YOURSAY | ‘There's a big difference here and it is clear to all, except Umno leaders.’

Minister lays Hindu-beef analogy over turtle egg saga

Kingfisher: Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob seems quite a peculiar man to get all worked in his denial that he was not partaking in eating turtle eggs, which are banned in Sabah, while obvious evidence shows that they were a significant part of the menu.

For an individual, and a federal minister at that and one who has been pontificating openly in a multiracial society that he is no racist but only openly protecting and promoting the rights of his own racial group, Ismail Sabri has to accept the moral position that many people who are keen to protect turtles can judge for themselves as to whether, in the circumstances as evidence by the photographs, he is telling the truth or otherwise.

He has a right to live by his own definition of truth as per his own convictions, but one would have expected a federal minister to have requested that no such eggs be served at his table.

Opah: Ismail Sabri’s attempt to excuse himself just shows how ignorant and arrogant he is. Beef is not illegal in Malaysia.

Collecting, selling and eating turtle eggs are illegal. There's a massive difference here and it is clear to all, except Umno leaders, who are above the law.

Tholu: Whatever the issue regarding the turtle eggs, I like to point out to beef eaters in Malaysia that Ismail Sabri had impliedly admitted that the Hindus are more respectful and tolerant than the adherents of all other religions as they express no qualms about others being insensitive and disrespectful toward the non-beef eating Hindus.

Roar For Truth: Ismail Sabri should shut his mouth and let Malaysians assume he is intelligent and not prove himself otherwise.

Why serve beef at Malay Muslim events if you know there are Hindu guests present? Do you serve pork if there are Muslim guests?

Mojo Jojo: This is a very poor analogy from Ismail Sabri.

Hindus don't eat beef due to religious prohibitions, but your religion doesn't forbid you from eating turtle eggs. So you can eat these eggs without fear of punishment by the Almighty God.

Also, if food on the table is not meant to be eaten, then what the heck is food there for? Deny all you want, but the photo says it all: you have banned turtle eggs on your plate.

Admit your guilt and beg the citizens for forgiveness.

Anonymous_40bb: Even if the minister did not eat the eggs, the message is very clear that the organisers of the dinner broke Sabah's own law and those in power are saying that they have the right to eat turtle eggs, regardless of what ordinary people think or say.

Worldly Wise: The Penal Code ought to be read as if it were amended. Speaking the truth is a criminal offence if the truth hurts BN leaders.

Anonymous_1371858267: The truth is that someone ate the turtle egg and left the shell on Ismail Sabri’s plate.

Eerie silence greets proposal to limit Penang CM's term

Lionheart: Penang DAP assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu's proposal is good in principle but the timing is wrong.

At this moment, we need party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to be the vanguard in taking down Putrajaya. We don't have many generals who command high respect and loyalty from the rakyat.

This proposition will be most aptly raised when Pakatan Harapan is enthroned in Putrajaya. To sum up, we can't change horse at midstream.

Teh, a question for you - why are you so impatient to impose the two-term condition when there is a big elephant presiding over Putrajaya?

To persist with your good proposal at this time is cutting down the tree before it bears any fruit.

The Analyser: Teh is a man who understands what is going on in Penang. The assembly speaker is behaving exactly like his equally authoritarian Umno counterpart.

Once again, we see the depth of intelligence of the Malaysian politicians in that they cannot make a decision without making comparisons.

Whatever happened to common sense and the sense of right and wrong and proper balance? Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be proud of the performance of the Penang government.

Myop101: I think it is a good proposal but it should be applied uniformly on all menteri besar, chief ministers as well as the prime minister. Penang and Selangor should take the lead on this matter.

Anonymous_1424794168: A true leader is one who doesn't need to hold on to power indefinitely. His strength is in building other leaders.

The two-term proposal is good as it gives other leaders a chance to step up and to ensure the incumbent doesn't go power-crazy.

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