Freedom of the press: the very fact that the article Mugabe and Mahathir — more than their initials in common is published speaks for itself. What is the total readership of Harakah, Rocket and

malaysiakini and viewership of CNN, BBC plus a host of other so-called independentpublications as compared with the "pro-government" press?

What about the pro-conservative and pro-Labour papers of UK?

IMF: was Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad really wrong about not following IMF policies?

Elections: two states are already in opposition hands. Two or three more are potentially theirs.

Is the system of elections in US where results were flawed as a result the disenfranchisement, albeit unintentionally, of thousands, beyond criticism?

Is the unbelievably huge sum spent on campaigning by the New York City mayor a reflection of democracy?

Are we really trying to compare a system of democracy established for hundreds of years with that in developing countries?

Three cheers for Bangladesh and its vibrant two-party democracy. Brickbats to China. They should emulate Bangladesh and follow their electoral path to democracy and take over one of the world's poorest countries.

By all means criticise Dr M. But is there really a comparison to be made with Mugabe?