It's awfully frustrating when the likes of LJ (Palestine still a problem between Arab countries and the US) resort to deliberate distortion of what o­ne actually says.

This seems to be a recurring problem for some of my critics, who can't seem to decipher key nuances.

Quick response to LJ - assuming he understands English and knows how to read and correctly interpret. I'm not asking him to analyse or read between the lines; it's all there, staring him in the face, in black and white.

I did not say "Arab Muslim support for the US invasion of Iraq is even stronger now."

I said that "since 1990 most Arab Muslim states have been quietly and increasingly supporting the US's Middle East policy, and even financing it."

What's amazing is that LJ quotes me correctly, then proceeds to massively misrepresent what I say. What I said is entirely different to what he claims I said. Blimey.

Also, I did not discuss the Palestinian issue. So I'm not sure where LJ got that from either in his diatribe. It's not the first time LJ has distorted my position or argument.

As for my criticisms of Mahathir: unlike LJ, I've never buried my head in the sand. And I wish I had more time to "attack" Mahathir and his regime at "every opportunity."

Alas, I don't have that luxury. Plus, Mahathir's not my "compulsion".

I will credit Mahathir (or anyone else for that matter) where I think he's right or is credible. But unlike LJ, I'm not nave.

And I won't be discouraged from questioning or criticising Mahathir or anybody else who mouths off baloney, distorts things (LJ knows this all too well), sidesteps issues, makes silly contradictory comments, allows his regime to perpetuate corruption, cronyism and nepotism at the expense of the public and further bastardises the highly politicised judicial system and accountable and responsible 'government'.

On my "compulsion", well if LJ must know ... no, nevermind; none of LJ's business.

And as for my "vantage point": let me assure LJ that it's not from Putrajaya or Wisma Putra or any other 'putra' tower.

Seems so easy for LJ to criticise me for "inventing ridiculous propositions".

Does LJ prefer the Mahathir regime continue wasting taxpayers' money o­n worthless projects and events, including bailing out crony businesses, rather than spending it on critical social programmes to lift the living standards of the poor?

LJ's constant assertions are completely futile, utterly cowardly, plainly boring, simplistic and nave, and blindingly obtuse, because they lack a critical ingredient - substance.

On a separate matter: would Umno vice-president and Defence Minister Najib Razak, who labelled Kelantan Chief Minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat as power hungry for staying o­n to contest the next election, also call Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad the same if the latter suddenly decides to stay o­n in office and lead the coalition into the next federal poll?

Is Najib suggesting that o­nly opposition politicians have limited shelf-lives than coalition politicians? Should Lim Kit Siang, then, also quit the DAP but not the incompetent Samy Velu (MIC) or Dr Ling Liong Sik (MCA)?

What about Najib himself, who's been a government minister since 1976?

Or is it more the case that Najib knows that Umno won't be able to dislodge PAS in Kelantan in the next poll, so also no chance in Perlis and Terengganu?