'If Pakatan doesn't perform in its first term in federal power, it will be their only term as they can be easily voted out. On the other hand, if BN wins again - it's business as usual for them.'
On Pakatan pledges sweeping reforms
Mangodurian: Some are torn between a the promise of a better government from Pakatan Rakyat and the distrust of an unproven Anwar Ibrahim. Let's put it easily - if Pakatan is voted in, it will be likely by a small margin. BN will then be a strong opposition.
Do you think Anwar will have the guts to mess around? If Pakatan doesn't perform in its first term, it will be the only term as they will be easily voted out. On the other hand, if BN wins again - business for them will be 'as usual'. They will continue to mess around and you will continue to have your bad government.
I am cautiously optimistic about Pakatan taking the reins. We will never have the perfect captains for the ship of Malaysia. BN is broken and Pakatan is unproven, though promising. The thing is, BN (especially Umno) has been proven to be detrimental to the original ambitions and principles of this nation.
So the naysayers here should really question themselves if they have been indoctrinated so much that they forgot what we really wanted when Malaysia became independent - forgot after years of corruption by BN/Umno
KayKay: Leaders from Sabah, Sarawak and the Indian community were noticeably absent from the main photo shoots for this Pakatan convention. Why wasn't Jeffrey Kitingan from Sabah and leaders from Sarawak included?
After all, Sabah and Sarawak came together with Singapore and Malaya to form the new federation of Malaysia. If Malaysian Borneo has fallen in rankings in the estimation of Peninsular Malaysian leaders, it's with good reason too.
It's the result of a deliberate federal government policy of foisting proxies, traitors and stooges on the people of Sabah and Sarawak as their leaders. Genuine leaders have been hounded out of existence in the process.
Some names come to mind ie, Daniel Tajem of Sarawak and Jeffrey Kitingan of Sabah. Earlier, it was his brother Joseph Pairin Kitingan who got the third degree treatment from Kuala Lumpur.
P Ravnthran: Pakatan must promise to review the breaches of the terms for the formation of Malaysia such as the Twenty Point Agreement and the autonomous status for the Borneo region. Without such an assurance, the promises of Pakatan are no better than that of BN.
John: You can't rule Sarawak until you get somebody from here, Sarawak, to do it. PKR is only for West Malaysia. Sorry, you 'West' bullies, don't be so aggressive thinking you can rule us by picking your own people.
Tired: It is humorous to think that Pakatan will be different from BN when it comes to the federal government. Please do a reality check of your lofty ideals for Pakatan for they will be the same, if not worse than BN when they are in power. Why? Because all of them are politicians.
I have pointed out that re-introducing local council election was one of the many promises made by Pakatan and if they have included it in the CPF, then it becomes another promise. If they can't fulfill the first promise, then there is no reason to believe they can do it now.
Wira: I am glad Pakatan has come out with these common policies. You have set the new reference standard and it is up to BN to emulate it, as otherwise they will lose a lot of supporters. The rakyat also expects that the Pakatan state governments will adopt these policies, where applicable, and implement them.
Break out of 'racial cocoon', opposition told
Kgan: I wholeheartedly agree. We have to break out of our racial cocoons to move forward and this includes Hindraf and the new Indian political parties. Sectarianism in whatever form helps to keep BN in power, but unfortunately this is what Hindraf and Hindraf-inspired Indians fail to see.
SunShine1: Remember Raja Petra Kamarudin's appeal to each and everyone of us: 'Make our New Year's resolution to get at least one new voter... even more even better and make them well-informed voters'.
Gibran: Malaysia is a very racist society due to Umno/BN policies. In order for us to become a more pluralistic society we need to establish a Race Relations Act and a Commission of Racial Equality. Otherwise it is simply not going to work. Unless these are done, we are not going bring down the walls of divide.
Utusan a tool of anti-Najib faction?
Rightan: I have been a subscriber of Utusan Mingguan for the past 15 years not because that I admire the paper's content but merely as a means to keep in contact with BM! Utusan has been churning out tonnes of racist news since the day I first read the paper and sometimes it goes overboard.
Despite that, it has been spared the rod by Home Ministry. In fact, our PM even praised the paper not too long ago during a function. This goes to show that our politicians are either quite afraid of the paper or in tacitly support the paper's aim of spreading racism.
Malaysia is indeed a land of great contrast - 'Ketuanan Melayu' vs 1Malaysia, NEP vs meritocracy, closed tenders vs good corporate governance, subsidy syndrome vs distorted market mechanisms, Islamisation policies vs a deterioration in moral standards.
Mwong: Remember that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is the PM's cousin and one would expect him to keep the mainstream papers in tow and not incite racial tensions. His silence not only condone the racist elements in Utusan but encourages street politicians to score cheap points by championing racial issues.
My reading is that PM Najib Abdul Razak is allowing the racial elements leeway so that he can be the 'white knight' to save the situation. But today, the Malays are educated and the younger set can see through these wicked intentions. They are not aroused so all the 'wayang' has lost its 'oomph'! They may try new tricks but right-minded Malaysians are ready to counter these racists.
CC members: MCA rivals should have worked together
Keturunan Malaysia: If MCA suddenly has a president who is a dictator, than the members must 'evolve" and be 'evolved' enough to get rid of him. Only then can they learn to walk by themselves. If we want change, there must be enough of us wanting it. That's what democracy is all about, right?
Ramachandran Muniandy: If MCA doesn't do anything to the 13 traitors, you, MCA members, have no guts. If it was the MIC, the 13 will be sacked.
Cala: The very person that causes the PM/ DPM's intervention into MCA affairs is none other than the party's serving president himself. Please do not blame the innocents. Ong Tee Keat has caused enough troubles with his unique and eccentric personality.
Jbss: This 'Gang of 13' do not and cannot work as a team within MCA. They invited their 'godfathers' from Umno to impose their agenda on the party's central committee just to keep their positions, save their skins and to cover up their looting of the nations's (rakyat's) money. They destroyed the dignity of the community.
SunShine1: Sack these 13 traitors for usurping Ong Tee Keat's power so as to derail and cover up the probe into corruption in BN (read: Port Klang Free Zone). Damn them all for inviting Umno to meddle with MCA's internal affairs. Now I am ashamed to be a Chinese.
1ST PAKATAN CONVENTION
Pakatan pledges sweeping reforms
Policy in place, next stop Putrajaya l VIDEO l 17 mins
Multiracialism reigns in Pakatan confab
Zaid: CPF a project of national liberation l VIDEO l 6 mins
Break out of 'racial cocoon', opposition told
Coalition's show of unity despite differences l VIDEO l 8 mins
DAP: We'll win over PAS on local council polls l VIDEO l 8 mins
PAS wants fixed polls, DAP vows to protect scholarship needs
