'It will no doubt be a consuming election of attrition - with race and religion providing most, if not all, of the abrasive filing.'

Galas rep falls to cancer - 12th by-election beckons

Singa Pura Pura: The ensuing by-election will be a haunting testament as to how well PAS is able to consecrate its religious credentials into marshalling a viable defence (or invoking an operational deflector shield) against the dark arts of ethnic fanaticism that are surely to be waved to the fullest extent imaginable by both the patrons and the pawns of its ancestral adversary.

It will no doubt be a consuming election of attrition - with race and religion providing most, if not all, of the abrasive filing.

Phra Ong Chao: One must not forget that PAS won this seat by a rather modest majority and that DUN Galas is in the Gua Musang constituency, a stronghold of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah of BN.

However, as BN represents Gua Musang by virtue of Razaleigh's personality, and with the recent petroleum royalty issue involving the Kelantan royal, the odds look quite good for PAS. Still, one must not be over-confident or complacent.

Michael Ng: Rest in peace. But why can't it be a representative from BN fall instead?

Suspicion of 'saboteurs' in PKR polls

Brij Jayaram Kathiravelu: I was privy to one such divisional meeting - Lembah Pantai - on Sunday. The whole process was conducted in a conducive environment with the participation of over 15 percent of the members registered in the division.

Although there were some untoward incidents taking place during polling, the division meeting and counting process; overall, the situation remained under control with the level-headedness of all parties involved.

However, the whole democratic process could have been hijacked by some irresponsible individuals who clearly were hell-bent on causing trouble. What struck me most was with the ease by which they rant and scrimmage and further stamp their purpose for being at the venue.

Maybe they were 'paid' by some unscrupulous party or parties who were not at ease with the flourishing democratic process by the size, enthusiasm and participation of the ordinary members. Even six members of the police Special Branch were present to monitor the situation.

Disgusted: Better that the shake-out happens now rather than after the next general election when those hidden ‘kataks' (frogs) with ulterior motives sell themselves for the highest bidder which, in this case, BN will be the buyer.

In any democracy, there is bound to be conflicts and this is healthy as long as everything is fair and square. BN papers can see a speck in Pakatan Rakyat's eye, but can't see a beam in their own. Umno, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, etc, have bigger problems within themselves and their tainted leaders. Yet the press does not make a meal of it.

Just go about your elections in as broadly democratic way as possible. It does not mean that the winners take all and the losers lose all. Some of the winners may not be suitable candidates for MPs or Aduns, and not all losers are not suitable. It is up to the party to close ranks and focus on serving the people and win their hearts in preparation for the next general election.

Anon: Overwhelmed by huge turnouts? So far 27,000 out of 500,00 even bothered to vote at 100 over centres. This outcome is not unpredictable. Granted, they may have involved over-zealous and undisciplined members or saboteurs, but then other political parties also have their fair share of such members and are similarly vulnerable.

The glaring fault lies within the present cut-and-paste leadership that has strayed ahead of itself. "PKR will be stronger as a result of this," volunteered a juvenile leader. That's like telling the toddler to break more bones for it will make him stronger! Beware the fatal fall.

Anyway the story is always about outsiders' premeditated move to bully a helpless PKR, never an opportunity for self-introspection. It is definitely not the right stuff to make Pakatan reach Putrajaya.

KSN: PKR and Anwar Ibrahim must understand that it is the educated and sober people, the voters in particular, who supported PKR, PAS and DAP.

But this PKR election process has revealed and confirmed that it is no different from Umno, that it can manipulate the election process to choose who will win. Here, even Syed Husin Ali - for whom I had the greatest respect - faltered with his statements.

PKR is also causing real damage to the other partners of Pakatan. PKR cannot even conduct party and divisional meetings in an orderly and impartial manner. Hence, how are the people to believe that PKR together with PAS and DAP is capable to govern the country without discrimination and marginalisation?

Disgusted: Umno is worried that PKR will put them to shame when it comes to the way party elections are conducted, so they may have sent in agent provocateurs and spies to cause trouble and chaos in the meetings.

Don't you all vet and register the members before they go in? Were the meetings held in secure enclosed places where outsiders or non-members are not allowed in except for the press and those with authorised passes?

If it was members who caused the ruckus, isn't it time they be given show-cause letters and made to answer to disciplinary board, and if proven and found guilty, be slapped with suspensions or sacked according to the gravity of the offence?

The party should clean up its membership of these people who are not interested in the party but are there for their own self interest. Otherwise, PKR will be no different from BN parties. The potential turncoats have the tendency to sell out the party for personal gains. Cut out any cancerous tissues before the whole body becomes infected.

Branson warns Malaysia over Sodomy II

DOC: Richard Branson has spoken - the sodomy II trial is affecting investments to Malaysia. Most investors want a clean judiciary in the country where they are planning to invest in. If they get into trouble with their investments, investors would want a just and impartial legal system in place that can protect their investments if legal proceedings are needed.

Sodomy II has proven that the Malaysian judiciary is a farce and only serves Umno.

Ferdtan: Richard Branson, your former employee and now business associate, Tony Fernandes, will not be calling you again. With your statements, he'd rather be caught dead than be seen with you.

CarL: Read carefully: Branson is not saying the trial per se is wrong. He is saying that we should be more liberal and accept such acts against the order of nature, and that will make "some" investors happier. Gee, I wonder if investors will ask for more than just cheaper land, water and tax-free status.

Multi Racial: Frankly, Branson, what you said is nothing new and it is something all Malaysians know. That's the big different between US and UK from Malaysia. In these two countries, the lawmakers can break ranks even they may be from the ruling party over a wrongdoing. In Malaysia, all they care about is their job and their positions.

Call Me Jibby: Who would invest in a country that doesn't give a fair, clean and transparent trial?

Jacob George: Branson, I am certain Umno will come out with bold statements about your Western decadence, loose morals and lack of spiritual insight. You'll be lucky if they don't burn your effigy or that of Virgin Airlines. You will be also accused of interfering in Malaysia's judicial independence.

Amos: But, in what other way can they get rid of Anwar Ibrahim and break up Pakatan Rakyat? Sodomy I was successful, so why not Sodomy II?

The above are a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only Malaysiakini subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .