I live in fear. Of course, I cannot vocalise my fears because sooner or later, someone will tell me to (a) leave the country or (b) don't play with fire.

On Abim slams Hindraf for 'seditious' words

HL Too: Regarding Abim's (the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia) warning to Hindraf to learn from the lessons of history and not cause tensions to flare up, is it only me or is Abim raising the specter of May 13? One of the constant fears that non-Malays in this country have to live with is the fear of another racial riot. Every time there is some disagreement that appears to challenge the position of the Malays or Muslims in this country, the non-Malays are reminded of the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.

Abim's warning that there is "no guarantee that public order and safety can be maintained" is just another threat in a vein similar to the dagger-waving antics of Umno politicians. I live in fear. Of course, I cannot vocalise my fears because sooner or later, someone will tell me to (a) leave the country or (b) don't play with fire.

On MIC MP: Rally reflects govt's failure

Chong in London:

Surely no one, not even the less-than-enlightened Malaysian government, could have missed the irony that while Malaysia marginalises its talented people who then take to the streets, Singapore appointed an Indian, Tharman Shanmugaratnam as finance minister and Australia decided on Penny Wong, an ex-Malaysian for a key ministerial post. God help Malaysia, no one else can.

Not a Boastful Malaysian: Malaysian mainstream newspapers/TV stations are known to kowtowing to the ruling elite when it comes to reporting news. Lately a Malaysian-born Australian woman, recently made an Australian minister, was splashed in our dailies and TV channels.

Penny Wong's father is an architect who went to further his studies on a Colombo plan. At aged 8, Penny Wong migrated to Australia, and was raised and educated there. I can say Penny has given her best shot with the conducive and unbiased facilities offered. And due to her abilities, she was now appointed a Australian minister. The question is that can she get it to the ranks of Umno if she had been here all her life.

Siew Hwa: One of the headlines in the New Straits Times reads, "PM: It's our duty to listen to problems". But is he really listening or pretending to be listening? I shall not reproduce the many adverse superlatives used to describe this "sleep-on-the-job" prime minister and his deadwood ministers. The rakyat had enough of his nonsense. Exercise your vote wisely.

MS: The Hindraf and Bersih rally show one thing: the gulf between the government and the rakyat, including the many Malays involved in the Bersih rally. And contrary to foot-in-mouth Nazri's contention, the rallies represent a huge number of Malaysians as the silent majority would have stayed away due to threats from their own (dictatorial) government apparatus.

And the reason for the gulf? Without doubt the dominance and self-serving policies of the crony-filled Umno.

There is at least one Umno leader on record threatening others that the ruling party can form the government on its own. They fail to understand that with power comes responsibility and to be only responsible for their own members to the detriment of the rest is just a recipe for disaster which is what the rallies represent. Come on Umno, you have never and can never do it on your own. You shall reap even as you sow and that's no rocket science.

Sadirah K: The outrage expressed by Bersih and later by Hindraf clearly highlights the failure of the Barisan Nasional government to deal with the issues on the ground. Why can't we dialogue? There is the National Unity Board, there are other think-tanks that could discuss these issues and give proper advice to the government. The government-of-the-day must provide the leadership and not just be reactionary. Street demonstrations are the final means that people resort to when they are not listened to.

We have the MCCBCHS, the consultative committee of all the other faiths, we have inter-faith groups and we have bodies like the Hindu Sangam. Give them their dues for they best represent concerned interests. When such legitimate groups are bypassed, it leads to the creation of bodies like Hindraf, which manipulate the use of Hindu religion. The indentured workers brought in by the British were not only Hindus but also Muslims and Christians even though the majority were Hindus. Hindraf is just exploiting the issues on the ground. They are politicians and like all politicians they are responding to the political opportunity this provides.

The sad part is that we do not have such astute politicians on the BN side who are able to turn this to their advantage. Feedback is feedback and one should not ignore such concerns. To now threaten the use of the ISA is at best reactionary. We need dialogue and we need responses, and the sooner the BN government realises this, the better for it is also to their political advantage to respond or they will only drive away more middle-of-the-road supporters who have been loyal to them over the decades.

Similarly no one denies that Malaysia has had free elections since 1957 but the fact is that we have never had fair elections. It is time that the concerns raised by Bersih are addressed. When the Election Commission refused to address issues like the postal votes, the great discrepancy between urban and rural constituencies and supports gerrymandering, then these are valid concerns. Address them, BN.

On Samy: Gov't has many programmes for Indians

Maniwannan Subramaniam: MIC, you have betrayed us while lining up your pockets. We know you created problems by sending in your "hantus" to cause problems in Batu Caves and Jalan Ampang during the Hindraf rally. You have done that during the Maika Holdings meeting, employing thugs to beat up those who asked questions. This tactic is not new to you. We know. I'm feeling ashamed that I had voted in support of you all these years, and mind you, I'm not going to anymore, Mr Samy Vellu.

BN, please stop your racial politics because it's not going to work anymore. Malays are no more like what you think - they are very matured and they know what's happening around them. BN. Everything others say is sensitive to you but you can say whatever you like about the non-Malays.