VOXPOP 'The more the government persecutes the messenger, the more powerful the message will be.'

Ambiga: Forget butt dance, focus on electoral reform

Telestai!: I fully agree with Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan as the more the government persecutes the messenger, the more powerful the message will be. This will make BN even more desperate as the days go by.

BN should focus on electoral reforms and allow for a level-playing field. It will ultimately benefit BN because between the two, Pakatan Rakyat and BN, the odds are stacked against Pakatan.

By resorting to underhanded tactics, BN is making Pakatan smell like roses. The electoral reforms should have taken place after Bersih 1.0 and that would have put BN in a strong position to win the 13th general election. Now BN is caught between a rock and a hard place.

No Racism: Corruption, greed, self-interest, unfairness, stupidity and racism are the main traits of BN. We, Malaysians, must do our best to eradicate this cancer (BN) that has taken hold of Malaysia.

If we do not get rid of BN in this election, Malaysia will become a bankrupt state in the next few years and everyone will suffer. The middle class and the poor will suffer the most.

Ccsan: Why must Bersih take money from foreigners? If you are clean, you won't do it. Once you have taken money, you are not ‘bersih' anymore.

Don't be too naive. If there were no strings attached, there would be no money. Even lunch is not free.

Anonymous #61208671: How is accepting funds from foreigners a form of corruption? Did they enrich themselves with it? Did they go on holiday with the funds? Did they buy a diamond ring with it? No.

Ccsan, you are naive if you think there is no free lunch. In this world, there are noble people working not because of money, but because of their passion for what they do. You are definitely not one of these noble souls.

Anonymous_3ec6: BN's hypocrisy and false ‘democrazy' must go. Malaysians should realise this and vote them out. Retirement after 55 years. It's mandatory.

DR JAG#04496187: Still, nobody seems to be filing a tsunami of lawsuits against political harassment, intimidation and illegal government actions. What is wrong with this picture?

Fair Play: Dear Ambiga, that's a good one. Asking the government to concentrate on getting their submarine to sink instead of sinking NGOs that are not even near any sea, much less an ocean.

Umno's weapons of mass distraction

Abasir: "Supporting a political alliance and criticising it, is not mutually exclusive," said Malaysiakini columnist S Thayaparan.

Therein lies the rub. By and large, Malaysians have been programmed by Umno for 55 years to demonstrate unquestioning loyalty to politicians in power.

The liberal use of mesmerising tools such as real and fake titles and subliminally equating wealth with intelligence and morality have actually succeeded in creating a generation of uncritical pygmies.

Emerging 'stars' in Pakatan Rakyat, in their scramble to consolidate their positions may, for all we know, utilise similar tactics.

The antidote to any such abuse of position and power lies in the growing bands of vocal, connected netizens and NGOs, who hopefully will hold the incoming lot to a higher standard.

Yap cs: Thayaparan started so well but inevitably his idealism showed. Yes, who wouldn't want a completely open and transparent political process?

On the other hand, where has such openness ever been practised? Not even in the West. However, he finally got it right. Don't put the cart before the horse and walk before we run. Let us slay the beast first.

Anti Umno: Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) is Mr Slogan and Najib (Abdul Razak) is Mr Symbol. Both have failed to lead the country effectively. I can see the similarity as both are from Umno and the soon-to-be BeEnd.

Abuminable: Commander Thayaparan, at this stage of the game, we don't require any more pipe-smoking pundits.

All we want are human beings with clear vision, noble souls, warm hearts, and absolute resolve to work together as a unified and coherent group - so healthy and vibrant, all disease-bearing bacteria, viruses or parasites will be unable to cling on to the body politic.

The entire nation urgently requires a collective ‘ mandi bunga ' - after being contaminated for so many decades by pure deviousness, ruthless ambition and obnoxious egomania.

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