vox populi big thumbnail ‘Instead of making real efforts to raise wages to increase disposable income, the government has chosen to sacrifice the meagre retirement savings of workers.'

Andrew Lo: The Sarawak Bank Employees Union views the move by the government to allow voluntary reduction in employees' EPF contribution as clueless knee-jerk reaction

It will further jeopardise the already meagre retirement savings of Malaysian private sector workers. More than 90% of the 5.4 million active EPF contributors have less than RM100,000 in their EPF savings, which is not enough for their retirement.

Please note than most worker earn less than RM1,000 while those in the hotel sector pay EPF contributions on as little as a RM250 basic salary.

Service points/charges do not attract EPF contributions. A 3% reduction is equivalent to only RM7.50. Good enough to buy a four-digit number forecast ticket maybe.

Again the government, instead of making real efforts to raise wages to increase disposable income and increase domestic demand has chosen to sacrifice the meagre retirement savings of private sector Malaysian workers.

We strongly urge workers not to volunteer for this reduction because it will then give employers an excuse not to increase wages (The writer is CEO, Sarawak Bank Employees Union and Sarawak MTUC secretary ).

Wah: With regards to the DPM's announcement of big bucks to be spent on big projects to check the recession, may I ask the DPM to please spare a few coins for the small-time contractors to do the needy but decades-old nobody-cares-for projects like drain-cleaning.

Perhaps I don't have the brains to see the future benefits of mega project (too many white elephants around) but I do see back lane drains choked with real black water, litter and what have you.

Nobody, not the shop-owners, not the local council nor the customers ever get bothered by this filth except the busy-body tourists (sigh).

Don't you think we should spare a few coins and engage as many small-time contractors as possible ( don't even think about giving a blanket order to a crony who in return sub-contracts the work to part-timers nationwide) and let these small guys earn some money to feed their families?

Be sincere and allow the small guys a chance to earn an honest living for they have a family to feed too.

Please, let's not get a greedy politician into the picture to pick up even the small change meant for the poor.

On Malay NGO sues Penang over signboards

The Healer: I am in utter disbelief that the lawyer representing GGMM is taking law as ‘chance' saying there's a 50-50 chance of winning the case.

Is this an indicator that they really have no case to begin with that they decide to let ‘chance' to do the talking?

Then would it not be fair that I say their hope of winning the case is grounded on a ‘calculated' 50-50 chance of winning rather than a deep profound belief that the spirit of Article 152 of the federal constitution does not allow the Penang government to put up multi-lingual signboards to assist tourists?

On 'Issue show-cause letter to Zaid'

Millionth Citizen:

Two fellow members from Umno calling another fellow member a traitor.

Question is, is gaining popularity in politics so important to do this? Don't people like Rahim Thamby Chik and Syed Hamid Albar also have some skeletons in their cupboard?

Can Zaid also call them names? Well, a man of principles will not stoop so low. Bravo to you Zaid.

Respect is gained not by money or at somebody else's expense. Also not by selling your souls like some we know.

Zaid Ibrahim, you have what it takes to be called a learned man and you are miles ahead of the minions in the government. Kudos to you.

Concerned Rakyat:

I think the comments and history lesson from Rahim Thamby Chik should be taken as a joke.

Coming from this individual after all that he has been alleged of, I wonder how many people are going to listen to him.

I guess when he says Malay rights he means that all of us Indians, Chinese and Eurasians can be abused by him.

Please ask him to stay quiet and retire gracefully. Please don't drag us back to another era. This is the new generation and we have no time for bigots.

On Altantuya trial: Has justice really been served?

Steve Oh: The writer of the above letter asks a pertinent and poignant question. Has justice really been served in the Altantuya case?

The answer is patently obvious and it is obvious the prosecution has failed miserably in its task of getting the real mastermind of the murder charged and convicted.

The public bays for justice and is not content with fall guys taking the rap for the real perpetrators. The acquittal of Abdul Razak Baginda raises more questions.

Who then ordered the killing of Altantuya? And the two who will stand trial have been allowed to appear in court even with their faces covered.

How will the public know they are who they are without being able to see their faces? Is their covering up symbolic of a real cover-up?

Who wanted Altantuya killed? Who ordered the killing? No, justice will not be done until we get to the truth.

The jailing of Raja Petra Kamarudin is the reason why the public can be excused for feeling someone does not want the truth to be publicised.

While we don't believe in trial by media we should not support any government that jails its citizens without a just reason.

Justice for Altantuya will not bring her back but will redeem the image of a battered justice system in a country that needs judicial fixing real bad.

On M'sian varsities out of Top 200 again

Abdul Hamid: The higher education minister was quoted in the papers yesterday that the appointments of vice-chancellors and deputy VCs of public universities are based on the recommendations of a search committee.

Candidates are scrutinizsed amongst others for their academic excellence.

It needs to be pointed out that the VC of a leading university falls short of this expectation. He holds a third- class first degree qualification and never did complete his PhD studies.

By today's standards, he will fail to be recruited by any public university. While a PhD qualification is not necessary vital, nonetheless a leader of any academic institution must demonstrate sufficient evidence in areas of research and publication.

A quick check with the citation database ISI Web of Knowledge reveals he has no such activity over almost two decades, indicating that he has not produced any scientific work that merits publication in a peer-reviewed research journal. Neither has he supervised any post-graduate students.

Certainly such a candidate must at the outset be disqualified for consideration. It baffles the mind how this can escape the scrutiny of eminent members of the government-appointed search committee.

On Deepavali bash: Man held over anti-ISA T-shirt

Member of Malaysia: It is very interesting to observe our police force's fast-moving action to detain this young man.

Was this act to protect the said VVIP or a misuse of power to restrict the freedom of this man in this Bolehland? Everything is possible.

Is the government is starting to feel the power of Makkal Sakthi among the youths? Or is this just a desperate measure to suppress new ideas among youths who share the same platform to create a new Malaysia?

The youths of today are now equipped with a power-based knowledge in this borderless world. Common unified thoughts are being nourished and cared for in this multi-cultural and multi-racial country.

I would not be surprised if someday, this young man is the leader of our people, with a spirit and the momentum to bridge the gap among the races and promote unity all of which our present government is failing to do!

It is an injustice to use suppressive action and detain a man for expressing his discontent over the recent usage of the draconian law, the Internal Security Act (ISA).

It's time for the government to wake up and listen to the people of the land. Time for them to realise that the people are the government and the government should respect and consider the expression of its people.

Last but not least, I'm with you Oliver. ‘No To ISA'.

On MIC Youth, NGOs protest against Sri Lankan violence

Elijah Yahweh: Wow! Such caring youths of the MIC. I salute you all brothers. But can't you see your own brothers suffering beside you? Why care for those thousands of miles away?

Anyway just a question to the home ministry, since the Tamils in Sri Lanka mostly support the LTTE in their separatist fight against the Sri Lankan government, aren't they terrorists too?

And MIC Youth cares for them and is protesting the violence against them? Don't tell me MIC Youth has got links with them?

Now, why not arrest them for having links with terrorists? Come on, home minister, for the Hindraf 5 you still don't have any evidence for any link with terrorists but now you've got clear evidence and yet you can't see it.