vox populi small thumbnail 'The use of percentages to blind side the public is nothing new. Percentages tell only part the story, whereas explaining what's behind the percentages is far more important. '

 

10.1 percent growth figure 'misleading'

Anonymous: Why remove subsidies? It's Umno that digs into coffers worth billions, and yet nobody says anything about those who have stolen from the country's monies. Why must it be always the rakyat who suffer while the Umnoputras, PM Najib Abdul Razak included, who live like kings?

Malaysiasakit: The use of percentages to blind side the public is nothing new. In fact, it is basic spin-doctoring. Percentages tell only part the story, whereas explaining what's behind the percentages is far more important. As they say, there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

Cascara: Of course, we all knew something was wrong with the figures, but for lack of further information, as always, we put it down to spin doctoring by the government. The man in the street, in fact, feels 10 percent poorer every quarter.

By Election Fan: I will never believe statistical data from the government. What was Najib Razak trying to prove by doing his walkabout in Petaling Jaya last week? Crime rate has reduced and we are safer? Don't treat us like fools with all your ‘made-up figures'.

Eugene : Give us raw numbers, not percentages, then we will talk about whether our economy is growing steadily or not.

Tan refutes Soi Lek over cabinet appointment

Tomkurus: I can understand if you aired your views in public regarding some issue of national importance but to whine about not being given a deputy minister's post just shows pathetically how self-serving you politicians are. Read the writing on the wall, Tan Ah Eng.

Rubystar: (Gelang Patah MP) Tan Ah Eng is a real idiot not to realise that in politics, nothing is fair. By shooting her mouth off, she shot herself in the foot. Why did you not learn from Chew Mei Fun, who took a strong position and cannot back off. The dust of MCA has not yet settled, why did you bring out this matter in public? You will be next on the execution list.

I agree with Chua Soi Lek. I will recommend my son to be the deputy minister because I may not be holding the position long. If there were no nepotism in politics, the world would not be as it is.

When comes the next general election, you will not even be an MP. Maybe you must now think about joining DAP. And if I were the DAP supremo, I would accept you to be just an ordinary member. Chua Tee Yong seems a capable guy, so it is a good opportunity for him to serve the rakyat.

Cala: MP Tan, please don't get me wrong. Not that I do not sympathise with you on your current woes for not being selected to fill up the deputy ministerial post. I think your approach to seeking justice leaves a lot of rooms for improvement. Have you sought a meeting with Chua Soi Lek? What did he say? What other options are made available to you?

In case you are not aware, a promise may not be taken as a contract to be fulfilled, in this era of new institutional economics. All is not lost. Just please treat whatever that is being promised to you as something relational, a platform upon which you may use for bargaining in the future.

Kgen: This confirms what we have known all along that MCA is just a platform for Chinese trying to get government posts from BN. It's not about serving the Chinese community at all

Multi Racial: It has always been a stage show. All component presidents will announce that it is the prime minister's discretion in the selection of his cabinet ministers and deputy ministers. But behind the scenes, there will be intense lobbying and negotiation between the respective presidents and the prime minister.

As for Ong Tee Keat not in cabinet, of course, it was Chua Soi Lek who wanted him out so that Tee Keat will be weak by the next presidential election.

As for Soi Lek, if you look at his votes, he is a minority president. He knew he cannot survive as president in the next election if he doesn't consolidate his position. This time, I believe he did it in his own accord to opt out from a cabinet position.

Firstly, he knows that there will be resistance within BN, especially Umno. Secondly, he opened himself to be criticism by the opposition. Thirdly, if he chooses to go for a cabinet position, and assuming Umno agrees, his MCA president will be short-lived.

Isana: Well, it didn't come as a surprise. A person that cheats on his wife will have no remorse to lie and mislead. Birds of the same feather flocks together, don't you think?

PSM opts not to join Pakatan... for now

Done it: It is okay if PSM remains independent. At least on paper, they seem to be fighting the right battle. At the end of the day, you really need some truly principled party. PKR seems to be going to the dogs with the Umno mentality of its members. I hope they change for the better.

Perakian: PSM is another spoiler. Look at the three-corner fight during the 2008 election. The number of votes they got was on par with Independents. Maybe that's the reason they got registered as a party not too long ago. They should understand where they are, they are no where near to be the ‘3rd force'.

Man: PSM should stand as an independent. After March 8, 2008, the BN-ruled government brought a lot of anti-rakyat policies like the goods and services tax (GST) proposal, hospital privatisation, fuel hikes, no funding for poor people who failed to pay their housing loans and no minimum wage. It's a good move for PSM to support Pakatan and against BN.

PSM is 'closed' for people without an ideology. It's not about being true socialist. It's about being a true human being to others. PSM might not be near being a ‘third force' and they have said it many times, but they are close to the people. They are not election party, as the other parties

Whether they win in elections or not, the grassroots work moves on, unlike Pakatan and BN. After they won, many don't even visit their constituencies. I support PSM for being 'friendly' to Pakatan and for their guts to pin point Pakatan's mistake.

Parvinder Kler: Life is not always black or white. We don't have to choose between BN and Pakatan. This is not about good against evil. This is about making a stand and being true to your beliefs. PSM has always been true to its beliefs and if they feel they'll have to give it up to be part of Pakatan, then why should they join?

SAPP in Sabah also would prefer not to be part of Pakatan for now. We have a choice; you may not like it, but I suggest you open your eyes. The black-and-white battle between good and evil usually occurs in Hollywood movies. This is reality.

Cool head: PSM was the only party whose leaders declared their assets, and that makes PSM different from the other parties. Actually it is better to have parties like PSM supporting Pakatan than to have people who are already in Pakatan bring damage against Pakatan, like the numerous frogs we saw earlier.

In fact, since the last election, PSM's MP and state representative have been very principled and performed well. They submit a report card to the public once a year. They have been truthful in their struggle. That is what matters.

 

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