‘Leave it to the Malays and to the Muslims in Malaysia to decide themselves who really represents their interests.'
On Appeal filed against Raja Petra's release
Dr Awang Hasmadi Awang Mois: Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar should let Malaysians, especially Muslims, determine whether Raja Petra had really defamed Islam.
Or has he himself had conveniently interpreted that Raja Petra defamed Islam because he (Syed Hamid) felt threatened by Raja Petra's accusations or was too scared to act.
A number of these Umno Malay ministers always make use of the catchphrase ‘Malay religion and Malay interests' to act against their enemies.
It is high time that this deliberate use of this catchphrase be stopped. Umno ministers do not act for or represent all Malaysian Malays and all Malaysian Muslims.
Leave it to the Malays and to the Muslims in Malaysia to decide themselves who really represents their interests.
On Sodomy trial faces further delay
Dennis Madden: Its widely accepted that the prosecution doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning this case.
So why are they procrastinating and wasting more money only to eventually get egg on their face?
They are simply prolonging their own agony and the onset of public derision which will inevitably follow their defeat.
Kanagaretnam Ganesh: The AG's chambers have made our prime minister a laughing stock in the eyes of the world.
They have belittled the prime minister by stating in court that the prime minister can say what he wants but it is of no significance and it falls on deaf ears.
The prime minister must and should take action against the AG and whosoever who lent credence to the notion that the PM was blowing hot air when he said that the AG and IGP will not be involved in Anwar's case.
Maybe it was a loud message being set out by the AG that the PM is of no significance to him.
Whatever said and done, our prime minister must walk tall, with pride and with dignity intact.
The AG is further insulting the integrity of the judiciary by pursuing the transfer to the high court. Is he sending a message that the lower courts cant be relied upon?
If that is the case, every accused better apply to have his case transferred to the high court. It is obvious the AG knows something the citizens don't.
Thank god judge Komathy salvaged our prime minister's image in the eyes of the world.
On No appeal against Abdul Razak's acquittal
Andrew: Yawn. Why am I not surprised? Typical Malaysia- boleh approach to solving ‘a problem'.
Jr Lee: The two recent legal events ie the prosecution's non-filing of appeal against Razak's acquittal and the prosecution wanting Anwar's case to be heard at the High Court have raised the eyebrows and ire of the general public.
One cannot help but feel that there is ‘something behind the scenes' and ‘strong upper-hands' are definitely in play.
As in all conspiracies, we ask what is the game plan and for whose benefits is all this being done and in preparation for what to come later.
It is undeniable that there is indeed conspiracy and not mere coincidence.
On Police disperse crowd, 24 arrested
SH: Perhaps your readers could clarify something for me that I, as a non-Malaysian and impartial observer, find rather confusing.
These continued references to the 'police' in Malaysia. Where are they?
All I ever see them doing visibly is escorting people with a trumped up sense of their own importance that a complicit media likes to call VVIPs or some such nonsense.
On Chua faces hurdles to the cabinet
Pang Cha Ling: Why are MCA and the Chinese are bickering over the newly-elected deputy president? The answer is very clear why he was elected.
We need MCA leaders to stand up and uphold justice and equality for us. The others were not elected because they are too ‘soft' just like the previous president.
Anyway, would you agree with me that there are politicians and businessmen who have close business relationships but are not willing to admit it?
On Let a woman put things right in Umno
Eugene Tan: When Rafidah first became a minister, she had a lot of fans in Singapore, including, at least, one minister.
I recall a newspaper interview in which she said she had no wish to live beyond 50 as her energy level would have reduced significantly and being an action-oriented person, she could not imagine living a half- life, or words to that effect.
I was impressed, too, with her living for a higher purpose. But all those years in Umno have changed her as did many people who lived in that corruptive atmosphere created by Mahathir.
Now I see her as a pitiful figure, rejected by the people but clinging on to the power and privileges that she is accustomed to. Sad.
On Every second with Pak Lah spells doom for Umno
Kaisim: Pak Lah did BN proud because he won handsomely in the 20004 GE then.
He wanted to bring the county forward and be transparent - a good judiciary, reducing corruption and revamping the police force.
In the midst of doing these important duties, he stepped on the toes of important Umno leaders. This is the main reason why he has fallen from grace. In life, you will only know your true friends when you are down.
The damage to the country had been done long before and it was inherited by Pak Lah. He wanted to improve the bureaucracy. He allowed free discussion and better press freedom. He never branded any group as ‘communist'.
He carries no threat and looks fair when dealing in national issues. He has never threatened the country with another May 13.
Abuse of power to enrich family members and close friends, rampant corruption and threats of racial incidents were worse in the previous administration.
The only difference then was that the country was run by a dictator and now it is by a ‘Mr Nice Guy'.
Teekay2: Dr M should not go on bullying his successor Pak Lah. It is unfair and professionally very unethical. Dr M, you have done enough to force him to exit at your pleasure instead of the traditional process.
Pak Lah has done his part for the nation and he can do more if he had absolute free hand just like you , but he can't as your ‘trained men' are still in his team too. So if there is a perceived failure you have to take a large portion of the blame too.
Pak Lah might be slow but nevertheless he has his intelligence too. With the global economy crisis surfacing now, the public will realise that the mega-projects which Pak Lah rejected was a right move.
As the saying goes , an elderly old man should always promote his wisdom, kindness and gentleness and above all, respect another fellow statesman.
On Dr M: Money politics will ruin Umno in GE
Anak Johor: Muhyiddin Yassin's comment that Mahathir was joking when the ex-PM said those Umno people guilty of money politics should be jailed under ISA shows Muhyiddin may be guilty and fears such a prospect.
After all, he could be one of the biggest players of money politics in Umno when he was the MB of Johor and had access to all the jalan of making money.
Given the culture of money politics in Umno, the only way someone like Muhyiddin (who had lost previously and won again in the Umno vice-president's race) to survive may be through money politics.
Mahathir might be a joker at times, but not in this instance when he was talking about the ISA and Umno politics.
Anyway all Umno leaders, past and present, are guilty of money politics, including Mahathir himself, so let Mahathir volunteer to go to jail himself first, before suggesting others follow him.
On Backbenchers Club top two come under fire
Sam: Lim Kit Siang is totally correct in his assertion that Tiong is a 'spoilt brat'. What can we expect of such people like Tiong?
Hopefully he will very soon join all the other no-hopers in the wilderness of political history when the opposition comes to power and we have a government that emulates that of Penang and Selangor.
On 'Kings of Tennis' a royal letdown
Dennis Madden: The lesson to be learnt here is that every half-baked entrepreneur cannot expect the government to bail them out of their dilemmas which were clearly caused by poor planning and execution
I have no doubt that the Swedish-based promoters made all the conditions of the project quite clear and not open to debate after the contract was signed
For the local promoters to try to blame the Penang government smacks of poor management and the absolute necessity for failed Malaysians to blame someone else for their own inadequacy
Daniel Chern: The ‘Kings of Tennis' was a good idea badly executed by the organisers who are ill-equipped and who simply do not have the finances nor the sponsors to pull it off.
The criticisms from the BN - especially Gerakan Youth - are misplaced and grossly unfair to Lim Guan Eng's administration. Why blame the state government for the failure of a private venture?
Or were they thinking of state financing along the lines of the Tour de Langkawi, the Monsoon Cup or the Commonwealth Games KL?
On Ketuanan Melayu - a non-Muslim view
JKS: There is another reason why it is difficult to get non-Muslim Malaysians to convert to Islam and that is that it is so difficult to leave Islam.
A non-Muslim's first religious nightmare would be to become entrapped in a religion, lifestyle, and community that he/she can never leave - even in death, even for their children.
I predict that if leaving Islam is as free as converting to Islam, then there will be a substantial increase in conversion through proselytisation and marriage. Through marriage, there may even be an obliteration of the racial line.
This is precisely what Umno is afraid of. Not being able to tell ‘them' from ‘us,' there will be no rationale for Umno to exist.
