vox populi small thumbnail 'This is what happens when credibility is lost. Every utterance, every deed, every move is questioned and doubted.'

PM denies graft charges an election ploy

Anonymous: Would anyone expect PM Najib Razak to admit that the recent spate of graft arrests is an election ploy ( sandiwara )? Of course not!

These VIPs are only charged but not convicted yet. We all know that they will eventually be acquitted after the elections, like all the others. I bet Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and Dr Ling Liong Sik will flee the country should the general election results hint at BN losing.

Fido Dido: If it is not sandiwara, then PM must advise MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) to haul up Sarawak CM Abdul Taib Mahmud. MACC must go for more big fish to help tip the corruption scale.

MyGosh: "‘This has been carefully studied carefully by the MACC, which is an independent body... The attorney-general has also made his decision to (charge) so let the courts decide on the process,' said Najib."

Mr PM, we totally believe you - MACC has carefully studied all the wrongdoings of Khir Toyo that he was charged in such a manner that will only get him a maximum of two years' jail.

Mat Bond: We are glad to hear that, Mr PM, and we sincerely hope that these prosecutions will end up with convictions, and fair penalties and imprisonment imposed if found guilty, of course.

Unfortunately, we always have these strange feelings about high-profile cases.

Simon Lee: Najib said corruption has long been politicised by opposition. Let the rakyat remind you this, Najib - in the last ‘buy-election' in Sibu, did you not try to insult, buy, corrupt and bribe the people of Sibu with RM5 million for flood-mitigation projects in Rejang Park by openly declaring:

"I want to make a deal with you. Can we have an understanding or not? The understanding is quite simple. I help you, you help me. If Robert Lau becomes the MP on Sunday, on Monday I will ask the cheque to be prepared."

Isn't your act ‘haram'?

Wira: Why doesn't Najib conduct a poll in the streets and gauge the public opinion? All my friends think that the graft charges are ‘sandiwara' and an election ploy and no one thinks the former MB's corrupt wealth would be confiscated or would he spend significant time in jail for his avarice.

Such nonsense happened before, with Eric Chia and Kasitah Gaddam charged just before the 2004 general elections and both of them were later found not guilty and acquitted by the court.

The problem with corruption in this country is that it can never be solved by the MACC, the prosecutors nor the courts. They must be solved by the people through a general election by kicking out the incumbents in Putrajaya.

Alicescat: This is what happens when credibility is lost. Every utterance, every deed, every move is questioned and doubted.

Survey: PKR popularity going downhill

Anonymous: I am an ex-alumni of Universiti Malaya (in the 1970s) and I don't trust this survey. In many respects, the university has been on a downhill trajectory. It doesn't even make it to the top universities in Southeast Asia, let alone Asia. So take this survey with more than a pinch of salt.

Every institution in the country has lost its independence and integrity, and they will do anything for their political masters. The findings of this survey contradicts the British Economist Intelligence survey, which was released last week. The Economist survey shows that the BN will lose more seats in a snap election as the PKR is still making significant inroads.

Yeap Cheng Liang: Why only a survey on PKR? Why not survey the popularity of Umno? But then again, I am voting for PKR because of PAS and DAP.

Ghkok: I won't dispute the survey. But I noticed that "Only 11.6 percent relied on the Internet or alternative news alone."

I would very much like the survey to compare the responses of:

1) all those who relied on alternative news alone (eg, Malaysiakini ) against

2) all those who relied on mainstream news alone (eg, Utusan Malaysia, Star , etc).

Take note that the comparison is between ‘alternative news' and ‘mainstream news', and not between newspapers and Internet. This is because ‘mainstream news' are also available online (eg, Utusan Online ).

If that comparison is available, then we can tell whether the source of news helps determine people's opinion. My hunch is that the distorted news in the mainstream media is still influencing many people.

Anonymous: Democracy is about conflict. Without conflict within a party to find the best and brightest, we are left with a bunch of people who simply do as they are told by those that keep the real power of the party to themselves.

Look at BN. Everyone simply waits for instructions from the top and we are lead by a bunch of yes men and rent-seekers. I think that the PKR internal conflict shows how real the party is and that it has people who are willing to fight for what is right.

As to those who jumped ship with the intent on building a third force, shame on you. You should have stayed to help move the party forward and not become a hindrance to real change in the country. I trust this third force will be treated with the contempt it deserves and will end up being part of BN anyway.

John Ho: Why not call for a general election tomorrow and the whole country can give an unbiased survey result on who is most popular?

Namewee meets Nazri over film funding

Swipenter: Why don't Namewee try to get funding from the public? He can set up an account and see whether it works. Of course, every sen solicited has to be accounted for. I will be one of the many willing to donate to the fund to see that ‘Nasi Lemak 2.0' has a chance to become reality.

Ferdtan: It looks like Namewee is hoping to use Umno's pre-election goodwill to get his grant. His timing of request for the grant even beats the best of any politician. In the past, such grants were never readily available to non-bumiputera; and that includes the non-Umno connected bumiputera filmmakers.

Namewee always decries discrimination and the lack of support from the government, especially to the minority race. Why is he 'begging'?

Many non-Malays have become successful on their own right, without support from the government - and they are proud of it. Namewee makes a lot noise and yet still runs to 'daddy' for cash. Where is your pride?

Kee Thuan Chye: My question is, why is Namewee playing into BN's hands? Why is he giving BN the chance to garner votes by giving him the funding he seeks?

Not a smart move, is it? For a few thousand bucks? Something's not quite right, eh?

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