'Seek out the services of retired teachers, headmasters and retirees who have a passion to teach English. Put them on a contractual basis until the permanent teachers are properly trained.'

On 'A pass in English is not enough'

William D: As far as English language teachers are concerned, we can certainly leave out the present crop for they are doing more damage than good.

What we can do is to advertise, seeking the services of retired teachers, headmasters and retirees who have a passion to teach.

Put them on a contractual basis until the permanent teachers are properly trained to take over.

I am in my early 60s running my own consulting firm and am more than willing to participate in this call for ‘national service'.

PT Tan: I agree with those who wanted to make a stand. Just like many years ago, there was some idiotic suggestion that EPF money should only be invested in ‘halal' stocks.

I countered then that contributors should be allowed a choice - ‘halal' or general stocks and have separate dividends scale, so as not to deprive the purist.

That way we can see who will make more money at the end of the day. The idea was then quietly dropped.

Now the same suggestion so I would forward the same argument - choose between vernacular and English and give all parents the freedom of choice.

Do not impose mediocrity on everyone. Then we see whose children will progress faster - those with English or those with vernacular education.

I would love the idiotic argument quietly dropped again. The minister of education simply declares that the study is inconclusive. Period.

Thomson: I watched the 8pm news on TV3 recently and I was totally shocked to say the least to hear the minister of health speak rotten English.

His comments were full of grammatical mistakes. No wonder Lim Kit Siang volunteered an English class for our minister of health.

I daresay his counterparts in India, Indonesia and Thailand speak much better than him.

Maybe Koh Tsu Koon should evaluate this minister's standard of spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia before allowing him to open his mouth in public.

On Nik Aziz holds private meet to reject unity gov't

P Dev Anand Pillai: Since Pas seems to be interested in having talks with Umno for the sake of unity, what will the MCA have to say now?

They have always warned the Chinese electorate that if they vote for PAS, they will have to accept a radically different way of life.

MCA will be on better grounds if it starts to speak up for all irrespective of race or religion. By doing this, it will attract better talent into its fold.

The new generation of voters will definitely want a leader who stands for equality and justice.

Therefore MCA, please start to speak up for all even if it is against Umno.

Therefore instead of barking at Chinese voters for voting for PAS, start debating with Umno without fear.

Sritharan Palanisamy: The spiritual leader of PAS, Haji Nik Aziz, is said to be against the idea of this ‘unity government' and is said to be conducting private discussions with the other PAS leaders.

The DAP leaders in Pakatan Rakyat are ‘fuming with disbelieve and frustration' and demanding that PAS to explain their ‘unfair decision'.

The other component parties of the Barisan Nasional seem anxious to know what is going on.

Is PAS sincere in its offer of a unity government or is it a ploy to be used by PAS to strengthen its Malay support? The timing indicates that it is a ploy by PAS.

Perhaps it is also an indication that PAS is splitting into two camps - Hadi's camp and the Nik Aziz's camp.

And maybe PAS is anticipating that Umno members will crossover to PAS if they (PAS) cooperates with Umno.

Let us wait and see what the magicians are going to produce in the next few days.

On Jaya supermarket collapse: Owner, firms blacklisted

Dian Abdullah: The Selangor government should not behave like a small boy when it comes to the collapse of former Jaya shopping Centre. Seven workers died in that incident.

The state government should set an example by taking legal action against all those involved. Just blacklisting a company is silly.

The same people can form another company and the whole episode will spin yet another round. A mere fine of RM5,000 or even RM50,000 is peanuts to them.

If you are serious, go for a RM100 million fine. The way the Selangor government tackles life and death issues is similar to the way Umno is pretending to be ignorant of the law.