‘The opposition deserves more leeway. No one has experienced what is happening in Malaysia before and everyone is going to make some stumbles.’

On Opposition pledges yet unfulfilled

Maidin Bacha: The writer makes a fundamental error in his article - it is not the opposition that can bring the price of petrol down, it is the government. While Pakatan Rakyat having power in five states complicates the situation, I'm sure petrol prices and many other economic woes the writer blames on the opposition are the purview of Putrajaya.

He also makes many unsubstantiated claims - for instance, he says ‘many (PR lawmakers) are still in a state of shock having been transformed overnight from ‘street fighters' battling police to lawmakers’. Where is the evidence?

He also criticises the ‘crossover’ moves PKR is undertaking. The jury is out on this one. There is some truth that stretching this out distracts from more pressing issues. But if it does actually happen by Sept 16, it may not be that bad a thing after all.

It is hypocritical to suddenly start talking about the ‘ethics’ of crossovers when there have been so many instances in the past of underhanded political tactics, many done blatantly.

But on balance, the writer may be right in that this whole thing is turning into more of a liability than an asset for Anwar Ibrahim. If something is brewing, he should get it done fast and move on.

I think the opposition deserves more leeway and more time. No one has experienced what is happening in Malaysia before and everyone is going to learn on the job and make some stumbles.

Remember, the old system many people voted against is weakened, but still in power. This is not the time to start ‘looking back fondly’ - if that is possible - at the pre-March situation.

Lambroghini Tan: Barely six months into the job and ridiculous people are demanding for an overnight change of what has been done for the past 50 years. Give them a break and give them ample time to do their work.

You gave BN ample time to destroy the country so why can't you give PR enough time to do the work that they promised? Do remember, BN raised the petrol price not PR.

Please don’t do the ugly Malaysian thing and demand for an overnight change.

The Silent Saint: I am truly amused reading this article. It sounds as though Anwar Ibrahim is the PM of Malaysia who is failing miserably in addressing the several issues confronting the nation today.

Even a child can see that the BN government is more concerned about surviving the political battle than solving the economic woes of the people.

The ruling government is bent on denying even the slightest opportunity to the opposition to bring about any form relief to the middle and lower-income people.

The withdrawal of funds for the Porr and monorail projects in Penang is a classic example. The opposition is strong in Parliament but does not have the majority to bring about changes.

It is ridiculous to expect DSAI or the PR to fulfill their pledges when they are not in power.

What DSAI is doing is to try and wrestle power from the flip-flop PM and his corrupt cabinet in order to bring about the real reforms. Let’s be fair and give the opposition due credit.

Don’t forget that after almost 50 years, it is only now that the people’s voice is being heard in Parliament.

As for the fuel price cost, it may go up in the global market but if we manage the revenue from Petronas properly, we should be able to continue with the fuel subsidy, thus keeping the price within manageable limits.

Kenny Gan: The writer is mischievous in conveniently ignoring the fact that many of Pakatan Rakyat's election promises can only be fulfilled if they capture the federal government.

Among them are the promise to lower oil prices, equal treatment of all races and increase of wages. Even local council elections are subject to federal law.

Unlike the writer, Malaysians are able to distinguish between what PR can and cannot do and apportion blame accordingly.

The tone of the report to put the blame squarely on PR for promises which are contingent on winning the federal government speaks of a biased political agenda.

On Penang fumes over scrapping of mega-projects

Alfred Ho: It does not take a rocket scientist to realise why the cancellation - or as the Barisan government would lead us to believe that the ‘postponement’ - of the Penang monorail and outer ring road projects was done.

The BN government says this is because of the lack of funds. However, every right-thinking Malaysian know only too well that this is an outright lie but rather to punish Penangnites for voting in the Pakatan Rakyat.

I wonder how Lim Guan Eng and Co will react to this announcement.

Old Timer: I think many have missed the critical issues. The main problem with Penang is the many vehicles plying its roads thus contributing to its perennial taffic jams and gridlock.

There are many similarities between Penang and Singapore and its problems are not new.

There is little need to re-invent the wheel here, so to speak. Much of the answers and solutions for a comprehensive urban transport system is already available in Singapore.

Building more roads and bridges will not help if the annual increasing number of vehicles on the roads is not stemmed at the same time.

My view is that the state government is in a unique and privileged position to take over the ‘baton’ passed by the federal government to undertake the management of public transport and show their stuff. The political capital is now in their hands.

Lim Guan Eng and his team should make a detailed study of Singapore's system and implement it in Penang. Whatever lobbying is needed to be made to the federal government, do it now to clear the path for this state project.

Even if you are unable to leave any other legacy behind by the time your administartion is completed, do leave at least an efficient and effective public transportation system behind. We will remember you for it.

Do go ahead and make Penang into another ‘First World Singapore. I am sure you will have the blessings of many Penangnites and other Malaysians elsewhere.

Don't forget, however, at the same time, your spiritual and cultural side.

Remember to develop and help promote and instill the Baba-Nyonya heritage. Be like Korea where there is - or was - well-rounded development.

Do not replicate Singapore's weakness in this very important area of human capital development.

Lilian Tan: In the immediate aftermath of the elections, so many of us had hoped that Barisan Nasional – and more specifically, Umno – would come to its senses, put the people's interests first and work with Pakatan Rakyat.

Alas, we have only seen more spin and subterfuge from the federal government, saying one thing and doing something else. The shelving of the Penang monorail and Porr projects is the latest but surely not the last of the ‘betrayals’ we can expect from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi government. And yet, however bleak it might seem, we, the people, still have a choice.

Those of us who voted for the opposition on March 8 made a conscious choice to deny Barisan Nasional an outright victory.

We knew then, that economic punishment would follow and indeed it has but we must stand strong and together, and remember that this is but small price to pay for the years of lies, abuse and neglect that Barisan Nasional has dished out to us.

The worst thing we can do is to let our tormentors break our spirit and bully us into returning them to power in the next elections.

If this happens, the following will surely happen which would be truly tragic.

Barisan Nasional will not only re-launch itself in all its shameless pomp and corrupt glory and wreak vengeance to make up for lost time/opportunitites, it will also re-engineer the constitution and workings of every arm of government to ensure that no opposition party or coalition can ever seize power again.

For our sake and those of the future generations of Malaysians, we must not let that happen. We simply cannot afford to.