It's interesting that the list included the transport minister who has preached road safety to Malaysians, says a reader.

On 18 more ministers among elite speedsters

Malaysian Voter: Your report of "elite speedsters" including cabinet ministers - it's interesting that it included the transport minister who has preached road safety - with unpaid fines of traffic offences is an inescapable fact that they did not put to practice what they had publicly preached. Certain ministers who lamented about our high accident rates are also implicated in the speeding offences.

It is indeed an "eye-opener" which reflects our quality of political leadership and the double standard where top leaders are exempted from the deadline imposed by the traffic police in the payment of fines. No wonder, the saying that Malaysians are taking comedians seriously and politicians as a joke.

It is a known fact from their former drivers that they normally flicked their cars' head-lamps lights as they approached an "anti-speeding operation" indicating their VIP status to avoid being summoned. Or the drivers switched on their emergency lights as they sped beyond the authorised speed limits, after all, the cars carried "special passengers". It is indeed a great disappointment but kudos to our traffic police for their integrity and transparency.

Meng: I do not understand why ministers get a discount for their speeding fines. If anything, the ministers should be fined twice the amount because they should set an example on obeying the law. I really deplore this type of preferential treatment and find it disgusting that this government asks us to change our lifestyle, to be thrifty, to eat less sugar, to use less energy, to pay our traffic summonses, etc. Yet our own BN leaders have more traffic summonses then two hands put together, and they have no warrant of arrests? This is selective persecution.

David Yee: Please continue to highlight this issue until they pay up, and in particular Samy Vellu. In Australia, the ministers will have to probably resign.

On Gov't reins in AiFM 'live' radio show

Dhammasiri: The minister of information should re-visit the Barisan Nasional's General Election 2004 manifesto which clearly states on page 6: "Barisan Nasional is strongly committed to parliamentary democracy, which gives each citizen a say in the administration of this nation." Or has the Information Ministry interpreted that as "misinformation"?

Again, on page 7, it states: "Holding public forums to get public feedback on important social issues such as preventing rape and reducing road accidents". In fact, clearly printed on page 3, the manifesto also pledges: "BN cares about your needs and will seek your views on important

issues."

Zam should learn that public opinion is the second conscience of the nation. Or has the minister been getting too much information that he has lost his common sense? Time will judge your policy decision, at the next ballot box. We will remember.

The Sound & The Fury: Pak Lah simply couldn't handle the truth. All his sound bites and moral posturing are for the birds. I hope the next general election will spell the end of MCA.

Axegrinder: SUPP suffered in the last Sarawak state election for not effectively conveying the grievances of the people it vows to represent. Now I like to see what lesson MCA will be taught in the next election for not only being a powerless member in the supposedly power-sharing government, asking for deputy ministerial positions in the cabinet like beggars but delivering no benefits to the people.

This (the crackdown on AiFM) is in fact actively silencing the messengers and sabotaging the channels where the people can be heard. Unfortunately for MCA, its voters base is perhaps more similar to that of SUPP than the other BN components.

On Sabah leader blasts Nazri over immigrant remark

Kim Quek: Congrats to Tham Nyip Shen for his righteous blast at Nazri for the latter's dishonest and callous dismissal of the illegal immigrant plague in Sabah. Coming from a leader of a component party other than Umno in the Barisan Nasional, Tham's courageous and unequivocal criticism of an Umno minister is truly unprecedented. Let's hope there will be more leaders from whatever component parties in BN including Umno to stand up for justice and fair play with similar courage and righteousness.

As for the long-standing illegal immigrant menace, it is high time that all original inhabitants of Sabah stand up for their inalienable rights to their sovereignty this time. Make this an uncompromising issue in the coming election - withhold electoral support unless the federal government takes effective measures to uncover 'Project Mahathir' and purge the illegal elements from the electoral roll and from the citizenship registry.

Anonymous: I read with great interest the subject that has now become a hot topic of discussion to Sabahans in particular, and to Malaysians in general.

I have lived in Sabah (Kota Kinabalu) for the greater part of my life as a corporate person helping with the development of the state "below the wind". Now I am sort of semi-retired but my love for Sabah is never ending since I have two grandchildren of Sabah origin. Being so and as a Malaysian, I naturally do care about such issues as illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, some West Malaysians are oblivious to local sensitivities either because of sheer ignorant or short-sightedness. The fact that there is such a thing as 'Project M' and I read that all the "Pak Angguks" could not even do a damn thing about it because of the domineering position of the then PM.

Why didn't my friend, Dr Chong Eng Leong, raised it when he was first elected to Parliament. Why are you all in Barisan Nasional keeping quiet after all those years? Why did you sweep the problem under the carpet until it become so intractable? We have ourselves to blame because we have elected a system of administration that is flawed, corrupted and non-transparent. We have to bear the consequences now since who is going to retrieve these identity cards that have been illegally issued through colluded deceit? All that we know is that these immigrants are no longer illegal and they are not only in Sabah but also all over Malaysia as it is easier for those with blue ICs to enter Semenanjung from Sabah because of the existing immigration rule.

So now, what can we do? We have to change the system, the overall system. 'Project M' is a system to cheat and secure power through the ballot boxes. Enough is enough and those sinners should be brought to task.

On Claims: Two more months for Gerbang Perdana

HJ Angus: The whole project appears to be run by a bunch of incompetents. Just look at the numerous changes in the prices of the road modifications - almost too many to detail. Now even the date to submit claims has been altered by a minister. I wonder, do they think at all before they make a public announcement?

Surely a project of this magnitude would have proper documentation on submission of claims and time-lines, but then of course we have to compensate for the Bolehland factor.

On Let 'em slug it out

Abdul Kader: The editorial is an interesting observation of the current tussle between the two men. In my view, a protracted tussle between them will not bring any benefit to the country. More skeletons will surface indicating the decadence of our political system. The country's political stability will be shaken and foreign direct investment will likely dry up. Is that what we want? I think the tussle must be contained quickly and decisively. Let past mistakes be and let us move forward with the correct policy, focusing on good governance.

The so-called "elegant silence" is not doing much to help Pak Lah. He should go for a knock-out punch with the help from Malaysians. Take the fight to the people and get Dr M to shut up. Long-staying ministers and politicians should be replaced. Contain the opposition to ensure that they cannot take advantage of the situation.

On M'sia to build 'RM490 mil' sports academy in UK

Joe Public: If acclimatisation is the main reason, there are many cheaper places where currencies can be exchanged to our advantage. Though the building is owned by the government, we should consider it an opportunity cost, or the cost of not renting it out for better returns. At a time when we are advised to change our lifestyle, this is hard to swallow.

Incidentally, my Australian friend told me that Australia started encouraging their students to play football some 17 years ago when his son was eight years old. Schools organised competitive football among the students in each school and the parents got so worked up that they quarreled over their performances in the field! It is no fluke that they did so well in the World Cup recently. Malaysia used to be better than them before.