Meng Yee: The Barisan Nasional government still doesn’t get it. With Samy Vellu’s latest heroic effort in pleading for the release of the Hindraf 5 and Pak Lah’s Hari Raya gift amidst rising crude oil price, the rakyat feels like it is being patronised.

We don’t need to be patronised. We don’t need off the cuff gifts to make us happy. We are not dogs (or cats) that we should grovel on the floor for the scrapings which the government dishes out. We said this loud and clear during the last general elections. You have not heard, obviously. Despite all the freebies and promises from Ong Ka Ting on Chinese schools, MCA still lost big time.

We want injustice to stop. We want ISA detainees to be released and for the government to admit that it has wrongly used the ISA to detain individuals and that it would be repealed. We want a long term plan for the economy and not cabinet meeting decisions on rise and drop of petrol prices.

We want the ACA to be truly free. We want a clean and independent judiciary. We want a comprehensive plan of improvement for our education system and the acknowledgment that Malaysians are leaving kebangsaan schools in droves for a reason. These are very deep issues and not issues to be solved at cabinet meetings each week.

So please don’t patronise us. Step aside if you cannot run the government effectively. There are other real and deep issues which need urgent attention.

Winnie: When will the BN-led government realise that the rakyat can no longer be placated by half-hearted gestures? Does the prime minister think we are all going to jump up for joy with this tiny reduction in fuel prices?

What about the high-prices of other things in the country like food, clothes and services? What is the government going to do about those? Of course, if we say anything, they will tell us to report unscrupulous traders to the relevant ministry. But is action ever taken against them?

If the government was so concerned about our well being, why weren’t fuel prices lowered immediately after the global price of fuel came down? It seems the government is really efficient in increasing prices, but when it is time to do the opposite, it drags its feet, making excuses like studies have to conducted, etc.

The rakyat takes note of all this, and if the prime minister and his cabinet think they are fooling us, they better think again.

If the BN government is not interested in the rakyat ’s well being, they can do us all a favour by stepping aside. Let Pakatan Rakyat show you how it’s done, and done right.

Tim Finian: This half-hearted move on part of the BN only serves to infuriate rather than placate the rakyat .

When the price could easily be down by 30 sen, the government opted to hold back, perhaps in a show of vendetta over the recent trouncing at the general elections and the Permatang Pauh by-elections.

Instead of engaging in such petty games, the government should get down to some real work for a change. The faster it realises that its days are numbered, the better it would be.

On Samy slams temple demolition in Pakatan-controlled S'gor

Disgusted: Barely three hours after the article appeared in Malaysiakini , highlighting Samy Vellu’s harsh words against the Pakatan-controlled Selangor state government, another English daily quoted local government, research and study exco Ronnie Liu as saying that the Ampang Municipal Council had acted against the directive of the state government.

Samy, who lost his seat to a Pakatan MP, should have checked his facts on who instructed the demolition of the temple instead of playing up a sensitive issue. It is clear to anyone reading the news that Samy is simply playing dirty politics to create unrest in the country.

Please, Samy, have some common sense. Why would the Pakatan government issue such a directive? Do you think they would turn against the very people who voted them into power?

All anger should be directed towards the local council, which receives residents’ assessment rates. The little Napoleons in these councils should be sacked, to show that the state government means business. Instead of lashing out at the local council, Samy is barking up the wrong tree!

If a fool remains silent, he will still appear like a wise man. So, for goodness sake, please stop all the politicking, Samy. The rakyat is fed up with you and your colleagues and your expired modus operandi .

Timo Finian: Okay, Samy, let's not get too bleary-eyed and emotional over this issue. I'm sure Pakatan is aware of the situation and are working on this at the moment.

But, Samy, the burning question remains: when are you going to step down and infuse new blood into the party?

It is obvious that the numerous issues & controversies plaguing the party are due to your stubbornness to budge which, regrettably, has become like a terminal blood-clot in the brain, denying the flow of 'fresh-blood' to rejuvenate the party.

Reinventing and rebranding always starts from the top and if you are not willing to accept that, then it would be an exercise in futility.

If you love the party, step down. If you love yourself, stay on.

Ranjeet: Where were you Samy when the previous sate government demolished temples? You never said a word. It's obvious you are now trying to earn back lost ground by making senseless noise over this issue.

Are you trying to say is that it was legal for the BN-led government to demolish temples? Stop acting like a martyr now. It is too late for you and your party.

On Umno to hold emergency meeting

Ngawang Jimpa: Umno, by virtue of calling the shots in the government, owes the citizens a moral responsibility to stabilise the political and economic climate in the country. The people can't see Umno performing the role effectively when it is plagued by endless bickering and internal strife.

The public are suffering enough with high inflation rates. They certainly don't need to compound their hardships with the great deal of uneasiness caused by Umno's squabling.

Wage-earning Malaysians want to get on with their lives and try their best to help Malaysia ward off the repercussions of an economic slowdown.

Working-class Malaysians know that the global markets are unstable and that's why they are working hard to prevent the country’s economy from sliding deeper into recession. But their earnest efforts are being negated by Umno who emits negative messages daily regarding the ailing state of the party. This is evident from its numerous emergency meetings.

Hardly a day goes by without news of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's leadership or his power transition agreement with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak being undermined. The scenario is aggravated by a barrage of calls from belligerent Umno supreme council members urging Abdullah to resign or fast-forward the power transition.

All this politicking is bad for business. For heaven's sake, please put vested political interest aside for the good of the people and the country. We need to survive and peace of mind to live decently.

YSM: Honestly, dear prime minister, who would you rather hand over the position of prime minister to? Put politics aside and for a change, look at what is best for the country. Your deputy seems to have too many skeletons in his closet.

Your minister of trade and industry may seem a likely candidate but he has been undermining you a lot lately by pushing for your early retirement. How about Tengku Razaleigh? He is after all a veteran and proven politician, who seems to have wide support.

However, I don’t think you should dismiss Anwar Ibrahim who comes from your home state and who commands the support and respect of a great deal of Malaysians, especially from the five richest states in Malaysia. Yes, he may be from the opposition but I am sure even you will admit that he is more than capable of leading this country through these difficult times.

So, how about it, sir? Are you man enough to do the right thing?

Densemy: A politician doesn't have to be brilliant or wise or even experienced in his field of endeavour. He can garner all the knowledge he needs through his public servants and through co-operating experts. His so-called wisdom will be provided by his peers and the opposition in Parliament.

What a politician needs to be is willing. That means willingness to change, willingness to have an open mind, to be open and honest, above corruption and willing to put the future of his country and its people in the forefront of his mind at all times

There are plenty of young, intelligent, well-educated, idealistic and willing men and women in this country with the welfare of the country in their minds. We should use them before they become too old and too cynical

Why anyone would want to recycle politicians from the odious halls of Umno is beyond me.