‘All you that have spoken out on their release, please now do the necessary up to and including joining the walk out from Parliament should there be one staged . '

On Hindraf 5 lose Federal Court appeal

You Serve The People: It’s time for BN component parties to ‘put their money where their mouths are’. Now that our Hindraf 5 have almost exhausted their legal avenues to seek their release, I am now calling on all 82 opposition MPs to stage a one-day walkout of Parliament. All that our Hindraf 5 have done to be detained under the ISA was to speak what the rakyat ‘silently’ voted for.

I do not profess to have deep knowledge about Parliament's Standing Orders. However, I feel that an opposition MP could table a motion to debate this in Parliament again. Should the Speaker of the House refuse this motion, then MPs who oppose the ISA and/or the wrongful detention of the Hindraf 5 under this draconian law should stage that walk out.

This should NOT only apply to opposition MPs but also MPs from BN component parties including MIC, MCA, Gerakan who have called for their release. If our MPs were to do that, all that will be left standing is that small section from Umno who are the ONLY party against their release. I say this to S Samy Vellu, Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Ong Ka Ting.

All you that have spoken out on their release even in the mainstream media, please now do the necessary up to and including joining the walk out should there be one staged. It’s time for you to ‘walk the talk’. If you wish to have any chance of your party regaining the confidence and vote of the people, you should now put your money where your mouth is.

On NS deaths: We know now who to blame

Concerned Parent & Rakyat: Even if had been just one death - it is one too many. And there have been 16 deaths. Will the deputy PM tell the parents of the 16 dead trainees that their kid's death is just another statistic? Where is the accountability of the government?

Najib's words reflect that he is an insensitive and callous man. He values little of our lives. Instead of telling us what changes to the camps’ management are being made, Najib is telling parents: ‘Too bad your kid died while in NS . But he/she was only one case out of the over 339,000 trainees. So shut up’. Will he say the same if it was his own kid? By the way, when are Najib's children due to join the NS? Or are ministers' children exempted?

Mohamad Zaki: Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has rejected the call to scrap the National Service programme stressing that ‘only’ 16 trainees have died, and that constitutes ‘only’ 0.004 percent of all trainees in the programme since its inception in 2004.

Congratulations Dato Seri for you have again shown your insensitive side. After suggesting all

Malaysians ‘to change our lifestyles’ in wake of the petrol price hike last year, you are now suggesting that our children are ‘just numbers’, hence loses of 0.004 percent is really insignificant. But imagine Dato Seri, if you were to lose one of your eight children, while grieving the lost, someone says to you ‘Don’t be sad, you have only lost 12.5 percent of your children, 87.5 percent are still alive’. Will these be comforting words?

Arbibi Ashoy: Malaysians oppose the PLKN because it is a waste of resources and wastes the time of young boys and girls. The question is - do the participants of the PLKN benefit from the programme? Don't we already have enough extra-curricular activities in school such as boy scouts, girl guides, sports and games, clubs and associations etc.? Don't students learn leadership skills from being prefects, librarians and holding positions such as president, treasurer, secretary etc. during extra-curricular activities?

It is the making of the PLKN compulsory that is problematic. Malaysian schools don't give medical and health check-ups to students. This means that there are many students who are not fit to attend the PLKN. They simply go because it is compulsory and some die in the process. It is the aspect of being compulsory that makes the PLKN a hazard to the lives of young boys and girls. People choose to join the army and have to undergo rigorous physical and mental tests before being admitted. That is why casualties of a modern, well-equipped and well-trained army is so low. Whereas the PLKN imposes no requirements for participation. All are welcome and all must attend. Thus the PLKN becomes a death trap for unsuitable individuals.

Disgruntled: I absolutely agree that the National Service programme be scapped. There is no such thing as ‘too many people are involved’ that it is impossible to halt the programmme of national service. Too many people are involved in what? In making tons and tons of money? You mean the caterers, suppliers, vendors, implementers etc etc. will be starve to death if the programme is scrapped? You can read from the press the long line of people that are fed by this disgusting programme of NS.

Muhammad Ahnaf: I am confused by the argument that we should let NS continue because it's a 'money train'. If a train is carrying your money over a cliff - or in this case the lives of your sons and daughters - wouldn't you stop it? The tendency for people to continue wasteful projects simply because they've been started, rather than cut their losses, is well-documented as the sunk cost fallacy.

Mega-projects have been cut before, so obviously it's possible with NS too. The question is whether or not it's desirable to do so. I can't claim to know enough to have an opinion on that, but maybe people who do should base their opinion not on how much money is spent, but on how good or bad the returns are.

Angry & Sad Malaysian: I read with disgust National Service Council chairperson Lee Lam Thye’s official letter . If he is not in control of the National Service camps just say so instead of pretending and giving all sorts of excuses and reasons. Lee Lam Thye, please resign and accept the fact that the National Service programme is a waste of money.

Lee Lam Thye is the proud chairperson of the National Service Council but please spare a thought for the people whose children are raped or die while at the camps. Young lives are lost because of accidents and ill-equipped camps. Don’t you feel sad? I feel sad for all the parents who lost their loved ones because of your NS training camps. If the ship is not ready - the captain would not sail because he knows people’s lives are involved.

On Impossible to have 'zero death' for NS

Halibullah Bin Abdul Majid: Dr K appears to be applying statistics in the most inappropriate manner to justify his claims that all is well in the way the health of our youngsters is managed in the NS programme. It disheartens me that a medical professional can be so callous and clinical in understanding this issue. It is no longer about whether the mortality rate is well below national statistics or whatever. That line of argument is totally irrelevant and irresponsible, just like the argument that the incidence of aircraft crashes is a lot lower than road traffic incidences and thus planes can be expected to crash. Fortunately the airline industry is more responsible and they take safety very seriously in a very proactive manner to gave us the confidence to fly.

However, can we say the same thing about the way health and other aspects of safety are managed in the NS programme? It is extremely ludicrous and irresponsible of the people managing the NS to not implement comprehensive pre-camp medical check-ups and provide both medical and emergency response support in the camps during training. What is so difficult about this? If there is a shortage of doctors, go hire a few dozen from overseas and deploy them in the camps. Coordinate with the local hospitals and put together the emergency support. Are all these so difficult to achieve just because the NS is under the Defence Ministry and health under the Health Ministry? Or are they still trying to figure out who should get the contracts?

So to people like Dr K, your line of argument in defence of the deaths in NS will hold water only and only after the administrators of the NS programme can credibly demonstrate to us that they have taken every due care to manage the health and safety of our children whilst in their care. Till then, they cannot absolve themselves of the moral responsibility for the deaths of 20 Malaysian youngsters to date.

MI: I felt so disgusted after reading halfway through the above letter. He seemed to imply that death of our children is not a big issue and it just happened, NS or not. I pray that none of my children get treated by this so-called 'doctor'. I do expect a politician, BN or opposition, to 'politicise' the NS deaths issue since the authorities think exactly like this Dr K who just doesn't seem to care.

Dr K, all I want to say to you is to repeat all you said when it happens to your beloved daughter. Then if you really love her you will want politicians or anyone for that matter to bring it up in whatever manner.

On Najib lashes out at accusations

Yumcious: It is not the buyer who pays the ‘finder’s fee’ or ‘commissions’ or ‘consulting fee’ or ‘management fee’ or ‘pocket money’. It is the seller who pays such things, resulting in inflated prices to cover them. So, technically Najib is right. Obviously, the buyer can ‘suggest’ that the seller appoints a specific ‘finder’ for the transaction. The transaction is then between the seller and the finder. Which side the ‘finder's’ bread is buttered on is also dependent very much on which side's audit repercussions is stronger.

This is ‘Backhanders 101' and widely practiced in government procurement, not typically spoken of in polite circles, except after one beer too many. That is why we're 44 ^th on the Transparency International’s ranking. And not because of the beer.

Malaysian-True-and-True: Dear Najib, it seems in recent weeks you are making yourself heard over and over again, each time louder than the previous over your convictions with regards to the Altantuya murder. I came across this short story which I thought reflects you (very) well each time I read about what you have to say about the Altantuya murder. Please ponder over this deeply as it will help you ease your troubled mind over the Altantuya issue.

‘A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of oxen. The axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly; whereupon the oxen, turning round, thus addressed the wheels: ‘Hullo there! why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we, not you, ought to cry out.’

Moral of the story? Those who suffer the most cry out the least.

Andrew: Najib says no commission was paid to IMT Defence (M) Sdn. Bhd for the purchase of the Sukhoi jets but RM380 million was paid to them for being the ‘project service provider and coordinator for a period of six months’. Come on, Datuk Najib! Don't insult our intelligence. Whatever name the payment is called, is RM380 million justifiable for just six months work?

As for his denial that no commission was paid to Perimaker Sdn. Bhd., the question is, was the sum of RM530 million paid or any sum at all paid to them for the purchase of the submarines? Call it whatever name you like but as an average thinking Malaysian, I smell a rat and the whole affair stinks.

On Ong: I've nothing to do with snoop squad

Mooshie Mooshie: Snooping in MCA, has the party more skeletons in its closet? Just to start with take a look at the issue recently involving the treasurer-general of MCA who allegedly stands accused with giving a false declaration to an apply for piece of state land. I remember Kapar MCA as a very colourful division ranging from members getting sacked from the party for gambling a few years ago to members of this division exercising their right to contest for presidency in the name of democracy.

Well, that is just division level however frivolous and colorful it may be. The Kapar MCA division has created a name for it self. But providing a false declaration to apply and get land, if proven true, is not small matter. Cheating the state government is a big issue.

On another matter, the people want to know what were the real reasons for Chan Kong Choy the once charismatic MCA Youth Chairman to give up federal government politics. Is it because of the PKFZ scandal or is it really him being ‘tired’?

So, the real question here is (nothing personal) is the MCA still relevant to the Chinese in Malaysia? From their own back yard, can they clear up the these and other unanwsered questions? To remake the party will take more than just speaking up for the race now - it is too little and really too late already.

Andrew: What's the problem with a snoop squad? If MCA leaders are not prepared to lead a moral life, why are they complaining when their misdeeds are exposed? Instead of blaming themselves, they are now pointing the fingers at others for exposing them. In so doing, they are claiming to be victims, when in actual fact they are the culprits who have no place in the leadership of MCA. If they want to indulge in some fun, make sure there are not caught and if they are, face the consequences and stop blaming others.

On Comment: Khairy's NEP question causes a stir

CH Ong: Wasn't Amirsham the CEO of Maybank early last year when Maybank issued a policy directive that only bumi-majority legal firms qualify for appointment to it's panel of lawyers? Is it possible that he issued that directive also on the instruction of the ‘world's richest unemployed’?

Shortly after that episode I cancelled all my Maybank accounts including credit cards and deposit accounts in case they also decide to issue another directive that only bumis are allowed to operate Maybank accounts.

On Raja Petra out, explains U-turn on bail

R Rama Chandran: Another grave mistake the BN is making in arresting and charging RPK who, though a non-politician, is famous and popular amongst all races royalty included. The Sedition Act should be repealed as the definition of sedition cited therein is all inclusive of every expression of speech or word to make all Malaysians shut up and say nothing against the government of the day however serious a blunder it may commit.

If at all we need a Sedition Act it should be limited to rebellion against the King and the nation. The people have the right to criticise the government if a wrong or a crime is committed by the government of the day. That is not sedition but freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution.

On RM3.2 bil spent for Maths and Science in English

Marsh: I am indeed very shocked why such a hefty sum. The name of the computer supplier(s) must be revealed because the schools are trying to get parents to pay for ICT fees to maintain the computers in school. My children hardly use the computer lab during their English and Math lessons. So where is the logic in spending such a big sum on training teachers?

On Twinkle, twinkle, little star

Henry Too: I have this to say to Wong Chun Wai. Credibility is a bit like virginity. Once you lose it. it is very difficult to get it back. Whoever heard of a born-again virgin?