The measure of a government is not how many good things the press writes about it, but how few bad things they can find, points out a reader while another says if the mass media were allowed a free hand in reporting the truth, there wouldn't be any room for Internet users to spread 'lies'. Readers also respond to the Batu Talam by-election, the recent NS death and Project M.
On Abdullah attacks Internet users
T Cranmer: In the above report, the prime minister is quoted as criticising websites and blogs with the phrase: 'To them, everything is not right, everything is not good'.
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the prime minister upon his entry into the world of modern politics, a world in which making the right decision is the expectation and not something for which he can expect to be congratulated. After all, the media within a healthy democracy is all about the negatives - the measure of a government is not how many good things the press writes about it, but how few bad things they can find.
It is easy to understand the confusion expressed by the prime minister given that the TV news according to RTM consists of following him and his senior ministers around, where the concept of looking better by being better is irrelevant. Although it may seem inconvenient that
government failings now come to the attention of the public at large, we will not be angry about things we read unless they are things we care about; and if they are things we care about, it is the bounden duty of our elected government to deal with them without fear or favour to the very best of its ability.
I trust that the prime minister will revise his attitude towards all forms of media, listen to those who complain about him and his government, and make real efforts as the most-humble servant of the nation to ensure there is no longer any dirt to dig up, have freely available evidence to counteract allegations and make no poor decisions about which one may be critical.
Peter: The prime minister accused Internet users of spreading lies about him and, of course, by extention about the government. All these so-called 'lies' on the Internet are really spin-offs from bigger lies by the government-controlled media. If the mass media were allowed a free hand in reporting the truth and nothing but the truth, there won't be any room for Internet users to spread 'lies'. But, incidentally some 'lies' are the truths.
And Pak Lah is also a party to those 'lies' spreading about him. There are so many articles labelling him with all sorts of wrong deeds. Those articles were not posted anonymously. But he choose to keep his 'elegant silence' rather than to rebut those 'lies'. Here, the public would take silence to mean consent and 'elegant silence' is not appreciated.
Yes, Pak Lah, you may still have a majority to support you. I believe the majority that you are talking about is fast shrinking. My family and friends were once among them. Sad to say , you can now count us out from your so-called 'majority'.
Bob Aw: On the surface, the Batu Talam by-election may appeared to have been the classic situation where one had to choose between two devils. On one hand, a voter may have had many reasons for not supporting the candidate of the current ruling party.
On the other hand, it was also not desirable to cast a vote for the Independent candidate who appeared to show little (if any) interest in his own candidacy.
How can one be sure he would not show the same lack of interest in his duty as an assemblyperson if elected as one? Perhaps he treated the by-election as a game of lottery, to test whether his luck would get him elected.
There is also an idiom, 'Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know'. But there was also the third choice, that is, not to cast your vote for either.
On Turn out in full force to vote
Disappointed: Time is running short for the opposition. I hope the leaders of both DAP and PKR start to talk with the rakyat and explain what is in store if they take over the government.
Starting from Penang, there is potential of capturing that state if an opposition pact is established quickly with a well-defined, workable policy. Penangites have somewhat suffered from the loss of their free port status, the introduction of the Rent Control Act etc, just to name a few.
Penangites are getting shortchanged by the day. So the coming general election can see an turning of mindsets. The city is so neglected and the transportation system is so outdated for its Pearl of the Orient status.
DAP and PKR must reach out to the people from all corners.
On Abdullah defends legal action against bloggers
Ravindran Mailvaganam: I am glad that Pak Lah has come out to defend the NST's libel suit against the two bloggers but what puzzles me is that he is not instructing the police to take action against the hooligans who demonstrated at the Silibin Road Catholic Church in Ipoh who shouted seditious insults and threatened the congregation worshiping there.
Remember how at the time when Altantunya Shaariibuu's barbaric murder was hot news, the prime minister was saying grandly that no one is above the law and that he was, therefore, instructing the police to investigate the case thoroughly?
So with the bloggers, it seems to be another case of the double standards with which we are all too familiar. This kind of double speak is eroding the confidence of the rakyat in the police and the judiciary.
How much credence can you give to my words if, while claiming that from my house in Kuala Lumpur I can see see a reclusive millionaire in Turkmenistan putting the finishing touches to a yacht he wants to give - a no ropes attached gift - to me but at the same time be blind to the decaying leaves in my backyard?
On Project M: Federal govt urged to step in
BOLH: All I can say that whoever is responsible for this outrageous act has definitely commited an act of treason against the King and country.
Who knows, by flooding the state with Filipino illegals, it might just provide the Philippines the needed backdoor to lay claim on the state.
My God, what have we done?
On NS trainee s death: Waiting for post mortem report
Kuala Terengganu: It would be fascinating to see how many ministers have had their children go through NS. The list can be expanded to include permanent secretaries, departmental heads in govt etc.
I suspect what is good enough for our children is not good enough for theirs.
Simply put, if their kids never have to face potential death, poisonous food, dirty dorms, sexual predators, the onus on trying to fix these problems is greatly reduced.
It would be a fantastic piece of investigative journalism if Malaysiakini could follow this through. Surely ministers should be acting as examples to the rest of us and volunteering their kids to these causes in which they so passionately believe.
