'Also, what is wrong with Starbucks? It now belongs to the American bumiputera. This makes Mahathir anti-bumiputera or what?'

On 'Dr M, will you employ them in your bakery?'

Bob Sekhon: I suggest Dr Mahathir Mohamad buy over all of McDonald's and Starbucks and change their names with all the money he has got.

Is he going to give employment to all those who leave their jobs? As if there are too many jobs and not enough people to fill them in this country.

Such shallow thinking from a man who ran this country Malaysia to the ground with his bent laws and policies.

Also, what is wrong with Starbucks? It now belongs to the American bumiputera. This makes Mahathir anti-bumiputera or what?

Orang tua sudah pencen, lagi mahu kacau kehidupan orang miskin .

Political Observer: With the current economic slowdown, it is not the best of idea to call for boycott of goods produced in any country simply because it is perceived as condoning the Israeli attack on Gaza.

So far, only one politician has the sound mind to say that such a call for boycott would do nothing but just hurt our own economy, especially when the stakeholders of these American brands like McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Coca-Cola and Starbucks are anyone but local businessmen.

To call on employees of McDonald's and Starbucks to quit their jobs, as proposed by former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad is unwarranted.

The question is would the Tun provide jobs for people who choose to quit their jobs on his bidding? Would he feed them and their families?

And, in another instance, the Tun suggested that we should boycott everything American. The question needs to be asked whether the Tun is willing to give away everything American in his home?

It would do a lot of good if he takes the first step. Instead of living in a bungalow built by US- trained architects and engineers, shouldn't he be living in a Japanese paper house?

Isn't it time that Malaysians behave with some sanity instead of going out of the way to support the cause of another country? When the tsunami hit Aceh, did the same Arab nations come forward to help in a big way?

Peter Ooi:

I find that many readers are so worked up by this remark by so-called statesman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Many painted a grim scenario if his call to boycot American products and firms. In fact, all these fears are unfounded.

When Mahathir made the call he knew full well that it is almost impossible to boycot anything American and he knew of the consequences if fully implemented. All he wanted was for public attention on him.

If he truly wanted to boycot Americam goods, he should have started with himself and his family.

First and formost, I notic that he likes to use jeans and most probably they are Levis. I am sure he knew that these jeans are an American product.

My suggestion is that he stops wearing jeans and forbid his family members from doing so. On top of that, he would be probably be using a GPS navigation system for his car. He should throw this GPS away because GPS are mostly operated by American satelites.

He should throw away all the TVs in his home because TVs make use of parts made by the Americans. The list goes on and on.

If he cannot do such simple deeds like ones mentioned, he should keep quiet. Otherwise, he would be seen as merely a hypocrite..

On Gaza conflict set to enter third week, ceasefire ignored

People In Pain: Regardless of what happening now, the most important thing needed for the Palestine people are medical supplies, food and other necessities.

Provide the people with the core help that is needed. But Arab countries cannot expect peace if someone keeps shooting at the Israeli people.

Please, for god's sake, the Palestinian people need people who can help them - not those who only make noise. Do the right thing to help the Palestinian people in the right way.

Do not expect peace if some people, for their selfish interests, keep stirring the hornets' nest. Stop once and for all the terrorist attacks.

Focus on bringing the economy back to normal for the country to rebuild. Use brains, not brawn.

It will take time but it will surely be for the good of the Palestinians.

On Getting the facts on the Palestinian issue

William: What humanitarian crisis is the writer talking about? Hamas has built infrastructure - tunnels and command centres below schools and hospitals costing billions of dollars, none of it intended to be used as a responsible governing organisation seeking peace.

And they continue to fire rockets that cost tens of thousands of US dollars each, and have done so for several years. More than 800 rockets have rained down on Israel.

One should ask, ‘Where did all that money come from? Why did it not go to enrich and enhance the lives of the people of Palestine whom Hamas claims to be fighting for?'

The answer is obvious - they care more for their personal agendas than for the Palestinians who clearly have always been betrayed by their Arab brethren since 1948.

If Hamas had not pursued it's official policy to destroy Israel, there would be peace. Israel did not desire war since becoming a nation in 1948.

However, in a war, there is bound to be shortages of food, medical supplies, water, etc. That even happens in a natural disaster.

Hamas has chosen war path yet again and by deliberately firing rockets intended to kill as many Israeli men, women and children as possible. Hamas thereby provoked Israel to respond.

On Callous interpretations of Gaza conflict

Dawei Shine:

In discussing the current conflict in Gaza, people like the writer tend to get overly worked up as they do not make a distinction between the Palestinian people and the radical group Hamas and between the Palestinians and the religion Islam.

To equate both Hamas and Islam to Palestinians is questionable. Rallying to the side of the innocent Palestinians who are suffering as a result of the current war in Gaza is a right thing to do.

Supporting Hamas is, however, not the solution, as the group is part of the problem just as some extremist Jewish groups which are opposed to a peaceful co-existence of Jewish and Palestinian states are.