YOURSAY 'They think that their aspirations are also the nation's aspirations. Just how wrong can they get?'

Malaysia's Patriot Games

your say Swipenter: Patriotism to Umno means only being patriotic and loyal to Umno and not the country. Even when they talk of nationalism, they mean Umno Malay nationalism.

Just look how they demonise the non-Malays; harass and brand those Malays as traitors to their own race just because of differences in political and ideological views from them.

See how they intimidate and hound dissidents and opposition politicians with the whole government machinery.

See how they interrogated political aide Teoh Beng Hock to death as a witness (not even a suspect) to an alleged act of corruption involving RM2,500 but turned a blind eye to allegations of corruption in the sum of tens and hundreds of millions of ringgit by Umnoputras and their cronies.

Umno elites believe that they can do no wrong and even if they are wrong, others cannot be right. They make themselves so exclusive that they have lost touch with the aspirations of the country. They think that their aspirations are also the nation's aspirations. Just how wrong can they get?

Onyourtoes: We got to be kidding to even ponder for a moment that Umno was serious in combating corruption and all the National Key Results Area (NKRA) stuff tossed about are genuine attempts to transform this country.

Rarely is a sitting regime capable of reform once the rot has set in and Umno is no exception. A dying renegade regime will do whatever to reinforce and sustain power. So there is nothing new if stifling, cowing and brutalities are resorted to.

If there is Bersih 4.0, do you think the people will be as brave, given the wide disclosure of police brutality? I think this is the message the regime wants to convey.

It is not a very logical step, but what choice do they have now? I think no amount of compromise and yielding by this regime is going to change anything. They know it, the people know it too.

Tekee: Writer S Thayaparan does not have to say it but we know it as a historical canard (a deliberately misleading fabrication) that Umno was the most patriotic of all. How does such patriotic spirit readily descend into the deepest pit of corruption?

Doc: If we look at the gloomy world news today, for example the economic crisis in the United States, civil war in Syria, currency meltdown in the European Union, national bankruptcy in Greece, famine in Africa, China's economy faltering; the foreign news agencies can always turn to Malaysia and Umno to provide the world with comic relief.

Headhunter: There's little doubt about it, our country is run by a class of clowns. They really knock themselves silly by their own stupidity.

They refuse to see or hear the rakyat because they are blinded by greed and power. They think they are invincible even when defeat is staring them in the face.

On the setting-up of a fund for PKR strateguc director Rafizi Ramli and former bank officer Johari Mohamad, I agree that the party should let the public contribute. Any shortfall can be contributed by the state.

This will show public anger at what they think of the BN treatment of their own cronies and those who fight for justice.

Marge: "Yes, we could argue that the Selangor state's decision to use public funds to defend Rafizi is not something unusual and there are precedents for this type of actions, but what I would argue is that we are supposed to be changing the way how the game is played."

I agree with Commander Thayaparan. Yes, indeed, do we want another Umno-style action? Please do not use state funds, which are taxpayers' money, for an individual's legal case.

I, and I'm sure many others, will gladly contribute to a fund set up for the purpose of helping out Rafizi's legal case. Just sound the bell!

Chiew Eng Ng: Yes, we Malaysians should be talking about good values and good governance in our politicians' conduct in improving the socio-economics of the people, free of their manipulative use of race and religion to divide and rule for their cronies or personal benefits.

Abasir: If anyone is naive enough to believe that this regime is serious about combating corruption, think... and think again.

Seriously combating corruption would take the crusaders into the heart of the corrupting beast, Umno Baru - a creation of that master manipulator and the source of nearly all our ills.

Seriously combating the scourge would have meant dealing with the Ampang LRT/Prasarana/George Kent conspiracy ruthlessly.

And consider this: the director of that Pemandu outfit purportedly dedicated to combating corruption is said to be an MIC candidate - the same MIC that has been steadfastly collaborating with that master corrupter, Umno Baru, in return for 30 pieces of silver.

Bootsie: The attorney-general (AG) has been accused of corruption, selective prosecution and conspiracy to defraud on many occasions, yet he remains untouched as it seems no law has been broken here although a plethora of evidence has surfaced against this dishonourable character.

On the other hand, Rafizi, the darling of anti-corruption in the country, is dragged and taken to court just because he raised some issues of alleged corruption amongst leaders. What a grave injustice!

Keturunan Malaysia: What is the difference between men and monkeys? Monkeys don't turn into men when they rob and kill.

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