YOURSAY ‘Old road names are our history, and we should keep our history.’

'Sultans wanted KL roads named after monarchs'

Vijay47: I have about 1,452 things to ask or say about this proposed bird-brained idea of renaming our roads. Did the rulers actually all wake up one morning and tell themselves "The lark is on the wing, the bird is on the thorn. I think I will ask for some roads to be named after me."

Or, following the right royal whacking that MIC chief P Palanivel got recently, is someone out to curry favour with the sultans in the hope of getting some recognition or benefits? Why must roads be named after royalty?

Of course, things could be worse as some DBKL (KL City Hall) moron would want to continue the "inspirational names" trend using over-cooked words like Kemajuan, Wawasan, Damai, and that irritating Perdana. Actually, they are all irritating.

Why not quaint names like Tikus Jatuh Parit, Kain Kena Koyak, or Ahli Masuk Jail? But most importantly, why the need to change road names? I suppose the same reason as for the change in our coins and currency notes. Okay, another 1,376 to go.

Desperate for Change: I pay road tax. As a citizen, I should be given a chance to choose the name of the road. Roads must be named after people who have done good deeds for the country or famous sport persons or citizens who made Malaysia.

I don't think it is a good idea to name roads after sultans. They have a special place in society. It is not nice to put their names on a common thing like a road.

Dewan Bandaraya should send out a poll with three names and let citizens choose. The name that gets the most popular vote will be selected. Simple.

Quigonbond: It's not just a question of confusion. How about heritage? Because of nationalism, we've forgotten our rich history which if we continue to preserve would have made us an even more attractive place to visit in the world - showing that while we have embraced somewhat a national identity, we are proud of our past.

A clear example would be - how many people can actually remember the official name of the former Subang Airport without googling?

Blackmoon: What is all the fuss? We should be thankful that the sultans had given their rights as state rulers in a democratic government after Independence.

What is a little recognition when compared to their sacrifice? Pakatan Rakyat supporters must learn to be appreciative.

Gen Half Track: Old road names are our history, and we should keep our history. Anyway it is hard to remember long names. There are many other places royalty can leave their mark.

Maharaja: I personally wouldn't want a road to be named after me. Could you imagine the masses, when the road is jammed with traffic, cursing me.

I wouldn't even consider naming it after the name of a political foe, though how tempting it may sound to be.

Kilgore: This may be no expense to the government but it is a huge inconvenience for the public and will have untold knock-on costs in maps, directions, company letterheads, etc. There is no good reason these names can't be used for new roads.

Anomnim: No costs? I'm so glad the replacement road signs, labour costs to change it and reprinting of tourist guides with the new names are free of charge.

ONG: And what about costs and inconvenience to people whose addresses are on these roads with new names? I suppose such ordinary people don't matter.

Mob1900: Perkasa will jump for joy on these news as there will be something they can now 'defend' by the roadsides.

'Why are lobsters exempted from GST?'

Bystander: Only the rich can afford lobsters, so what is the rational in not imposing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on them?

So that those rich and corrupted ones could enjoy eating lobsters without the need to pay an extra 6 percent? It is also like waiving GST on massages, clubbing, green fees for selected golf clubs?

Matthias Schilling: Books should get exemption from GST because books are for all people, young and old, poor and rich.

Only well-educated citizens would lead our country to harmony, prosperous and successful. Somehow, after 50 years in power, BN-Umno thinks the other way to fool the people.

Kathleen Ong: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, it’s like what Sherlock Holmes would say, "Elementary, my dear Watson".

A few-billion-ringgit lobster farming initiative was signed and is now operational in south eastern Sabah. No prizes for guessing about the possibility of some heavyweight politicians being involved in the venture, too.

Then all of a sudden lobsters are GST exempted? Connect the dots. In Malaysia, nothing happens as a random policy matter, there is always something cooking. In this case, it’s the lobsters.

Boonpou: Lobsters are exempted from the GST because they are by nature selfish creatures. They don't like to share their food, much like Umnoputeras and puteris.

They are, like Umnoputeras and puteris, greedy creatures. Why are lobsters selfish? Why are Umnoputeras and puteris selfish? Because like lobsters, they are shellfish.

Oracle: Shades of "let them eat cake". ‘Disconnect’ is the appropriate word.

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