VOXPOP 'It is bad form to blame the error on the translation. Nobody who saw the debate could have made an error over something that was not said at all.'

CM: BN media whitewashing MCA's personal attacks

Onyourtoes: Lim Guan Eng, has it ever occurred to you that an apology is only tenable when mistakes or wrongs were committed inadvertently.

If wrongs were committed deliberately and purposely, what use is the demand for apology and what use is that apology?

Kee Thuan Chye: The Star was wrong in publishing that line that columnist Baradan Kuppusamy wrote. It contradicts the "error in translation" notice it put out in the very same edition.

However, it is possible that in Star's editorial department, the supervision is poor and therefore something like this could happen. It could mean the right hand did not know what the left hand was doing.

That the editor did not read properly what Baradan had written and therefore that line escaped supervision and got published, reflects very badly on The Star .

It is also bad form to blame the error in misquoting Lim on the translation. Nobody who saw the debate could have made an error over something that was not said at all.

The Star should have been sincere and apologised gracefully instead. What it offered was not an apology whatsoever. As for Baradan, discerning readers would know what his writing is usually aimed at. Enough said.

Pants on Fire: The Star editors have become so pro-BN that their eyes have blurred. Baradan should have known it was wrong as Star online had already published the correction.

But no, Baradan saw it fit to repeat it in the very same edition that retracted it. What kind of paper is this?

Malaysiasakit: Being the fourth estate, the media has an important role to play. Once the media gets involved in politics, it loses its direction and becomes irrelevant.

We have seen that happening in New Straits Times , Malay Mail and Utusan Malaysia . The Star is the next to be irrelevant if they continue to behave irresponsibly.

People should stop buying The Star . I have stopped reading this paper and visiting its website for the past seven years. I don't believe I've missed anything.

The Star says sorry for 'Malay PM' mistake

Wira: It's kind of stupid statement for The Star to say, "DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says he did not say: [...]."

The debate was telecast live on Astro and the full clips were later available on YouTube.

The statement from them should read " The Star confirmed through video clip recordings of the event and acknowledged that YAB Lim did not utter these words, ‘We do not agree the prime minister must always be a Malay because we want the people to decide.'

"We subsequently conducted an internal investigation. The offending journalists and editors were reprimanded and punished accordingly."

The Star should also unreservedly withdraw the article by K Baradan since a portion of his commentary was attributed to this erroneous statement. Otherwise, Lim, please sue the newspaper.

Capricorn: Any editor worth his/her salt would have double checked the accuracy of the translation knowing full well the sensitivity of the issue of ‘Malay PM'. Failure to verify information is itself a breach of the basic principles of journalism.

The Star must convince its readers that it would at least report facts and practise accuracy, if indeed it is not in the position to be independent or free of bias.

We all know better how certain parties will position such misreporting as facts (a mere retraction or apology at the bottom of page 6 hardly matters) to advance their agenda and cause disharmony among the population.

PKR: Tengku Adnan should arrange PM-Anwar debate

L Joy: If the government is so rich as to keep throwing money everywhere Prime Minister Najib Razak goes, surely he must be confident enough to debate Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and nail him on how Pakatan Rakyat policies will bankrupt the country as he claims.

If he is scared, all it shows is that Najib is not just a liar but a coward as well. If a BN component party president can take a debate challenge, why not the PM who holds the purse strings and the power to decide on everything.

Anwar is in such a terrible disadvantage compared to Lim Guan Eng. If Dr Chua Soi Lek was brave enough to take on Lim, what is scaring Najib?

Gen2indian: The debate should be for at least two hours, live and be carried on all channels, especially RTM and TV3.

No editing should be allowed and no taboo subjects. Let's have an intellectual debate to let the nation decide who should be PM.

We don't need any ‘ jaguh kampung ' (village champion) to lead the nation.

Coincidentally, Rosmah Mansor should also debate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the former is ever too keen to meddle in government affairs.

Tanto: Why not we just extend an official invitation to Najib for an open debate, and give him the advantage in that he gets to choose the topic. If he declines, then the message is pretty clear that he has no substance and guts.

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