can grant all Malaysians is the gift of freedom. He should realise that the hand over is not going to change things for the better but may even worsen it and he would be powerless to do anything then.

Even as his Umno friends want him to leave post haste, our PM can face the challenge of Anwar directly by calling for that emergency debate before October 9 as it is preferable to be voted out in Parliament than be kicked out by some of your own colleagues.

Victor: Mr PM, it’s seems like the cards are stacked against you and your support base is getting weaker, with little choice but for you to resign.

May I suggest that after you leave the hectic post of PM, you negotiate to stay on as senior minister or minister mentor to avoid the same mistake of your predecessor, Dr Mahathir. At least then you will have an avenue with which to make legitimate comments and suggestions.

To completely leave cabinet will leave your supporters without a leader, and your voice will silenced. Also staying on as a senior minister or minister mentor will ensure that your vision for Malaysia is seen through.

Xroy: Although he is touted as being the fifth best prime minister this country has ever had (we've only had five) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should not yield to the pressure from his deputy, the former prime minister and their lackeys and abdicate in favour of Najib of all people.

Najib's credibility is questionable, and he can't be allowed to take on the position of prime minister and Abdullah has a duty to ensure it does not happen. Like it or not, Abdullah has far more credibility than Najib. So if he wants to leave, he will have to find a better replacement.

The prime minister has to take charge. He must do all in his power to show the people that he is a good, firm leader. Only then will he be respected.

On The BN doesn't 'get' the Internet

Lucian: It was not so long ago that bloggers were ridiculed and labelled ‘monkeys’, liars and insignificant. After all, weren’t blog readers called a ‘cult’ of only 15,000 people, talking amongst themselves?

The reason Malaysians have stayed relatively calm in these volatile times is because bloggers, being the right- and just- minded people they are, have provided us an avenue in which our voices can be heard. Knowing that our ‘voices’ now have significant ‘volume’ through the electronic media means that we need not resort to extreme measures to achieve the same impact.

The electronic media has brought to bear the requisite fairness and justice in everything we Malaysians do, whether we are government or opposition supporters or bi-partisan. We are not 100 percent there yet but we are getting there quickly.

On Malaysia to go nuclear with RM11 bil power plant

Christopher Yogaswaran: I am strongly of the opinion that Malaysia is pursuing a psychological confirmed nuclear project even without considering and validating other options accordingly.

Of course, with this approach , I am most certain that the research and development studies that will be conducted from now to 2023 will be designed to show that the nuclear project is our best and wisest choice.

I would like to inform the Energy, Water and Communications minister that the use of nuclear energy is not the only alternative to counter high global oil prices. And such thinking is too conservative and conventional to be valid in today’s modern age.

Densemy: Didn't I read somewhere that Malaysia's power supply was running at 40 percent over capacity and then there's the Bakun dam still to come?

We can’t even build a proper flyover without it crumbling to pieces. In Malaysia, the concept of maintenance is an alien one and yet we are now planning a nuclear power plant.

I shudder to think of the consequences if something goes wrong.

On Pahang gov't ordered to pay RM60 mil to logging firm

Taxpayer: Each time, a disgruntled citizen or company sues the government and wins the case, the government has to cough up financial damages, often a considerable sum. Ultimately, it is the taxpaying rakyat who pays the penalty.

Surely there must be a better system than this? What policy will Pakatan Rakyat come up with to address this anomaly?