VOXPOP 'All the delegates did was to attempt to outdo one another with their hatred and slander against all Pakatan members, proving there are no true statesmen in Umno.'

Of contrasting wind-ups and clashing visions

David Dass: The desperation to win elections sometimes results in the adoption of strategies each party considers best to improve its prospects of winning.

In a multiracial and multi-religious society like ours, pitting one race or religion against the other would be bad politics, no matter what the political dividends.

The possibility that Malaysians - Malays and Muslims in particular - could be whipped up into a jihad to 'save' the race, religion and country is just bizarre.

There is no evidence of any kind of conspiracy to destroy the Malays, Islam or Malaysia. On the contrary, all minorities in Malaysia recognise the importance of structuring a society where all rights and sensitivities are looked after.

No political party could contemplate a government without a substantial Malay presence. The Federal Constitution secures the Malay position on language, religion and special rights and the constitutional role of the Malay rulers.

The Malays dominate the civil service, the army and the police.

Righteous: The way this so-called ruling party has carried on during its gathering is nothing less than embarrassing to all Malaysians. All the delegates did was to attempt to outdo one another with their hatred and slander against all Pakatan members.

The one thing that keeps being proven is that there are no true statesmen within Umno. They are all in it for themselves, not the country.

L Joy: Pakatan leaders outclass the Umno president hands down. Let scholars study their winding down speeches and comment objectively as to who and which party can take Malaysia forward.

In the final analysis, Umno will take its leaders into the billionaire category while Pakatan may at least help to increase income levels all round and improve human development.

The voters must decide what they want and stop being blinded by cries of race and religion sensitivities that do not actually exist.

Milosevic : Umno is a vast patronage machine that is incapable of any programmatic approach to governance.

It had it once, in the 60s and 70s, but began to lose it as narrow economic interests trumped national goal settings.

Its agenda now amounts to empty slogans - 1Malaysia, Best Democracy, etc - that dissipate into thin air the next day. PKR indeed is able to convey a reform agenda, one hopes, partly out of conviction. But let's face it, opposition parties are inherently in a position to take the moral high road.

The citizens can only hope that PKR indeed has a serious transformative agenda. However, it is disturbing that Anwar can only articulate a framework of rule based on idealised notions of Malay feudalism.

Some of the religious positions, while seemingly tolerant, do convey a dhimmi understanding of non-Muslims. Yes the Malay base needs to be reassured given Umno's fascist onslaught, but at some point PKR needs to formulate a modern understanding of citizenship and fairness.

Pua: Liow downplaying E coli tainted KR1M milk find

VoteforChange: Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, remember one thing, Tony Pua as a member of the Opposition, is there as a check-and-balance.

You, as the minister of health, should ensure that shops selling sub-standard products or their suppliers should be penalised and not the people who brought this matter up for the safety and health of the rakyat. If you are a true health minister, you should take action against Mydin and his suppliers, not Pua.

Lets be fair: The health minister is keeping a low profile, especially on this major issue affecting thousands of young Malaysian children. This is a big issue and you are conveniently keeping quiet on this. Stop playing numbers selectively.

Lie detector: Liow is a disgrace. Instead of punishing KR1M for breaking the law, he is concentrating on so-called labelling discrepancies. Hello, Liow, lives are at stake!

Bluemountains: Why is there no punishment for KR1M for breaking the law? The health minister must not play politics but follow the book.

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