vox populi small thumbnail 'There is no equal opportunity in the military, only prejudicial treatment of the ‘others' in the army.'

BN MPs: Defence minister shot himself in foot

Yobama: The reason for non-Malays not joining the army is simple economics, stupid. Most people want higher-paying jobs. As a 'prebet' in the military, how much can one make?

Of course, more people want to be officers, be they in military or police. Officers are well-paid, and hold promises of promotional prospects. Upon retirement as generals, they stand a good chance of being made directors of companies.

Malays who apply to be recruits in the military hold very low academic qualifications. They have limited choices of employment. So many of them chose the army or police. I am sure, given better qualifications, they too would shun the military or police.

Only a handful of them join these uniformed professions purely for the 'love of the country', per se.

Onemalaysian: Let the BN government prove its sincerity by first appointing Chinese and Indian chief police officers, state education directors, secretary-generals of ministries, directors-generals of various departments, and let there be Jusa C (special grade) positions across the board based on merits, not race.

Call me Jibby: This is as if Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's children or the princes and princesses of the royalty join the army. I hope the children of royalties, tuns, tan sris, datuks, etc, could emulate the British princes in serving in the armed forces of Great Britain.

Anonymous: In the early 1970s, I was trained in Dusun Tua camp for three months and sent home to work with the anti-malaria section of the Ministry of Health. I applied for a job as a constable in the police force.

Even with the training I had, I was not selected. Why? I was unable to get the real reason from the selection board. All I got was I was ‘not qualified'. Now tell me why I lost hope.

Don't you think that I should have been selected after undergoing a tough training course at the centre in Ulu Langat. Don't tell me that I am not loyal to this country.

Jazz Singer: There is no equal opportunity in the military, only prejudicial treatment of the ‘others' in the army.

Promotions are virtually minimal, and if given, are so far in between. Moreover, they are based on skin colour and not merit, and if ever given, it's because there is no one else at all or the one-in-a-thousand unit commander is not racist.

Most of the Malays who join the military nowadays are not really patriotic per se, but rather there is no other opportunity elsewhere.

Mangodurian: "SK Devamany (BN-Cameron Highland) stressed that the (Defence) Ministry should give MIC a chance to bring in 1,000 Indians in the recruitment drive. "

You've got to love them for turning this into a political opportunity instead of actually addressing the Indians' (and non-Malays') root causes for shunning government careers. This is not about MIC enticing some poor caste members to sacrifice themselves in the army.

Anonymous2: I have a friend who joined the police force as an inspector and only after more than 20 years was he promoted to ASP (assistant superintendent of police). And he told me not to join if I have other choices.

Zaid hits the road to brief supporters

Sensibility: Zaid Ibrahim, after you left BN for PKR, I have been your supporter and I admire your guts in leaving BN based on principles. It looks like you now will leave PKR for your principles. I salute you and I will not blame you if you were to do this as your next course of action.

It is sad that Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Azmin Ali and others do not realise that they are losing public support. People have lost confidence in Anwar's leadership.

Azizah should go play her role as housewife and leave the presidency of PKR to an able person to lead. Azizah, you are just a puppet in PKR, and you have in fact contributed zero to PKR. Indeed, you are the stumbling block to PKR and Pakatan Rakyat. Look at how Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Lim Guan Eng lead DAP.

I hope Zaid joins DAP, where his contribution would be appreciated.

Terus: Sorry Zaid, I used to have the highest respect for you, but over the past several days, you have turned out to be a sore loser. You were fully aware when you joined PKR after Umno that PKR was centred around Anwar. Most voters and supporters do.

Your contention is, therefore, irrelevant and borders on personal gain. Just do the right thing and leave to form your own party. You will gain back peoples' respect this way.

Suspended BN rep cries outside House

Petestop: Umno dah biasa dan pandai buli orang, sampai pukul-pukul, orang macam ADUN Sekinchan pun kena. Bila kena balik, menangis pulak.

Disgusted: Now get a taste of your own medicine. That's what is being said and done in BN-ruled states and the Parliament.

Jaguh: The Kelantan speaker should also recommend suspending Nozula Mat Diah's salary... he will definitely be crying for a long while.

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