vox populi big thumbnail 'If you were really sincere about apologising, why did it take you 10 months to do so?'

Mamboking: The apology should be on the cover of the magazine and as well prominently in all mainstream media, including TV. Nothing else would suffice for these bigots and their masters.

Ng Sim Bee: That was not very difficult, was it, Al-Islam ? Now you have gained our respect as a responsible magazine.

Anak Malaysia: Al-Islam , if you were really sincere about apologising, why did it take you 10 months to do so?

You are fortunate that it is not the Christian way to take to the streets to protest violently and cry for blood while holding demeaning and threatening placards. You are indeed lucky that Christians practice the call of Christ to forgive even before you think it necessary to issue a long overdue apology.

Nevertheless, you will still have to answer to the Lord Almighty for treating Him with contempt. It is Him you have to contend with.

"Whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup or anyone who eats and drinks without recognising the body of the Lord, eats and drinks judgement on himself." (1 Corinthian 11:27-30)

Lucia: All well and good, but I hope it is a sincere apology, not one that they were pressured into doing. But seeing it took so long... Never mind, as good Christians, I'll forgive them.

But what about others like Perkasa and Zulkifli Noordin? Will they come out to say Al-Islam shouldn't apologise? Will they say Christians are too sensitive? Will they say the apology demeans Islam? Let's wait and see.

Gk: Ugama-ugama sebenarnya mempunyai tujuan yang sama, iaitu sama-sama hidup di dunia secara aman, damai dan menjadi insan yang jujur dan berguna kepada masyarakat.

Tetapi oleh kerana kelemahan yang ada pada manusia dan tidak memahami ajaran ugama masing-masing yang bertujuan baik, maka mulanya masalah ketidakpercaya sesama sendiri dan orang-orang yang tidak sama ugama dengan kita. Bahkan kalau ugama-ugama dipolitikkan, masalah demikian akan lebih kompleks dan rumit.

Oleh itu, adalah baik kita memohon maaf secara jujur atas kesalahan yang kita lakukan dan bertaubat supaya dapat insan yang lebih baik. Dari kes Al-Islam ini, saya kagum dan menyanjung tinggi permohoan maaf kepada gereja Katholik dan orang Kristian walaupun saya berugama Buddha.

Adalah baik jikalau kita dapat menyelidik dan berbincang tentang ajaran-ajaran ugama yang lain daripada kita supaya dapat memahami lebih dalam cara hidup masing-masing. ‘Sensitivity' bukan sebab (excuse) mengapa kita tidak dapat bincang.

Lim Chong Leong: The issue is not with Al-Islam anymore since they have apologised, but with attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail who now approves criminal activities done in ignorance , and the home minister, who says crimes can be committed if properly 'balanced' against crimes done against the criminal.

Vmsians: Notwithstanding the publisher's apology, the two journalists committed an offence. They have to be charged. They can apologise in court to mitigate their "ignorant conduct".

Socialist: Two standards of law in Malaysia. When accidentally Makkal Osai wrongfully published a picture of Jesus in their publication then apologised for it, their licence was still suspended. But Al-Islam ?

Penang moves to restore local gov't elections

VP Biden: Penang Pakatan deserves a standing ovation for this rakyat-centric move. It shows that slowly, but surely, change is coming. Penang will be a benchmark for others to follow.

Let us all rejoice in this historical moment, albeit, a bit too early as the Election Commission (EC) will now run to its masters. Congratulations again to Pakatan as your intent is there for all to see.

Ong: There is no reason for the EC not to conduct elections for both local councils as requested. Such elections will be the opportunity for BN, the EC's master to prove how 'bad' Lim Guang Eng's Pakatan government has been these past two years.

It will also be an opportunity for the supporters of the Kampung Buah Pala villagers to exact their revenge. The best part is that there will be no more need for aspirants to lobby to become councillors. Just enter the contest and let ratepayers decide.

Tan Kian Khim: Well done, Guan Eng and the Penang Pakatan governement, and thank you for keeping your electoral promise. This is something we have been looking forward to. But we must keep the pressure up on the partisan EC. It is more than likely than not that they will attempt to obstruct or delay the process, just like they did with the indelible ink issue.

Local elections are a fundamental component of the democratic process. For precisely that reason, local elections are also Umno-BN and the EC's worst nightmares as it makes it harder to gerrymander constituencies and it undermines to some extent the feudal patronage system that Umno-BN has been using to maintain its power.

As said elsewhere, if the EC refuses or delays its decision, the Penang government should appoint an independent party (plenty of homegrown and international election observer NGOs) to conduct the elections. Make the local elections fait accompli in the face of federal obstructionism.

Ong-Chua fatal attraction ends

Cala: Stanley Koh has given us a balanced assessment of Ong Tee Keat as a failed president. In fact, Ong's downfall was predicted by many party insiders a long time ago. Ong was seen as a very lonely and lonesome politician before becoming the president. That trait seems to stick to him till this day.

Kgen: In a nutshell, this was what happened: First Ong Tee Keat conspired with Liow Tiong Lai to oust Chua Soi Lek. Then Chua conspired with Ong to oust Liow. Now Liow conspire with Chua to oust Ong. Wow! This triangular warfare has gone full circle.

Why so much infighting? They are not fighting for you or me or the Chinese community, but for patronage from Umno. A totally irrelevant party. They may as well change to a matchmaker club for Chinese couples to increase Chinese birthrate.

Hashim: Perhaps Lim Kit Siang will be inspired to pen a new bestseller - 'No Romance of the Three Kingdoms'.

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