vox populi small thumbnail If the government was to award a mega-project, without considering the company's accountability and integrity, then don't misled the 'rakyat' into believing that the tendering process is proper.

On M'sia awards water-tunnel deal to 'tainted' firm

Maniam: Ordinary ministers will not normally give billion dollar contracts to companies that have records of sleaze in their conduct and work performance, which does make minister Peter Chin, an extraordinarily gifted minister to see through Nishimatsu's previous misdemeanours and be confident enough to award them the water tunneling job.

He would probably be gone when the contract runs into problems, which his successor may not be gifted enough to foresee.

But hey, he is one of the 1Malaysia prime minister's minister. Together we stand as one and together we fall as one! I suppose this minister must be from the fearless leadership pool of the MCA to be so perceptive.

Disgusted: As predicted in the media many months ago, the water transfer project finally was awarded to the tainted Japanese company. If the government were to award such a mega project, without considering the company's accountability and integrity, then don't misled the ‘rakyat' into believing that the tendering process is proper.

Maybe due to the long standing relationship with Japanese government, Malaysian government have no choice but to submit to JICA pressure. This allows a company, punished in Japan, to be given a chance to survive in Malaysia.

However, under the present leadership of our Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, we see drastic reform economically and politically. In light of these changes, we hope that the government servants and the ministers will put in a concerted effort to achieve Najib's vision.

In order to achieve this vision, the principle of trust, integrity and courage to tell the truth must be truly observed.

Disappointed: Much have been spoken and reported in the media regarding the excesses of Nishimatsu in Japan and elsewhere. Though indictments have been made and investigations are still underway, the amount of reports being generated and the resignation of the company president and Japanese opposition leader must indicate some truth to the allegations and some cognizance should be warranted.

But to acknowledge that misdeeds have indeed occurred and then say that because it happened not in this country, it is okay and does not affect decisions made, is totally irresponsible.

The very fact that project award has been delayed since end of 2008 till recently, coupled with the copious amount of reporting on the issue within the same period, speaks volumes and must at least lend some credence to the allegations, which shape public perception, negative or otherwise.

But then again, if interpreted from the honorable minister's statements, it does not really matter as the government is doing what is best and public opinion and confidence ‘should not arise'.

On Aminah 'offered' top council post to pull out

Baiyuensheng:

What is wrong with Pakatan or PKR to even resort to this type of politicking. The vary same thing we despise is now also being used by the 'alternative'. They have a good thing going and yet this has to happen. I know I am naive how politics are but self reflection is needed here.

Say U Say Me: I will believe in it if it was: Aminah offered top council post to pull her lungs out from her nose. I rather believe in UFO. No one should waste time on her.

On I'm not sure it was bribery, Aminah now says

John Johnson: "The officials told me that the offers amounted to corruption. Only then did I really know it was bribery," she told journalists - this is the most ridiculous statement I'd heard so far.

If she doesn't know what is a bribery or ‘rasuah', then why is she standing for elections? Any fool will know that to elect a rep, at least, she should be knowledgeable.

I pity those who vote for her. Can she really understand English or is her literacy in question here? Basic right and wrong, she doesn't even know that. Perhaps a very good ‘sandiwara'- playing innocent and an ex-PKR rep too at that.

Kumar Krish: Politics and greed! This is the woman who caused chaos in Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) Penang, which led to some of the members leaving the party. She eventually left the party and then came up with a story that PKR wants her back. Now why would PKR want to take back someone who gave them so much grief ? I wonder.

The PKR duo claim that Aminah wished to return back to the party. By looking at the facts about Aminah's past in PKR, one could assume that this is true as Aminah wants nothing but power. Or could it be that Umno is behind this?

Whatever the reason, I seriously think Aminah needs a real good facial in order to appear in public. She would be better of playing herself in any low budget Indonesian horror movies, no need for make-up.

On Sivakumar and 7 reps arrested in Ipoh

Alice: The police, and by natural extension Barisan Nasional (BN), still haven't learnt, have they? Arresting people for going on hunger strike, for holding candles, for wearing black, for organising events and just being near Pakatan assemblymen? Good grief. Next, they will be arresting people in restaurants, markets, cinemas, stadiums, schools, etc. Do the police and BN really think that people can be cowed into silence and obedience?

What is the actual offence anyway? Specifically which Section of which Act prohibits people from peacefully assembling to eat, starve, wear clothes of a certain colour, etc? These arrests achieve only one thing: growing anger and disgust at the police and BN, and the loss of all credibility of 1Malaysia.

Never have I seen a suicide mission that is so effective.

Kumar Krish: I thought we have reached the lowest point in democracy when Sivakumar was dragged out of the state assembly, but boy was I wrong.

Looks like the situation has gone out of hand for Umno. By default, they have no choice but to act in this uncivilised manner with the help from their ever loyal running dogs.

I believe that Umno has to prove something to its grassroots hence actions such as this. If not the public would perceive that Umno is giving in to the opposition and that's something Najib could not afford, which also would be detrimental to his already rocky stewardship of the party and the nation.

Looks like hunger strike along with candlelight vigil have been added to the already long list of illegal activities in Malaysia.

On Dear BN cronies, your time's up

Manjit Bhatia: In the above-titled piece, you lament: "When the French took to the streets to demand for their rights, the French government took notice. In Malaysia, not only is the government not listening, it's also using fear and intimidation."

This is true.

As I have been arguing all along, Malaysians aren't French. They aren't even Tiananmen Square 'democrats'. They're insular. They're afraid. And that's exactly where the Najib-led Umno-BN regime wants Malaysians.

Until all - all - Malaysians take to the streets, nothing will happen to dethrone this corrupt and incompetent regime. Change may be incremental, worse than at snail's pace, but that's exactly the problem: even this pace is to be crushed by this regime using its Nazi Gestapo, the equally corrupt and incompetent Malaysian Police.

There's a union at the ruling hierarchy. There isn't one on the ground below.

That's the problem for Malaysians -- a problem they've created for themselves.

So, forget analogising the French (or dissident Chinese).

Watch how this regime persecutes those Malaysians who dare challenge the regime -- again and again.

On MB vs MB: Court of Appeal has missed the point

Peter Ooi: Justice NH Chan must be congratulated for analysing the High Court as well as the Court of Appeal judgement. It made good reading and enlighten us, laymen, how the judgement was arrived at.

Now that Justice Aziz has been properly explained, I believe the ‘rakyat' can form their opinion on the five minutes judgement restoring Zamry as the menteri besar.

Also it is the hope and prayer of everyone that our judiciary should have more of the likes of Justice Aziz. Only then would confidence in the judiciary be restored.

Jasper: If all denouncers were to be pursued for contempt of court, half the Malaysian population could be in jail. The judiciary has only itself to blame. It no longer bothers to give even the appearance of justice. There are clear differences in treatment depending on which party

is bringing the suit and, sometimes, even the written judgement is missing.

While several other Malaysian institutions, including the Electoral Commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police and mainstream media have earned the public ire, a corrupt judiciary must be considered the most damaging to democratic ideals.

The judiciary, which is supposed to check the excesses of the Executive, is now used as a vicious tool of oppression by the latter.

On Moggie pushes for quick coal option in Sabah

Clarence: It is interesting that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Berhad can tell the public that there is no other options apart from coal. They seems to have purposely overlook the fact that Sarawak exports it LNG to Japan for the purpose of generating electricity.

If they can ship LNG to Japan for electricity, why can't they do the same for the East Coast of Sabah? Since coal and LNG are non-renewable source of energy with the big difference of LNG being clean fuel, why are they adamant in insisting on coal, which is a known environmental pollutant?

I wonder who will benefit from the use of coal, and where are the sources of coal coming from? And why are the authorities planning to send our excess natural gas to Sarawak and then selling it to Japan for electricity generation, when it can be shipped to the East Coast of Sabah for the same thing?