‘I am sure millions of Malaysian have no confidence in the present BN government. Jump and crossover now. Let's have a new beginning.’
On Anwar: Defections to proceed as planned
Pharmwell: The defection of BN parliamentarians to Pakatan Rakyat? The earlier the better. Why wait until September if they can cross over earlier? I am sure millions of Malaysian have no confidence in the present BN government. Jump/crossover now. Let's have a new beginning
Cheong Pah: All the protests, all the blogging, whatever campaign, all the talk and shouting in Parliament are not going to change much. The list of BN wrongdoings during the past 50 years can go on and on and on and on. Everyone with common sense knows that. So why wait for another five years? No way.
What this nation clearly needs is a change of government. Those BN MPs who still have hearts and souls and believe that there is still a God, I beg you (if you want me to go down on my knees I will) join Pakatan now. Your names will go down in history as saviours of Malaysia. Your descendants will be proud of you.
If we go on and allow the Umnoputeras to keep on plundering the nation, Malaysia will become the next Zimbabwe. The Umnoputeras will never change, no one would (I wouldn't) if they own the goose(s) that lays the golden eggs.
I hate to say this, but if you don't join Pakatan, you will be the culprits of destroying this country, and for allowing Malaysia to be messed up compared to other countries in this region. May God bless Malaysia and bless the BN MPs with great courage and wisdom to join Pakatan.
Doraisamy Karuppiah: In my view, Anwar is giving in too much of a warning to the ruling BN government. As a capable leader, it’s advisable not to reveal too much to BN. Anwar shouldn’t openly give information. Maybe, he might have another dimension in diverting the ruling government’s attention.
If true, then it’s a good start. However, Anwar has to remember that by giving too much advance ‘warning’ of his intentions, BN gains by having more time to plan a sabotage.
On A strong rally against 'inhumane' ISA
Antares: How heartened and happy I am to read of the unwavering resolve and shining courage of all 1,500 who gathered outside Kamunting to bring an end to the evil ISA. When people are fearless and united in a noble cause, no armed force in the universe can deter them from expressing their burning desire for freedom from oppression and tyranny.
I am also extremely relieved and reassured to note that there are a few level-headed police officers who, when ordered to perform an unpleasant and unjust task, are able and willing to walk the line between obeying orders and further antagonising the public.
Kudos to the Pakatan Rakyat state governments who openly lent their support to that night's anti-ISA rally at Kamunting. All of us who voted them into power are fully confident that as soon as they take over the federal government, abolishing archaic tyrannical laws will have top priority on their political agenda.
This triumph for human dignity and justice is yet another moral defeat for the no longer relevant and irredeemably rotten BN whose every action and reaction since March 8, 2008 has only estranged them further from the Malaysian voter.
Each day the ISA detainees remain behind bars is one more reason to abolish such evil and unnecessary laws - and the Barisan Nasional along with them; for these oppressive laws serve only one purpose: to prop up a corrupt, benighted, piratic and parasitic political party that has mismanaged the land for 50 years.
On JPA scholarships - beyond racial quotas
Disgusted Parent: Referring to this report , how is it possible for students with SPM qualifications to enter these universities where they expect a pre-university course results as the minimum requirement?
The JPA website clearly states that these scholarships are for ‘Ijazah Pertama’ (First Degree). How then does JPA expect the public to believe that it’s actually providing scholarships to SPM leavers?
My son who had obtained 12 As in the SPM was rejected by JPA twice, in the first application as well as in the appeal. He has also done equally well in co-curricular activities. Why can’t JPA simply publish the details of the so-called ‘scholars’ picked by them? This can avoid many unnecessary complaints and protests by the public and stop the crumbling dignity of the JPA.
Henry Basil: It is interesting reading the comments by Ong and Oon on the mentioned subject. However, to date, I have yet to read a just and satisfactory solution to the problem as debated by many a politician/academician/parent/educationist/government person.
It is apparent that the whole process of allocating the scholarships to the rightful candidates is tainted from the very start because sincerity is non-existent on the part of the selectors. Politics and racial connotations dictate who should get them. Of late, Umno and Abim raised the issue of depriving the Malays of their opportunities by reducing what there were used to be given even though they didn't get it on merit as against the non-Malays.
How is it that no mention is made of the over 2,000 scholarships offered by Mara for Malays to study overseas? Why hasn't any one commented on this matter? Is taxpayers’ money only channeled to Mara for the good of only the Malays? Who are the majority taxpayers in Malaysia?
For me, the only just solution for the allocation of JPA scholarships for overseas study would be to officially publish the marks of the straight A students. From this list, total their marks and determine the average and use this to rank the students. Award the scholarships based on this.
For those who fail to secure a scholarship, they should be allowed to enrol at the matriculation colleges. These students still get a second chance of pursuing their dreams through matriculation where entry to university is so much easier as compared to STPM.
If one wants a truly democratic system, scrap matriculation and compel all students to sit for the STPM and award the scholarships based on the above-mentioned ranking system. I must add that for this to be effective, marking must be fair, marks must not distorted just to accommodate certain students, transparency must be adhered to at all times and a body of academicians from all races who uphold the principles of equality and meritocracy must be appointed to ensure impartiality.
For BN to win the next election, this is what they must do now failing which a new government will run the country.
On FT Gerakan chief Tan suspended
Disgusted With Gerakan: Gerakan's Tan Kee Kwong has no cause to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for joining a non-political study committee by the Selangor government.
The Gerakan leadership should instead explain why action is being taken against him for a beneficial act to the community which would raise Gerakan's esteem in the eyes of the public.
If the Selangor government organises a gotong royong to clean up the neighbourhood, will Gerakan members be penalised for taking part? The narrow-minded, partisan attitude of the Gerakan leadership beggars belief. How can this party serve the people?
On Mugilan: I'll be exploring space by 2018
Ratormo: Congratulations to Mugilan. I really hope his success would be the real pride of Malaysia unlike the joyride that the government did by sending up a poster boy as a space flight participant.
Mugilan, however, should keep this as a secret until the launch date is announced for fear of sabotage by certain parties. In order to justify racist supremacy, these parties may revoke his citizenship or block his passport to prevent him from truly being the first Malaysian astronaut.
Good luck to Mugilan. Maybe you should also get in touch with Vanaja. She would also make an excellent astronaut as she managed to get up to the final round despite of gender and racial discrimination.
On Putera MIC awards for blogging excellence
Blog Reader: Initially, I must say I was pleasantly surprised that the MIC was doing something creative to tackle the blogging community, instead of merely asking all its leaders to start blogs. However, MIC being MIC, Putera or not, I thought I'll just scratch the surface and see what gives.
Sure enough, it appears the whole thing is one big drama . The so-called nominees were apparently picked by the organisers and 'assisted by a group of bloggers' as it says in their website. Pray tell me, who are these ‘bloggers’ who assisted you?
The nominees themselves perhaps? After all, the nominees seem to be all from a particular grouping of bloggers. More like a group of friends organising some make-believe awards for themselves and hoodwinking the blogging community and the whole country into believing that this is some real contest.
Almost the entire list of bloggers nominated are nothing but a bunch of friends. If you take time and actually look at the blogs one by one, you will find more than mere online links between them.
Truly prominent Indian bloggers are not even on their list. This award is like taking a bunch of kids from the same kindergarten, asking them run around and getting candies from the kindergarten teacher. Only, you tell everyone else it's the Olympics.
Come on Putera MIC, get real. If you really wanted to organiae an award for bloggers, the very least you could have done would be to actually have open nominations. Yes, yes, I know it says on your website that you plan to do that next year, but in all honesty, that appears to be mere eyewash in reply to the many comments on your own website questioning why the real prominent Indian bloggers were left out.
Instead the list of nominees appear to be mostly friends of MIC’s IT bureau!
On We will always remember you, Toni Kasim
Mooshie Mooshie: Many of us are yet to come to terms with the sad news of the passing of Toni Kassim recently. She is one whom we have not met but have read about many a time in the newspapers during and before the general elections.
We know this lady to be courageous, taking on giants like Chan Kong Choy in the 11 th general election in 2004. Although she did not win, she certainly carried the message across to thousands like us and was sincere in her words in trying do something for the poor and less fortunate.
She once said: ‘Why should one vote for a party or a person who cannot speak for you?’ That struck our minds more so as Toni didn’t have any vested political inclinations in her work.
Let us get together, forget about politics and carry on her good work. Let us speak for what she has done in our small way. Whatever it is, Toni Kassim we have you in our hearts for all the things, big and small, you have done.
We will pay tribute to your God-given efforts. And we have found a place in our hearts for you forever.
On Philharmonic Orchestra nothing but elitist extravaganza
Cliff Condell: While I have no particular issue with the contents in general, I find it rather odd though that this letter fulfills some requirements.
1. ‘This is further corroborated by the fact that resident Malaysian conductor - Ooi Chean See - reportedly resigned after years of being undermined by the MPO management and European music directors.’
Yes but where is the evidence to support this statement? Has Ooi been asked for her comments?
2. ‘The three European conductors who helm the orchestra are second-echelon practitioners at best in the world of classical music, but have been touted as 'world class' by Petronas and are paid a king's ransom.’
I know none of these people personally but if they are, indeed, second rate, this fact requires verification by an independent third party.
The individual who wrote this letter obviously has extensive knowledge of the ‘workings’ of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra but the tone of this letter seems a very strange way of attempting to achieve a Petronas Performing Arts Academy - indeed a highly commendable idea.
