‘Offering a public apology would not remove the rot in the judiciary. Zaid should attend to the more serious matter of addressing the rakyat 's concern for an independent judiciary’.

On Zaid: Apology to Salleh to be considered

Arianna: Go ahead and apologise to Salleh Abas and the rest of the wronged judges. They deserve that much. However, this is secondary as compared to the immediate need to restore the integrity of the judiciary.

Offering a public apology would not remove the rot in the judiciary. The newly appointed de facto law minister Zaid should attend to the more serious matter of addressing the rakyat 's concern for an independent judiciary instead of belting out an apologetic tune that would only bring relief to a few people.

Lest Zaid and the BN government forget, the rakyat has spoken loud and clear about this issue on March 8. Let your big ears be sensitive to the rakyat 's concern.

Rick C: If the royal commission's findings (if set up) are in favour of Salleh Abbas but George Seah, Salleh and the others don't start a legal case against Dr Mahathir for abuse of power then nothing will happen to him. If the AG charges Mahthir and he is found guilty, then the King can pardon him. I'm sure Malaysian's won't want to see the respected former PM in jail! This could be the best thing Dr M can do for the judiciary and the country, and it will be a win-win situation.

Without Fear or Favour: I'm pleasantly surprised to hear about this apology after years and years of cockiness, bare denials, arrogance, outright lies and abuse of power from the people in the government. Didn't the former minister in charge of judiciary, Nazri, deny vehemently at every forum that nothing is wrong with our judiciary?

I wonder where he hid himself when the royal commission on Lingam tape exposed sordid details of judicial mis-doings. I believe that most Malaysians would want nothing short of dragging the wrongdoers to court and prosecuting them as they must be accountable for the sorry state that our judiciary is in today.

On Tsu Koon: Judicial reform top priority

NGO Robert: We fully support Dr Koh TSu Koon's call for judicial reform as top priority and which is long overdue. This should be the top agenda after the12th general election.

Justice must not only be done but seen to be done in the interest of all parties concerned, irrespective of position, rank or organisation, whether from government or non-government bodies, individuals or companies.

Litigants look forward to judicial proceedings for appropriate redress and justice from the courts. Judgments should be given in favour of the rightful party without favourtism.

On MB: 'Zero squatters' policy to continue

David Yoong: I am seeing more than a rat's tail when I read Khalid's comments. The manouevres and lack of definitive answers leading to just, transparent actions are only too reminiscent of the previous corrupt government. If a directive is set, there is no way the exco members can object to declaring their assets to the public.

If they disobey the directive, remove them and appoint new ones who embrace the principles of transparency and anti-corruption which Khaid took in the run-up to the recent elections. May be the MB himself is objecting to declaring his assets to the public. The new MB of Selangor and PKR in general must NOT take the rakyat for a ride - we are watching and analysing your every move.

Sean Kan: The new Selangor MB's intention to implement a RM9 per month levy on employers for every foreign worker employed is a misplaced priority and an ineffective policy to reduce the dependence on foreign workers.

Firstly, foreign labours are employed in low-skilled, labour-intensive industries like the plantation, construction and food and beverage (restaurants) sectors. Thus, why should a levy be imposed to fund skills training programmes for the state's unemployed youth? Does Khalid think that after acquiring such employment enhancement skills, these youth would want to work as labourers at construction sites, at plantations or in restaurants?

In addition, once implemented, the foreign labour tax will incur approximately a total of additional RM162 million per year for doing business in Selangor. This not only dampens investment but also increases the employment of illegal foreign workers.

The policy does not treat the problem at its root. It is disappointing to see that the new policy by the new Selangor MB will eventually cause more burdens for the rakyat rather than lessening them.

On Khir to MB, exco: Declare assets

Peter Yew: I find the following remark by Khir rather offensive and reeking of envy and jealousy: ‘He has shown signs of an inexperienced menteri besar who did not investigate matters thoroughly,’ said the former two-term Selangor chief executive.

Wasn't the good doctor himself an inexperienced MB once upon a time and did anyone belittle him then? I think the former MB should learn to speak positively rather than trying to find faults or act superior. Don't forget that he is speaking of the former CEO of Guthrie Bhd and PNB and not just any man in the street. In any case, it is unbecoming of a former leader to show his arrogance in such an ungentlemanly manner.

It is precisely this kind of attitude that we, the rakyat, abhor in a leader. Did he not leave his dirt behind for Khalid to clean up now? Khir should learn to keep his mouth shut and watch how Selangor is managed under a new administration instead of showing his toothless fangs. On his challenge to the new MB and team to declare their assets, may I ask the good dentist to voluntarily declare his too?

Dr Nedunchelian Vengu: It is a joke for Khir Toyo to insist that the current Selangor exco declare their assets. He himself didn't practice what he preached. This is real story of sour grapes.

When he took the helm of Selangor some eight years ago, Khir was a young, inexperiences and low-profile first time Adun who knew dentistry only. How could he manage to run the entire state?

He is now labelling Khalid as inexperienced. It is a joke. Khalid was the former CEO of Kumpulan Guthrie and PNB. He is a matured businessman with vast experience in corporate management. I am very sure he will do very well as the MB of Selangor. We should get rid of those guys like Khir Toyo who is out to spoil the new state administration.

Maran: Did Khir and his exco declare their assets in the first place? I challenge him to declare his assets and debts prior to his appointment and his current assets and debts. Of course, we prefer the new exco under PKR in Selangor to declare their assets publicly.

But Khir Toyo is not qualified to comment on this issue because he was not a good example to follow when he was the state MB.

Raj: It is quite bemusing to note that such challenge comes from Khir Toyo. It shows Khir's frustration, failure and his immaturity as a leader. Being an effective opposition leader is a good thing but Khir's attitude and approach is far from being an effective leader. The example he is trying to set as a leader is of the poorest quality.

On the other hand, I would also like to see all the state excos of the alternative parties declare their personal wealth, regardless of their family background. How else for us, the public, to know of their wealth accumulation if not with a public declaration?

Guan Eng has already requested all his exco members to declare their assets and Selangor would be expected to do the same. Failing to do so will only ease the pressure on some of corrupted BN leaders to come clean. Most importantly, characters such as Khir must not be given room at all to badmouth others.

On Terengganu MB-Abdullah backs down?

Hooi Giam: It is indeed a worrying precedent for the Sultan to reject the appointment of the Trengganu MB designate, Idris Jusoh. The state excos are directly elected by the citizens and by extension, so are the leaders. It may be that some of our state constitutions allow such 'participatory intervention'. Perhaps, it is time we amend such a clause as it is neither civil nor democratic for one person to agree to or overrule an appointment.

Ibrahim Musa K: If our premier is brave enough to leave a powerful party stalwart out of the cabinet, why then bring in a former MB of ‘flying with big-cash-in-bag’ fame via senate instead?

Now he backs down on the appointment of another MB. But why not stick to the constitution and stand firm? Where are the advisors?

To keep showing weakness of indetermination is to invite more problems if not real bad trouble eventually. With the opposition all out to attract MPs from BN’s component parties to join them, our poor premier seems to be wading into deeper water. Perhaps he should just hold on firmly and boldly, and wait for the opposition to fall into the same internal power-struggle trap.

This takes time even though there are already signs looming over the horizon. After all, who does not want power?

On 'Thank you, point taken': Pak Lah to voters

Joe Fernandez: Before the 2004 general elections, Abdullah promised an all-out war against graft. He came in with a landslide win but continued to doze until his past caught up with him on March 8. The rest is history.

Now, he's saying that he has taken note of the 12th GE results and wants to implement badly-needed reforms in line with the people's aspirations. Deja vu? Abdullah certainly doesn't say what he means, neither does he mean what he says. Nothing will come out of his so-called plans to introduce reforms. After all, it's for nothing that he's known as the Sleeping PM. He has really earned the title.

Elsewhere, the fear is that if Umno collapses, they will all flee to PKR and we will end up with a PKR-led Federal Government, for the next 50 years, which will simply be another Barisan Nasional goverment in disguise. There are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies in politics. Only permanent interests.

If the Opposition comes to power, they must undertake a de-Baathification programme to ensure that BN does not worm its way back to power through the back door.

On Abdullah: Big mistake to ignore cyber-campaign

Hamdan Fuad: Our PM has repeatedly promised to fight corruption but in the same breath mentions that there is so far no proof of wrongdoing even after being pointed out the many transgressions by his own party members. The Zakaria mansion, PGCC (no approval whatsoever), the variation orders of various projects in Terengganu, the Port Klang Free Trade Zone land deal are just to mention a few among the hundreds. We do not wish to hear excuses. You work for the people. Investigate or soon be investigated one day.

On Beware those out to shatter peace

Sitaun: I would like to correct Yew on his account of the events that happened in Sabah. I'm quite sure that the events he was referring to were the post-1985 state elections incidents. The newly formed Sabah United Party or PBS won the election with a slim three-seat majority. Disturbances arose in the major towns. In Kota Kinabalu, provocative words were sprayed on the building of the state mosque to incite an ala-1969 racial riots between the Muslims and Christians. It was also reported that a few bombs were detonated in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.

But the attempt to create widespread havoc was unsuccessful due to many Muslims and Christians seeing the provocation as being done by illegal immigrants, widely believed to be hired and maneuvered by the Tun Mustapha-led Usno. At the same time, Usno attempted to be installed as the state government by blockading the entrance to the Governor's residence. Tun Mustapha was sworned in as chief minister, albeit illegally.

A court battle ensued, which PBS won. Despite this, things did not calm down and minor incidents such as arson continued throughout the state. The PBS government called for another election in 1986 and won with a two-thirds majority. The results showed the strong solidarity among Sabahans in rejecting violence and the culprits behind them. Sabahans claimed back their peace. PBS did not merge with BN but only joined the coalition later in 1987 before they pulled out prior to the 1990 elections. Until today, the true account of these events remain unknown and were never investigated and the culprits were never identified.

This is a very significant event in the history of our nation. It exemplifies that people have the ability to rise and demonstrate solidarity in the event of uncertainty caused by certain disgruntled quarters whose hearts have no interest for the nation. Therefore, when someone warns of 1969, we ought to reply to them, ‘Sabah 1986'!

On Mainstream media urgently needs new philosophies

Lau Eng Chong: It is time to consider passing laws to make it illegal for political parties or their corporate entities to own mass media companies like newspapers, tv stations etc. Also, political parties must decide whether they want to make money via commercial institutions or to serve the people and nation. The two cannot mix. Political parties must get their funding from the people and one way is to give a good performance when elected with no excuses for non-delivery.

Political parties must not have any other power other than that of the public behind them. A political party is nothing more than a collective platform for the public to voice their say. Once elected, their priority should be nation first.

On Friday: Decision on S'gor water deal

A Sevaguru: Bravo to the new Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim on his recent announcements of several measures taken or to be taken with the aim of not only developing the state but also ensuring that they will benefit the general public. One such announcement was in relation to water supply to give the people a fair deal and which I hope is just the beginning of many good things to come which will benefit the public

In connection with the water issue, my request is for the state to also consider providing free water and electricity to mosques, suraus, temples , churches and other religious organisations and also to other non-profitable charity organisations. This should be within the financial parameters of the state with the aim of lessening the burden of these institutions, especially the smaller ones. This is my humble plea to the state government.