Here's a potpourri of comments from readers relating to a number of burning issues - Dr Mahathir Mohamad's salvo in cyberspace, the fuel price hike, custodial deaths, demolition of a century-old temple, Asean's impotence on Burma, and many more ...

On Mahathir attacks government in cyberspace

RD: Mahathir is resorting to the same tactics that enabled him to rise across the Umno ranks - whip up Malay sentiments by referring to the threat of colonialists, non-Malay Malaysians and foreigners.

Now he has the audacity to say that the primary purpose of the bridge is to facilitate the movement of large sea-faring vessels and to improve the quality of the Johor Straits.

Any enhancement of relationship between the peoples of the two countries would just be a by-product. Do we need such an expensive bridge for the purpose he has mentioned?

I just hope that he has the guts to say that he wants the scenic bridge project for his own vested interests (wealth and image). Malaysians are already paying a huge price for his many follies. We do not need to add another bridge to it.

Another Malaysian Chinese: I have only two question: 1.When and how did Mathias Chang become qualified to act as Chinese Affairs advisor to the previous prime minister?

And (2) What has he achieved for the community and country that would justify him being paid out of our tax money?

I only wish that I can sent this e-mail to Matthias as well. (Sigh).

Lee: Cyberspace war is starting. Mr Prime Minister, will you be so kind as to table a bill in Parliament for the abolishment of the OSA so that you can watch and see more.

And then initiate concrete action.

On Apologise for 'go to hell' outburst, Adnan told

Joe Public: Most people would tend to agree with Guan Eng that the least Adnan should do is to apologise for his outburst.

He is already well-known for his previous obscene sign language, and now this 'Go to hell!' outburst.

If he is unable to control his temper, the most honourable thing for him to do is to resign. If not, Pak Lah should do something before the coming elections.

We have had to contend with rude and obnoxious MPs and now a rude chief minister. It is time, for some action to be taken.

On Thorns await first woman VC

Sadirah K: Here was a respected institution. We could have kept this institution respected if we had maintained meritocracy as the yardstick. All who qualify could have been proud of this institution.

There are so many other universities within which the politicians could have experimented with their social engineering targets. Instead, even this university has had its fall from grace. As respected Prof Syed Husein Ali has expressed, we bring race into everything and corrupt standards all round.

You can continue to have Khidmat Negara programmes but these in themselves will not change the attitude of people so long as those in power continue to use race as their yardstick. Where are the moral and ethical leaders from all the races of Malaysia? Even in the academic field, race become the yardstick. Such an emphasis at root is also very un-Islamic.

One hopes that the new minister of higher education who has had the privilege of studying at Melbourne University would bring in changes and once again lift this university to the status it deserves.

On Anti-fuel hike protestors leaflet shoppers

Ismail: The new oil price will hinder any improvement in public transport.

In his last speech on the oil price rise, I don't think the PM will honour what he promised. It will take another election for public transport to improve.

On Custodial death suit: Doc says he saw no bruises

Pro Bono Publico: P Uthayakumar is right, the witness is lying. It is quite obvious that having told one untruth and got himself into a tangle, the witness is concocting more lies to extricate himself.

People don't die of bronchopneumonia just like that, before one could say Jack Robinson!

It begs the imagination that a previously healthy man in robust health, should fall fatally ill with bronchopneumonia of a sudden. WHO needs to be alerted if indeed that were truly the case.

On Century-old Hindu temple in KL torn down

Concerned Malaysian: Last month, it was the Hindu temple in Jalan Davis.

Hardly 30 days have gone by, now another temple is torn to the grounds without taking into account the sentiments of the faithful who were there praying at that time. Where is the empathy of the government?

On Asean fails to find Burma strategy

Dr Andrew Aeria: The foreign ministers of Asean enjoy cocktails and caviar while the people of Burma endure terror and torture.

The foreign ministers of Asean keep talking about the lack of democracy and human rights while the people of Burma keep dying for lack of democracy and human rights. And these Asean foreign ministers expect us to take them seriously?

The only thing serious about these Asean foreign ministers is that they are a bunch of high-class frauds skilled in the black arts of diplomatic doublespeak. In the meantime, unethical Asean businesses make a killing in Burma, literally ...

On Human rights, Suhakam ... say what?

Lee: It is not a surprise that teachers and students do not know of the practice of human rights. I think Malaysians as a whole do not know much about it. And what about the Malaysian Constitution?

I think 75 percent or more of the population do not know how many times the Constitution has been amended. It is time that the education minister look into all the Acts and the Malaysian Constitution be highlighted and taught in secondary school onward.