VOXPOP 'It should be a celebration of the nation's independence, not an opportunity to brag about what the ruling regime has achieved.'

Rais: Nothing wrong with BN slogan for Merdeka Day

Caripasal: There are Malaysians who disagree with the BN election slogan that they had delivered their promises.

The theme of Merdeka Day ought to be something that is accepted by all Malaysians without any dispute. Using a controversial theme will stop Malaysians from celebrating National Day, thus defeating the spirit of this supposedly 'grand' event.

Lim Chong Leong: Information Minister Rais Yatim, it is not okay for Umno to use Merdeka Day for its own campaign.

Just like the Inland Revenue Department is not Umno's personal bank account or the police its own security guard. And the Prime Minister's Office is not PM Najib Razak's private secretary.

Syam: The problem is you are spending millions of rakyat's money to promote BN's manifesto.

Please tell us which ministry is paying for the ‘Jelajah Janji Ditepati', the live broadcasts, the carnival and the whole Merdeka Day celebrations.

Please disclose the total cost, so that we can collect the amount from BN, plus interest, later

By the way, the ministry's staff are not meant for BN's personal use. They are civil servants, paid to service the rakyat, not to promote BN.

Ferdtan: In Umno's eyes, what they do are never wrong - it is always the rakyat who are at fault. It is not wrong to propagandise the BN party per se, that is their business.

What is morally wrong, and at the same time unjustifiable, is to use the taxpayers' money for their private purpose. That is called an abuse of power.

They have no clue about the distinction between a government function and a party matter. And we are supposed to call them ‘Yang Berhormat'?

Tholu: Merdeka celebrations are for all citizens, irrespective of their political leanings and ideologies. Rais' assertion that there is nothing wrong in using BN's slogan is equivalent to claiming that the National Day celebration is a celebration for only BN.

How more abusive can the BN government get? Going by his argument, I would like to ask Rais if it is okay for the Pakatan-ruled states to have their political flags as their state flags. Can they have their political theme songs as their state anthems?

1Malaysia2Agama: What a stupid statement from a minister. What BN did is wrong and if Pakatan does it, it is still wrong. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Not Confused: Rais Yatim opens his mouth again and makes no sense. Merdeka Day is for every Malaysian, not just the lemming-like Umno sycophants.

It should be a celebration of the independence of Malaysia from the British colonial power, not an opportunity to brag about what the ruling regime has achieved (or has it?).

Once again BN is trying to use a national celebration as an attempt to divide the nation rather than bring it together, both government and opposition. They just don't get it, do they?

Sarajun Hoda: Rais has just confirmed the ministers and civil service do not know the difference between Umno, BN and the government. They think they are all the same.

Since he has admitted the Merdeka theme is a political slogan, Pakatan should take the government to court for misusing government machinery and public money to campaign for Umno.

This is criminal breach of trust. Otherwise, why don't government departments fly Umno flags at all government buildings and schools as well?

Fairnessforall: Let's all boycott the Merdeka celebrations by the federal government this year.

Maybe, Pakatan should have its own Merdeka celebrations in Selangor and we should all go there instead. By boycotting the Merdeka celebrations, we will show Najib we mean business.

Odin: Rais, there is nothing wrong with the BN using its slogan for this Aug 31 and Sept 16 celebrations, for the simple reason that BN owns Malaysia. But the slogan is wrong. It should read ‘Promises delivered emptily'.

Cabinet committee to monitor S'gor water situation

Anonymous #19098644: The federal constitution is clear that water, land and religion are state matters. The federal government has no jurisdiction over the matter of Selangor's water situation.

It was because BN had embarked on a privatisation programme to benefit the Umno cronies that we have water concessionaire Syabas which has failed miserably in meeting their contractual obligations to reduce treated water loss to 20 percent.

Instead, that has increased to 32 percent. This so-called water shortage when the state's dams are overflowing is due to the Umno crony company's incompetence.

Scebacpm: DPM Muhyiddin Yassin, Green Technology, Energy, Water Minister Peter Chin and their cabinet can bugger off; who needs you all to monitor Selangor's problem when you can't even look after yourself.

Onyourtoes: Why is everything being controlled by the PM or DPM?

Peter Chin, are you not the person in charge of water at the federal level? So why can't you chair the cabinet committee and if the DPM is still interested, he can participate as a member of the committee.

In any case, we don't expect you or the DPM to monitor anything or to solve any problem. You both have to create the problem, first.

Kanasai: Why form a committee with no representatives from the Selangor government who are the owners of the situation?

Buddyoo: What's the real motive behind the rush to build this new plant?

Yes, by all means monitor and report the truth - which I doubt the cabinet will do because you have the habit of lying and spinning, only to be exposed again and again.

Anonymous #40538199: Just when they think they can hold the Selangor people to ransom over water, it has started to rain. The writing is not just on the wall for BN, but also in the sky.

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 .