We are all still waiting for the Umno Youth deputy chief's apology for his racial remarks. There is a saying, 'People in glass houses should not throw stones...'

On Racial remarks: No sorry from Khairy

Ah Chong: At least, Lee Kuan Yew issued an apology though it was qualified. What about the Umno Youth deputy chief's racist remark last month which caused such a stir among BN component parties? I do not recall any apology.

If race is such a sensitive issue in Malaysia, why did he make such a flippant remark about the Chinese community?

LKY's letter had an appendix. This was conveniently left out in the Star, which only published his letter. The appendix listed out one after another; occasions where Mahathir and other leaders had made similar racial remarks about Singapore Malays. Why Malaysian leaders can make these remarks and not Singapore's?

We are all still waiting for the Umno Youth deputy chief's apology for his racial remarks. There is a saying, 'People in glass houses should not throw stones...'.

Confused Malaysian: It is indeed funny for our PM to say these words: "Irrespective of whatever reasons he (Lee Kuan Yew) has said, such a statement can incite the feelings of the races. We have to ensure such a statement should not be made again."

I really wonder if he remembers when his son-in-law spoke of the Chinese and his very own party members up north baying for the blood of Penang's CM? I would think the statements made by these very people would have incited the feelings of the "other" races more visibly.

Or is he only sensitive to statements that can incite feelings of 'his race'? I really wonder. Or is this a case of 'Gajah depan mata tak nampak tapi kuman di seberang nampak'?

Sangkancil: Hard to say 'I am sorry'? Don't be. Say it if you think you're wrong. Don't if you think you're right. It's that simple. Or you can follow seasoned politician Lee Kuan Yew, who said it with qualification, which is not sincere. The choice is yours but the people will remember this episode for life.

MC: I think in his reply to the Malaysian PM, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was too kind when he said Singapore understands the reality of 'Malaysian politics'. I think a more appropriate description is 'Malay politics'.

Anwar and all Malay politicians in Malaysia should reflect on whether their (as usual, immediate counter-)claim that Malays have been marginalised in Singapore makes any sense or logic: If Malays have been so pitifully marginalised, why is it that they haven't flooded across just the short strip, the Causeway, over the many years to settle in Malaysia, long known to be paradise, a land of milk and honey for the Malays, and which has stood ready with open arms to welcome them?

If they had done so, Malaysia wouldn't have to depend as much on Indonesian and Filipino Muslims to enter by the backdoor to increase the ballot votes in favour of Umno.

MO8: Consider the recent incident regarding Ong Tee Keat on the alleged misappropriation of the special funds for repairs of a Chinese school. Without checking the truth, Ong was criticised and later reprimanded. The higher education minister had to apologise on behalf of his ministry!

Now, the latest investigation revealed that what Ong had said about the misuse of the funds is true after all. Will the education minister apologise for his outburst? Will the DPM apologise to Ong through the higher education minister?

We would see many red faces, if, yes, if they do apologise. But I don't think they will ever do, thick-skinned as they are!

On NEP will destroy the Malays

Dr Azman Ismail: To some Malays in rural Malaysia, the New Economic Policy is something as incomprehensible as the argument whether Pluto is a planet or just a heavenly body.

Two years ago, some villagers in Kuala Ketil, Kedah, were taken ill after drinking water from a well, which was the main source of fresh water in their village. Kuala Ketil by the way has been under the present BN coalition ever since the first general election in Malaya (when the coalition was then called Perikatan).

Instead of apologising for the lack of basic modern-day service like tap water after so many years of Merdeka, the elected Umno 'wakil rakyat' called on the people to change their attitude (whatever that means).

And if one goes to villages deep in rural Kedah, one can meet Malay villagers going around their daily chores. They start work as early as 6am in the 'bukit'.And what's their work? Cutting bamboos in the jungle then hauling them over three or four miles of thorns, branches and roots to be sold to traders outside.

How much do they get a day? Anything from RM4 to RM7. Of course, some stronger folks could earn more - the princely sum of RM15 per day!

The story is no different closer to the capital, Alor Star. Right behind Tun M's house in Titi Gajah, there's a river. Across the river there is a kampong called Kg Seberang Titi Gajah. Here, school children paddle to school in sampans. When it rains heavily and the river current is strong, they have to stay at home or risk drowning.

There are villagers here whose income depend entirely on the river. These people are in trouble now as the catch from Sungai Titi Gajah has been dwindling greatly over the years. A kilogram of haruan a day is now the norm. But at least they are better off than the Kuala Ketil folks; they have tap water and electricity. To them, the NEP has arrived!