vox populi big thumbnail ‘If BN thinks that deferring the proposed toll hike will guarantee them victory in the three by-elections, then just wait and see.’

Netty E Komattu: The works minister’ concern that public anger over the latest toll hike could affect BN’s popularity especially ahead of three crucial by-elections is something that till today the BN government has yet to learn from the last GE in 2008.

This clearly indicates that BN is only interested in the superficial truth and does not really see the actual needs of the rakyat.

If BN thinks that deferring the proposed toll hike will guarantee them victory in the three by-elections, then just wait and see.

I am appalled by the real concern of BN and their component parties and how easy they think it is to play with the sentiments of the rakyat.

Are they trying to say that they are only concerned of materialistic things rather then the heart of the people? If this is their concern, then I don’t think they will have a second chance in the next GE let alone the next by-election.

Don’t insult the rakyat’s intelligence.

I am also appalled that the phrase ‘corruption’ has been twisted and sweetened to be renamed ‘money politics’?

Corruption is still corruption no matter how you add or subtract to the phrase. All this sweet talk will lead to greater destruction if BN is not sensitive to the rakyat’s needs.

Please don’t use toll hikes and raciest sentiments to stir the hornets nest. You will never know what bit you in the end!

Jr Lee: It is truly unthinkable that our so-called caring government had committed to so many highway concessions which burden the general public and benefit the holders of these concessions.

The Malaysian privatisation policy has gone awfully wrong and created overnight billionaires just granting them concession rights.

This is legalised corruption and only practised in countries whose citizens have no legal avenue to challenge the authorities.

Highway concessions have to be first approved by the works ministry and assessed by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), a body under the supervision of the PM.

The rakyat yearns to know why didn’t the works ministers, past and present, object to such onerous terms!

And why did the PMs, past and present, agree to them even with the clear knowledge that they will be a great burden to the Malaysian public?

Is there corruption involved? It is pointless to request the MACC to investigate as the AG will, as a matter of practice, just stamp ‘No Further Action’. And, our MACC is only a Malaysian Agency for Cows and Cars!

To ask the EPF to buy over all the highway concessions may not be a wise decision as these highways had been built at a highly inflated costs ti benefit the construction companies which in most cases, are related to or work hand-in-glove with the concession holders.

EPF will only be burdened with highly-inflated highway assets and will be forced to continue to increase the toll rates in order to generate a reasonable return for EPF members.

The plausible solution is to impose ‘excess profit tax’ on these highways, say, an additional 30% to 40% tax which will increase with every toll increase.

The tax collected should be channeled back as cash rebates to motorists and also to improve the LRT, rail networks, the bus system and other alternative transport means.

‘Excess profit tax’ was first started in the UK many years ago and has benefitted the British people greatly after they were burdened by excessive prices charged by monopolistic corporations.

On Sodomy trial: Transfer ruling on March 5

CC Low: It is strange that the prosecution should mention that one of the reasons for the transfer is to uphold the rule of law and to avoid bias.

There is already an impression of bias from the prosecution’s strenuous efforts to transfer this case to the High Court.

There is absolutely no reason why Judge Komathy cannot hear Anwar's case in the Sessions Court. The public can suspect that the real reason to seek this transfer is to select the ‘correct’ judge to hear it.

Umno should be mindful that if Anwar is convicted, it must be seen to be entirely fair and aboveboard or the issue will explode politically in their face.

The short-term political gain from putting Anwar away with the help of a biased judge cannot compensate for the resulting political crisis which will sweep away Umno from power.

The country will not go back to the Mahathir era of ham-fisted political control where innocent opposition politicians can be sent to jail on a whim and a fancy.

Civil society has coalesced into higher demands for better governance and rule of law and a party which does not respect these demands will soon find itself discarded to the dustbins of history.

On Hisham says no to language switch debate

Malaysian for all Malaysians: This issue has been going on for too long and I believe this matter will continue further with no solution in sight.

My belief is that the people tasked to solve this human capital development problem, the education ministry, are merely ‘patching holes in the road’ instead of addressing the source of the problem with a long-term perspective.

We should tackle this problem right at the pre-school level. The following is a brief proposal:

Introduce English and other language lessons at the pre-school level. These language skills can prepare our children of all races to communicate easily and is a tool for interpersonal skills development, which is another skill vital for their career development.

Introduce specially developed English and other language programmes that can assist teachers to teach in the language while ‘learning the language while teaching’.

Use this opportunity to revamp the preschool infrastructure into a smart preschools (an IT environment) thus preparing our children with the necessary skills when they enter the primary school level.

Revamp the primary school infrastructure (into a smart school environment) and curriculum in time for these preschoolers who will be entering Primary One.

Also, during the three-years at the preschool level), develop compulsory English language proficiency lessons for all primary school teachers in preparation for the preschoolers entering Primary One.

This is just a rough proposal and I do hope the authorities concerned take an in-depth view of this perspective and chart a long-term solution for this issue, instead of looking at short-term solutions that will get us nowhere.

Just take a look at our current new graduates today. Thousands are available for employment but the majority of them are not suitable due to their lack of communication skills.

Meng: Politics in Malaysia has gone too far and is choking the country. I am not referring to the recent coup in Perak or the attempted coup in Kedah and the attacks in Selangor.

I am referring to the long-standing game of politics played at the expense of our children, national unity and peace in the country.

It is a known fact that in Malaysia there are certain themes deemed sacred to that particular ethnic group due to cultural and historical facts.

For example, royalty and Islam for the Malays, Chinese vernacular schools for the Chinese and native land issues for the Orang Asli.

For this reason, political parties, in particular those in the Barisan Nasional, have exploited these respective issues to the hilt.

Due to politics in education, for example, our children’s future is being played like a yo-yo with first the Bahasa Malaysia medium, then the English medium and then back to the Bahasa Malaysia medium.

The education system is in shambles because decision-makers play politics. National interest is often relegated and politically-correct decisions are made without a care for world events or the changing times.

Of course, this happens in any democracy to a certain extent but in Malaysia it is more prevalent because of the cosy relationship between interest groups, the corporate sector and the executive.

Political parties use these sensitive issues for their own selfish gain. They use the royalty, race, religion and language to incite and stir unnecessary emotions thus putting the peace of the nation at a risk.

Malaysia is at a crossroads and the way forward is uncertain. We just have to pray that God Almighty will punish the wicked and exalt the righteous so that His divine will be done for Malaysia.

On Nude photos: Cops take statement from 14

John Tan: Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohammad Sabtu Osman was quoted as saying - ‘But as for as we know he is in Jakarta," he said.’

I would have thought that checking with immigration records would have confirmed whether Hilmi is in or out of the country! Isn't that a logical angle to pursue?

On Khir Toyo: It's an old issue, I returned the watch

Ruben Mahendran: So who has the watch now? Does the ex-MB still have it or has it been returned to the state government?

Or has it been given back to the state-owned organisation that ‘donated’ it to Khir Toyo? Where is the watch now? Who is using it?

Is there a policy on gifts given out by state-owned organisations?

On YourSay: Each one expresses 'God' in their own way

Saad Hashim: I would like to thank all those who wrote in to point out my ignorance in regard to the controversy over Malaysian Catholics’ insistence on using the word ‘Allah’ for God in their publications, and perhaps later on in sermons by their priests during the Sunday services.

However, isn't it quite strange that the Malaysian Catholics are still insisting on this despite the current trend in that the present government no longer believes in the Bahasa Kebangsaan demonstrated as such by the continued policy of using English to teach the subjects of Science and Mathematics.

And just spend a few hours in front of our TVs. There are more English programmes than Bahasa Kebangsaan programmes including Malay dramas and Malay entertainment programmes replete with English coversations.

This while Malay news programmes also feature the prime minister, deputy prime minister and other Malay ministers who are more at home speaking English as if they are speaking at a UN assembly or Unesco or WHO conference.

Seeing this, Malay corporate leaders are also speaking more and more in English.

Thus is it still relevant for the Malaysian Catholics to continue with their agenda because over time all their flock will be more comfortable in English.

The Catholic Church says that the use of the word ‘Allah’ is for the benefit of its Bahasa speaking followers.

I agree, but in the light of the growing use of English I wonder whether this practice will have to be stopped in the not too distant future.

Still, as the logical conclusion, will the Catholic Church also translate all the names of the prophets into Bahasa Malaysia to follow the Muslims. For instance, Muslims say 'Nabi Isa' and 'Isa Alaihissalam' for Jesus; 'Musa' for Moses; 'Sulaiman' for Soloman; 'Yaakob' for Jacob, 'Jibrail' for Gabriel etc.

Also, we Muslims would normally say 'Allah Yang Maha Kuasa', so will the Catholics say the same way and not Allah the Almighty. We also say 'Allah Azzawajal' or 'Allah Subanahuwata'la'. Will the Catholics do this too?

I think this matter could be settled harmoniously if the Catholics could be happy with 'Tuhan' or 'Tuhan Yang Maha Kuasa' instead of insisting on the word ‘Allah’.