‘What did Umno Youth do when Mahathir went on a road show to campaign for the removal of the royalty’s immunity? Wasn't he insulting the sultans?’
On Strip Karpal's citizenship: Penang Umno Youth
Peter Ooi: What wrong has Karpal Singh done? I am puzzled. The law of the country recognises that rulers are mere mortals just like you and me.
As such they are liable to err in their decision or deeds which may affect their subjects. Thus it allows the ordinary folk to go to court to rectify the wrongs if any.
Since the laws permit Karpal Singh to file legal suits such as against HRH Sultan Of Perak in his decision effecting the appointment of a new MB, the question of sedition should never arise.
If Umno Youth equates Karpal Singh's action to insulting the royalty, they are very naive or ill-informed.
What did Umno Youth do when Mahathir went on a road show to campaign for the removal of the royalty’s immunity? Wasn't he insulting the sultans?
Why didn't Umno Youth threaten to strip Pak Lah of his Datuk-ship or citizenship when he opposed the appointment of Ahmad Said as Trengganu's MB?
Why didn't Umno Youth claim that Pak Lah committed treason when he did not agree with the Raja of Perlis choice of MB?
If Umno Youth want to take up a cause, please do some home work. Otherwise the joke is on them.
Baiyuensheng: Personally, I think there is nothing wrong with what Karpal is saying in relation to the remarks that he made on bringing the Perak Sultan to court. I am surprised at the outburst by some groups.
This is a free country governed by rules and laws - right? And his remark is in no way a disrespect to the institution of monarchy.
Heck, if he is guilty then Mahathir would have been tried for treason when he moved to curtail the rights of the Malay rulers. Where were the Malays’ outburst then?
It seems strange to me that only the Malay can criticise the sultan and anybody else does that, it would be a treason or the like.
JL Khoo: As an arm-chair politician, but with Malaysia's welfare very much at heart (being a Malaysian), I have this to say on the above.
I applaud Karpal Singh's outburst. KS, from afar, has always seemed hot headed, controversial.
Having read the article of his stand today, I begin to see that the strength and integrity of the man.
I hope Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang and the other Pakatan leaders take what he says seriously, in specific the issue of party-hopping, and in general, that if Pakatan wants to be a recognised leader, it must have concrete and sound values and policies.
In this, I particularly mention Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang as being the leading lights in the opposition, and I hope for their sake, and for the sake of Malaysians, they can see reason in establishing core values for Pakatan and are able to do that.
There is no other way if Pakatan wants to be meaningful in Malaysian politics. One cannot be wishy- washy in one's stand and policies.
All other comments, which are without due deliberation on the spirit of the matter, about how various persons should be sued, who has committed treason, etc. well, I would treat them as not really worth our thoughts and considerations.
In fact, Pakatan should also recognise that they were in the wrong as well, being the first to openly talk about party hopping to take over the government.
But that does not mean that Pakatan is condemned. One can err, and after erring, they should recognise their own mistake, capitalise and move on. They should not try to sweep their mistakes under the carpet.
Sam: I would like to make this heartfelt, and I am sure, widely held appeal to Karpal Singh and all the leaders and members of the Pakatan Rakyat.
For the sake of all the people of Malaysia who have for so long been waiting for real change and justice please, please keep your heads cool and do not resort to these petty and childish recriminations that we see coming from Karpal Singh.
Karpal has, over many long years, made so many worthy and brave contributions to political change in Malaysia but this recent outburst by him is most definitely not one of them.
I am sure that Anwar would be the first to admit that along the way and before the inevitable end of Umno he will make many more mistakes - some of little consequence and some which are more substantial.
But he is the one uniting factor in this alliance and is the glue which holds this potentially fractious group of opposition parties together.
Maybe he got a bit carried away after the March 8 victories and his own by-election triumph in Penang but he was only really reflecting the pent-up and long frustrated wishes of so many people in this potentially wonderful country.
No doubt the Perak debacle is a setback but that is all it is - a setback, and there is still a long way to go before that particular mess comes to a resolution and the war is finally won. So Karpal Singh, don't emulate the venomous and geriatric outbursts of Mahathir.
Keep your cool and if you have any doubts about the leadership of Anwar then don't wash your dirty linen in public and give the mainstream media and Najib further excuses and avenues to make Pakatan's job even more difficult than it already is.
The majority of the people of Malaysia are clearly firmly behind Pakatan and Anwar's leadership and they must have the final say, not Karpal Singh.
On Guan Eng: DAP supports Anwar
Kevin Phang: With all due respect, I believe that the hopping culture this time round was first mooted by Anwar, although the fact remains that BN has always been at the forefront when it comes to defections as they have the money to dole out.
Let’s forget the fact that Anwar's call for defection is different from that of the greed of BN-style defections, Anwar was ‘high’ on calling for MPs to defect and that is a fact.
While Anwar had kept hopes high with his promises, I think that he must now come down to earth and admit the fact that he messed up. Personally, I do not think it will do him any harm if he were to do an Obama.
In fact, I think many (yours faithfully) here included, would laud his admission of failure as a sign of humility and his willingness to accept and change. Isn't that what all Malaysians wanted? Change?
A good leader must admit his fault when it is evident that what he has espoused has failed. I call upon Anwar to not do a BN but do an Obama instead, admit that you messed up big time and reiterate that the struggles and vision for a new Malaysia has not changed, but the approach has.
Anwar must admit he screwed up and apologise to the people and make a promise that from today onwards he will play the game in a transparent manner and taking the people's views into consideration at all times.
PR must not play the dangerous game that BN is playing. They must rise above their petty squabbles and prove themselves as righteous and able to claim the high moral ground.
People are still behind PR. Makkal Sakti is still alive and kicking. That I am sure. Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau will prove to Anwar that he is still well supported.
But, first, Saudara Anwar Ibrahim, you must do the right thing. Only then can you do the thing right. Admit fault, apologize and move forward.
On Karpal to Anwar: Step down as Pakatan head
Rakyat Malaysia: YB Karpal, please understand
1. The hudud issue: Hudud law is only for Muslims while non-Muslims don't have to follow the law as they don't qualify. The implementation issues should be deliberated further.
But it is not right just to reject it all together. Muslims would want to follow their religion as do others.
2. The Perak Issue - Anwar emphasised on crossovers for those who uphold Pakatan's principles. BN's crossovers employed dirty tactics.
Anyway, I agree with you that crossovers are unetical and largely depends on one's motive. So, here, the important point is, the value of the ADUN/MP who crossover.
Anwar has contributed a lot to Pakatan. If Pakatan was not united, I don’t think they would have been be able to win handsomely in the last GE.
Anwar is one of the uniting agents in PR as is Nik Aziz and Lim Guan Eng. One mistake should not cloud the huge successes he has done. I support Anwar to be Pakatan’s leader.
YB Karpal, will you support a ‘Debat Perdana’ between Anwar and Najib on the Perak Crisis? This is one way to be clear on this crossover issue. If you yourself are confused, what about others?
Jeremy Tankh: Karpal Singh is really a loose cannon with a mouth that is faster than a bullet train. He always gave me an impression that he speaks before he thinks.
He has caused so much trouble for DAP and lately for PR that he appears more like a liability than an asset to DAP, and PR as a whole.
He has not the slightest skill of public relationship, not to mention political skill. He is nowhere compared to the former DAP national chairperson Dr Chen Man Hin, except for his legal knowledge.
But then again, there are many non-Chinese legal talents out there who could easily replace Karpal and that includes his own son.
After th 12th GE, he still behave like a 100% opposition member, indicating that he never takes into consideration his fellow politicians in DAP, PAS and PKR, especially those governing the states that are controlled by PR.
No matter how important or pressing a point is to be mentioned, in politics one must always consider the timing and avenue to raise the subject.
It doesn't seem to Karpal that the bigger picture of building a two-party system in Malaysia for long-term democracy in Malaysia far outweighs his personal opinion.
Even Lim Kit Siang seems to have learned to control himself lately, for the benefit of PR. Without Anwar, we most likely will not be able to see a two-party system in Malaysia, even though there may be ten Karpals
On PAS MP Roslan Shaharum dies
Lakshy: My condolences to the family of the late MP Roslan Shaharum.
With his passing away,now arises the opportunity for the state to make some findings from the electorate.
Since Changkat Jering lies within the parliamentary seat of Bukit Gantang, I wonder whether a referendum can be included in the ballot slip for that state seat to be run for election concurrently during this election?
That would permit the eligible voters of Changkat Jering to vote whether they support the ‘frog-man’- Osman Jailu, or if they wish for fresh elections to be held for that state seat.
It’s an opportunity for the PR and BN MBs as well as the sultan and the PM-to-be to hear the voice of the voters.
On Detainee's death: 11 cops removed
Elloh: I note that all the implicated policemen are corporals and lance corporals.
I am sure they must be under the command of senior officers and also under the supervision of these officers when the deceased was in custody.
So what happened to these senior officers? Are they not also responsible and accountable?
Fairplay: The writer seems to miss the main issue.
The issue is not Kugan or whether he is a criminal or not, but simply a death in the police lock-up when a person is under the custody of the police on suspicion of committing a criminal act. Nothing more, nothing less.
If the death is natural, nothing more can be said. If it's not, then its murder, plain and simple.
The police as an organisation has a duty to investigate this death and if it's found to be unnatural and caused by persons, than these persons irrespective of whether they are police personnel or not must be punished for taking the law into their own hands.
Why has Kugan's death become such a big issue ?. The answer is simple.
Malaysia is not a Third World country but there are just too many deaths under police custody of late and the reasons given for these deaths have not satisfied concerned citizens.
They want answers. And as taxpayers, they are entitled to satisfactory answers.
Kugan is neither a hero or a criminal but a person whose death has epitomised the sad state of things in our beloved country.
