'Mugabe's wife Grace, when asked whether she could justify wearing a pair of Ferragamo shoes when people at home starved, she replied, ‘I have very narrow feet, so I wear only Ferragamo.''
Taib family's Canadian property empire unveiled
Phra Ong Chao: Most of us would be familiar with Marie Antoinette's 'let them eat cake' statement. The response from despots squandering billions of dollars of the people's money seems to be the same everywhere.
Robert Mugabe's wife Grace, when asked whether she could justify wearing a pair of Ferragamo shoes when people at home starved, she replied, "I have very narrow feet, so I wear only Ferragamo". Unbelievable? You'd better believe it.
Phan Gaik Cher: It is just disgusting how these BN politicians plunder the country and get away with it. How come MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) is not investigating? If found guilty, he should be hanged for his crime and for betraying Sarawakians.
Mikey: All the urbanites and more educated people of Sarawak have known this for a long time. Unfortunately, the big majority, the rural poor do not have the education and the means to know all this.
Taib is certainly a monster but to me it is people like James Masing, William Mawan, Alfred Jabu and the many so-called leaders of the Sarawak bumiputera who must bear the brunt of blame for this hideous rape and plunder done unto the natives.
Not only are they not doing anything, they are colluding to perpetrate them. And shame on all those big timber companies owned by Chinese businessmen who only see dollar signs.
Anonymous: There's going to be that moment when justice and righteousness finally sit onto the throne of authority. For every sen they have ‘eaten' from the rakyat, not only must they return the full amount, they and their generations after must pay back the debt 10 times the money they have swallowed.
Rubystar: When will the people of Sarawak wake up? When will they realise that the chief minister that they have had for the past 28 years have been raping the land for his own selfish interest while leaving the state poor and destitute.
And will the PM step in to stop all the state corruption where every major business must go through Taib's family. Sarawak is a beautiful country with so much resources. But the greedy hands of Taib has turned the state into his own personal bank. It would be a matter of time that Sarawak will be bankrupt due to such massive corruption.
DOC: Sadly, I blame the good people of Sarawak themselves for being cursed with the likes of Taib and family. Taib and his family has amassed a fortune over the years and the left the state and its people in a deplorable condition. BN/Umno has closed their eyes to Taib’s plundering ways as he assures them the votes and parliamentary seats to keep them in power.
Until the people of Sarawak wake up and decide to take charge of their future by giving Taib and his family of scoundrels a boot; only then will Sarawak move forward. The reality of the situation is that Sarawakians not only hold the future of their state in their hands, but that of all Malaysia.
Yuvan: It is well known that Umno does not have any guts to raise its voice there and is actually at the mercy of the Sarawak BN politicians for its survival. It is also not surprising why Tun Mahathir Mohamad, who can 'tick off' so many long-serving politicians, cannot 'tick off' Taib and why he does not have the courage to ask Taib to step down.
And Mahathir also said that Malays/bumiputeras cannot perform if the country is governed on the basis of pure meritocracy. Well, meritocracy or no meritocracy, Taib Mahmud and his family have shown that they can 'perform' and 'perform' way beyond their actual means and capacity. So, what's the problem?
Biting charge: Tian escapes by skin of the teeth?
Malaysiasakit: Why should the fine be reduced to RM2,000 "so that a by-election can be avoided...".
If Tian Chua is truly guilty of the charge, he should be punished accordingly - without fear or favour. If it means he is going to lose his seat because of the punishment, so be it. Stop pandering to the ruling politicians. The country has gone south and this decision doesn't help to restore confidence in the system.
Jbss: If the condition is 'disqualified if not less than RM2,000', then RM2,000 would fall within the disqualification clause. There must be a mistake here. I believe the judge should have reduced the fine to RM1,999 to avoid Tian Chua from being disqualified as the former intended to do.
Anonymous: Tian Chua has no more chance to appeal as he already paid the fine. Mean he accepted the decision. That's the law. Now let see how Umno will twist it to prevent a by-election.
Yum: I am no lawyer. But this latest episode of calling Tian Chua guilty-but-not-really, and fined-but-not-exceedingly-so smacks of expedient justice. Tian Chua is either guilty and the sentence upheld, or he is not, and the sentence thrown out.
By reducing the fine so as not to cause a by-election means justice is unequally applied. If one is a MP, so sentencing can be made lighter? I cannot understand the logic of this learned judge.
Harrisman: I am neither for or against PKR. But I think the decision is a bad one. Why should judges take political considerations into account when making the judgment. A judgment should be made without fear or favour whether involving BN or Pakatan Rakyat. If there is need for a by-election, so be it.
Ferdtan: Whatever, congratulations to YB Tian Chua for your small ‘victory'. Continue with your good work. Keep on the struggle until Malaysia is liberated from all the ills of the third world.
Repeal ISA, stop corruption, restore the rights to free speech and media freedom, ensure transparent government, and last but not least, end racism. Malaysia deserves more.
No dazzle for Teresa Kok at Malaysia Pavilion
Swipenter: Just yesterday, a friend got back from Shanghai and he commented that the Malaysian Pavilion was more like a trade exhibition whereas others were showcasing the latest in technology and what is in store for the future. Ours is a crying shame because there is nothing to showcase, except arts and crafts. May I add a RM35 million crying shame.
Pah Eng Cheong: As I was lining up to go into the expo last week, a middle-aged Shanghai couple was in front of me. It was their third visit. We started to talk - at first they did not know that I am a Malaysian - and they told me that the Malaysian Pavilion was one of the worst, and advised me not to waste time going there.
David Yee: My friend and his family members just came back from the World Expo. He mentioned that not only the people manning the Malaysian Pavilion cannot speak Mandarin but they also failed to communicate well in English. How do we expect to promote Malaysia to the world if we cannot even speak English nor Mandarin.
The theme of the expo is ‘Better City, Better Life'. However, he said the Malaysian Pavilion has little to offer in regards to the theme and they are more inclined to sell overpriced handicrafts to the visitors.
Unfortunately, besides the predominantly kampung handicrafts. no diverse products from various races and communities were seen in the pavilion. Kindly proof my friend wrong if his facts are inaccurate.
Rakyat Malaysia: A miniature golf range? What are we trying to show to the world? What a joke! As if nobody has seen a golf course or golf range before. The Malaysian Pavilion is nothing special except a big kampung-like house. The design looks like a kindergarten project, only in larger scale.
But who cares? RM35 million went to the BN cronies again and we can forget that MACC will ever find the culprit in the case.
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