VOXPOP 'I hope the Malays listen to the professor and rise to seek what's rightfully theirs and not get cheated by their own kind.'

Life after UIA: Politics a possibility for Aziz Bari

vox populi small thumbnail Ksn: Professor Abdul Aziz Bari, it is people like yourself, your outlook, intellect, etc, whom we very badly need in Malaysian politics to reverse the direction Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno has taken the country to.

We are not far away from that point. So go for it, sir. Call it national service.

Time2vote: You have the right calibre to enter politics. Being a constitutional expert, you will do our parliamentary democracy many great deeds where we see often times it has been interpreted to the majority's advantage.

Choose any of the Pakatan Rakyat component party, you will get my vote if ever you stand in my constituency.

Antibody: As I see it, those leaders from Umno-BN are largely self-centred, greedy and un-Islamic. Prof Aziz appears to be a selfless, civic-minded, truly the follower of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and has gained high esteem amongst the intelligent and thinking population.

As for his future, I suggest "do what you know best".

Loyal Malaysian: The bottom line is, there's no such thing as a free lunch, isn't it, prof?

But you have earned the respect and admiration of many a thinking member of the rakyat for venturing out of your ivory tower and for forsaking your security of tenure to speak to us on what is right and proper.

I can but wish you well, and pray that you be amply rewarded by higher powers than earthly ones.

Anonymous: What a loss to the academic arena in an era where students are not only allowed to think but have been ostracised for thinking. There seem to be no hope for this nation.

It saddens me to observe that if the Malays think differently from Umno's vision they are branded as traitors to their race and religion.

Only independent and rational-thinking Malays can lead us out of the doldrum of racial politics. Already 80 percent of the wealth rightfully belonging to all the Malays are controlled by 20 percent of Malays (all Umno-connected).

I hope the Malays listen to the learned prof and rise to seek what's rightfully theirs and not get cheated by their own kind.

Don't forget, it's only 1,300-odd Umno delegates who choose the head of Umno, thus the prime minister does not represent all the Malays.

Milosevic: It is sad to see Malaysia decay under the BN regime. The behaviour of the universities (which don't even pretend to be real universities anymore) is what one would expect in Zimbabwe or Burma.

Those corrupt and authoritarian regimes were quite prepared to dismantle their universities to hollowness to prevent any serious, intelligent response from society to the rot and humiliation.

It is ironic Aziz was called up for his ‘Zimbabwe analogy' when in fact the latest show-cause letter confirms Aziz's initial fears about a Zimbabwe process taking root.

It was sad to walk around Rangoon University a couple of years back and see how dead this once vibrant campus had become.

In decay situations - as in Malaysia's feudal capitalism- the priorities of corruption and thuggery will trump the raising of social intelligence and the striving for honesty and professionalism.

Hermit: Prof, you're the rare breed of intellect who burns yourself like a candle providing light to all Malaysians to see their hidden rights as enshrined in the supreme constitution. Wishing you the very best in your next station in life.

Guy Fawkes to hit Dataran for NYE countdown

Dood: V, in the movie, is a do-gooder pro-democracy freedom fighter. In the graphic novel, he is a mad anarchist. Make sure you know which icon you are idolising.

PS: The choice of using the Guy Fawkes mask should be seen as an act of reappropriating ‘V', an icon of popular culture, not as a celebration of Guy Fawkes, the person. V, the main character in ‘V for Vendetta', wears a Guy Fawkes mask.

In the comic book and in the movie, ‘V' was a revolutionary character that stood up against his totalitarian and authoritarian government. The mask can be seen as a symbol of resistance and rebellion.

Wearing the mask on New Year's Eve at Dataran Merdeka should be seen as a collective act to protest. A collective act of resistance. Resistance against the Peaceful Assembly Bill and other unjust/repressive laws enacted by this government.

As an act of solidarity with all those who are not afraid to stand up and speak out against injustice and tyranny.

The main message behind the mask is that "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."

Docs: So will the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) arrest people for wearing masks on New Year's Eve?

Jimmy Ng: So confusing! To wear or not to wear? To avoid controversy, perhaps it is enough to just wear something yellow when we go there come Dec 31? How about those who are outside of Kuala Lumpur? Maybe this should go nationwide, no?

Quigonbond: I'll be there.

 

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying 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 .