'Police have a right to pick up suspects. But putting these ‘suspects' through undue fear and torture cannot be condoned. What is the MIC doing about this?'
On Bukit Aman records alleged police torture victim's statement
Yuvan: Police have a right to pick up suspects. But putting these ‘suspects' through undue fear and torture cannot be condoned. There have been quite a number of cases of police picking up innocent Indian youths as suspects.
In the name of interrogation these youths are detained for several days and are subjected to unnecessary torture and then released without any charges against them.
What is the MIC doing about this? Do they have a proper record of police brutality against innocent Indian youths?
Do they have an effective follow-up system to monitor these abuses and bring forward the authorities involved to face the necessary action? I expect MIC to become serious about this issue and be truly responsible to the Indian community.
On No to civil servants as Penang councillors
Dennis Madden: Another brilliant move by Malaysians who are afraid to look beyond the boundaries of Malaysia for brilliant ideas and experiences.
The further politicisation of local government will just end it tears for everyone. Just take a look at the odious situation which exists in Britain
Local government is for local people...and if the federal government wont change the electoral act then the Penang government can make de facto changes by appointing people with a dynamic interest in the management and efficiency of local government ie, the rate payers themselves.
I think its called democracy. Call for nominations for the posts and have an unbiased committee select the most worthy (and dare I say, dynamic) applicants.
By appointing people with a vested interest in the functions of local government you also avoid the belief amongst politicians that they are the font of all ideas and innovation...especially if it affects their bank accounts
On Tear down Sarawak's bamboo curtain
Putera Santubong: On a point of historical fact, as a Sarawakian himself, the writer is wrong to relate the so-called 20 Points because this was written and demanded by the leaders of Sabah in 1963.
In a recent public forum, James Wong, the only surviving signatory of the Malaysia Agreement, told the audience that the 20 Points were the creation of the Sabahans.
I am confused with the writer's arguments. In some of his writings, he defended the rights of Sarawak so much so he sounded ‘anti-Malaya' himself. But in the above article on the issue of immigration he is ‘pro-Malaya'.
In my opinion, a federal system of political integration allows certain autonomy for member states. This was agreed by all parties in 1963. And it is constitutional. It is not of being fearful of something.
I suggest that the writer checks his facts first and read more than just books written by Westerners only as listed in his suggested readings.
On Open letter to Indian leaders in Pakatan
Siew Wah: This article deserves the attention of all Indians who feel marginalised in Malaysia like the minority ethnic Chinese community and who are hoping for a change under a new administration by Pakatan Rakyat.
I appeal to all Indians to consider the various points raised by the writer.
Do not act rashly but continue to work for solidarity with Pakatan Rakyat for a fairer distribution of the nation's wealth which is mismanaged by the current administration.
On Mike quits S'gor post, remains supreme council member
Dennis Madden: When the going gets tough, the Malaysians wimp out. Why, oh, why do Malaysians (of all races) throw in the towel when they don't get their own way?
What Malaysia needs now, more than ever before, is men of conscience who will stand up for what they think is right. They cannot always expect to win but sometimes they will...and when they win, that win will more than compensate for all the losses they ever suffered.
A word of advice Mike, never in the history of mankind has anything ever been achieved by quitting.
So get back in there and fight and keep fighting ‘cos Malaysia needs men of calibre and conscience
On Will Mike make good on his threat?
Millionth Citizen: I should imagine the outburst by Kapar MP Manikavasagam is nothing but an impulsive move and an immature gesture that is intended to hurt the opposition. Just to let him know, we voted for you just because we did not like the BN candidate.
And if you feel you have a chip on your shoulder just because you cannot tolerate this young opposition coalition, well, try again - see if we will vote for you again.
Voting you into Parliament is not about you but more like for all the constituents in your area. The whole agenda is that we grow together and work towards a beautiful coalition in Pakatan.
Meaning, work things out and do not be a loose cannon. No one is indispensable in Pakatan.
On Malay-language edition of Catholic paper banned: editor
Mr Yest: My friend's daughter who attends a national school organised meetings with fellow Christians in her school to understand their religion better. The principal came to know of it and made it impossible for them to continue. So they met at a coffee shop.
The principal then reported them to the police for illegal assembly! I don't know how many brownie points he gained with masters at the education ministry but this is the reality. So it is not surprising that the home ministry acted in the way it did.
I suppose if the officials had been more fair-minded, their masters may have felt that they were giving ground to their own religion's ‘enemy' and may face the wrath of God.
We all know it took nearly 30 years for a church to be approved to be built in Shah Alam and the designated place was at the edge of the forest. We all know the restrictions placed on the height of the steeple of a church.
As long as people in government do not feel confident of their own religion, such repression will persist. Compared with the US, a country the Malaysian government has never ceased to preach about religious tolerance and other high-minded matters, Malaysia is still in the Dark Ages.
On The bus station that tore the opposition apart
Mooshie Mooshie: We feel a lot of hanky-panky has been going on between the local council and the developer. Firstly, the question one is really interested in is, where is the agreement between the Selangor government and the developer?
Had a feasibility study been carried out and what are its findings? Has the public's interest being taken into account or is it true that only the interests of the developer has been considered?
Yes, the approval was the act of the previous state administration but I am sure a lot of the decisions that has brought about this project can be traced to the local council and its officers whom are still in office.
So, we beg all parties to remain cool-headed and look at the sequence of events from the start to the completion of this bus terminus.
On Time running out for 'deviationist' sect
Tahir Khan: The news of recent victimisation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, a peaceful Muslim minority group, in the state of Selangor, Malaysia is disturbing.
As an American Muslim, I am horrified by the rise of Islamic extremism and religious intolerance in Malaysia.
Malaysia has a long history of secular democracy and I hope that the Malaysian government will continue to provide its citizens their basic right of religious freedom without government interference.
On Tunku Muhriz is new NS ruler
Mohd Kamal Abdullah: The selection of Tunku Mukhriz Tuanku Munawir by the Undang will be greatly appreciated since tradition and history has been upheld.
When Tunku Mukhriz's father, the late Tuanku Munawir Tuanku Abdul Rahman passed away, Tunku Mukhriz was sidelined due to the ruling Umno's influence and the Undang had selected Tuanku Ja'afar as their choice although the royal household had always disputed this selection.
With the appointment of Tunku Mukhriz as the new Yang Di Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, the reservations of the royal household has diminished.
Daulat Tuanku. At last, a deserving rightful Yang DiPertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan has been chosen, Tuanku Mukhriz, who will always be humble to the people of Negeri Sembilan.
On Will others be banned from S'wak?
John Johnson: This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. An MP who is a born Malaysian but being refused entry into Sarawak.
This is indeed very highhanded and definitely a blatant disregard of the law. The Sarawak immigration should be sued for gross injustice to a citizen of Malaysia.
I must reiterate that these highhanded officials be gotten rid of once and for all.
On KadazanDusuns not 'natives' of Sabah
Sang Kancil: This is another syndrome of a divisive attitude. We are going global and these people are still talking about race.
Be one and work for the betterment of Sabah and Malaysia. We have no time for these petty things. Move forward collectively.
In fact, the whole Sabah community has lost their identity by having Western hybrid names, eg. Marcel Leiking. You hardly see pure Dusun or Kadazan name like Solidoi, Gamin, Lainsing or Lajimin.
Their original religion was animism. With the influence of the Christians, Muslims and Hindus, the original Sabahans have already lost their identities. I have seen Kadazans who speak only English. So please, be one for a better future.
On State your stand on hudud, Samy to Anwar
Francis T Rozario: I would like to remind this Samy that he has to state his stand on Hindraf first. Time and again, he has said he has asked the government to free the Hindraf detainees, and that he as doing it because the MIC champions the cause of the Indians.
Now Samy has to state his stand to the Indians. Start first by getting your act in order before going and asking others to state their stand on Indian rights.
What is MIC's stand on this illegal detention of Indian leaders and how far has Samy gone to secure their release in this respect? Syed Hamid's response to Samy on this issue is a clear indication that the MIC is a ‘nobody' in the BN.
How much longer is this party that claims to be an equal partner in BN willing to go with bowl in hand to Umno for handouts?
This man who has the thinnest of support from the community and claiming to be its leader is telling others from other communities what they should do when in the first place he cannot do anything for his own community.
On Hadi confident Chinese will vote PAS in KT
Titan Monn: Hadi's rhetoric sounds hollow. What have the Chinese in Terengganu benefitted from four years of PAS sleepy governance? The state failed to get the promised oil revenue from the federal authority, resulting in a stagnant and lacklustre economy. Where was the progress?
Lately, the strenuous partnership of DAP and PAS has been further weakened by the latter's re-introducing of the hudud issue in the recent KT by-election campaign. PAS only wants to gain votes, but at whose expense?
When can Malaysia pull itself out of such deeply religiously-biased politics? I wonder if it ever will.
On Bahasa Melayu can be turned into a global winner
Tengyuen Ngan: The writer can't see the woods for the trees. Having said that, the writer's argument for Bahasa Malaysia as the language for science and technology is not convincing enough. Here are my reasons:
1. Malaysia consist of various races, mind you and not only the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians as we always read in the papers. What about the other natives such as the Iban, Kadazan, Dayak, Penan and many more?
To say the Chinese and Indians should follow Bahasa Malaysia because this is Malaysia is an insult to the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Don't they, too, have their own language? Why are the forced to study Bahasa Malaysia and be required to pass the subject when it is not even their mother tongue, let alone the fact that this is their ancestors' land?
Therefore, English is the right language for a multi-racial country like Malaysia for it does not take sides.
2. China, Japan, Italy or France have been or are a frontrunner in science and technology. They have the resources to translate almost all English-medium journals and books into their own language.
But Bahasa Malaysia is spoken by Malaysians alone as Indonesian has slightly different grammar and pronunciation. Our future generations ought to be good in English.
Ask any local university student on research and most of them would complain on their lack of command in the English language which in turn discourages them from reading up on journals that might inform them of their syllabus.
3. I believe Bahasa Malaysia should be the national language for Peninsular Malaysia only and it should be the language of communication and administration.
