Given that squatter houses are leveled to the ground and 'illegal' extensions to low-cost homes are destroyed by our local council enforcement officers, there's no reason why Zakaria's mansion remain standing today.

On Police reports lodged over Zakaria's mansion fracas

Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahman: If squatter houses are known to have been leveled to the ground and if "illegal" extensions to low-cost homes are known to have been destroyed by overzealous, duty-carrying local council enforcement officers, I cannot find one reason why Zakaria's mansion should not be demolished!

Dhammika: The mansion must go and that is definitely in compliance with law of the country. When a simple humble citizen make an illegal extension to his or her house, the government will pull down.

As long as the mansion stay, the poor residents must assemble to protest. I wonder whether the mentri besar has any vested interest in Zakaria. It is good to look beyond Zakaria's case to check for abuses of councillors at large. Have they earnestly and truthfully declare their asset to the government.

Sarah: I am extremely disappointed that the local council does not uphold the laws of the country. A councillor of a local council should show example as a leader to uphold the laws. The government should not allow this corrupt action of a leader to go free. He must be sacked and face the judgment that is due to him. Only then we can say that our government is a just and righteous one.

This is what the PM wants - a clean local government where those in high position would act accordingly. Councillors are appointed to serve the people in the local council and not to enrich themselves.

Sanjeev Balakrishnan: Just wondering... if HRH Sultan of Selangor did not step in, would any action been taken at all against Zakaria Md Deros. And with all due respect to HRH Sultan of Selangor, why didn't Khir Toyo do anything?

Seeai: Everyone who is involved in one way and another of not carrying out their duties are guilty. So are all officials who failed to do their work. It is not just Zakaria.

KPN: Going by what was reported regarding the comments by Selangor MB, it appears to me there was someone who actually thought there had been no wrongdoing till the Sultan pointed it out. Perhaps one prerequisite for our elected reps is to show they have passed their civic class in school.

On PM: Mahathir's children had bigger contracts

Malaysian: ABB as PM should not use the above excuse to justify his son or son-in-law from receiving patronage from the government. If Tun is wrong, it does not make AAB right if he abuses his position as PM to grant favours to his son and son-in-law.

AAB should act on what he preaches transparency, clean and non-corrupted practice, open tender for government projects. AAB should be aware that as PM he stands far more scrutiny than any ordinary Malaysians. He should not only be clean but also seen to be clean. With his son and son-in-law receiving benefits from the government, it does not speak well for him.

On Explosive feud damaging PM and Mahathir: analysts

Right Citizen: I believe in what Mahathir is doing by raising all the issues. He should be allowed to continue as this is in line with democratic principles of freedom of speech. Why the sudden outcry of fear of the damage this is causing? If we are so afraid of the damage then as responsible voters we should have prevented all the "wrongdoings" by voting appropriately.

Suria Kenchana: Yes, I partly agree with Tun Mahathir that Pak Lah is too meek and have a lack of mental capacity to handle substantive national agenda. Perhaps being nice, patient and clean per se does not necessarily make one a good leader.

Having said this, I must say that I disagree that Pak Lah is as bad or useless as Tun has made him out to be. Indeed, Pak Lah had made his own mark as our leader which we should appreciate, especially after 22 years of abuse by the two Tuns who operated hands-in-gloves in ransacking the economy.

Some of the wild allegations leveled by Tun Mahathir against Pak Lah are nothing more than fragments of Tun's mind as he sees his past shadows transformed into apparitions that disturb his conscience and injure his ego. The smartest of them all is the silent Tun, who is now a multi-billionaire and living in recluse.

Wee Kiong Ang: In any squabble, both sides will get injured - it is a matter of the extent of damage suffered. Maznah Mohamad, a senior research fellow with the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore said, "Amidst Mahathir's slew of allegations, people will pick and choose and agree with him." I doubt it very much after so much counter charges. If Maznah were to know better, Mahathir is simply throwing charges against himself because Mahathir is precisely what he said of Pak Lah.

Anonymous: I believe there is a culture and climate of change happening in Malaysia. As a profound and new age leader, Tun M has set for all Malaysians an example to follow. The ability to think, critique and act without fear and favour is hallmark of an independent leader. While Tun M was the PM, he too does not want others to criticize him. I think it is natural. But once out of his office, his mindset has change. We should all emulate his openness to face the new world order.

On Child deportees' death: Not our fault

Animah Ferrar: The findings of the official investigation are disgraceful. If an accident victim dies shortly after admission to hospital, do we say that the hospital was responsible, rather than the person who caused the accident?

Although the health of small children can deteriorate quite rapidly, I think it takes quite a bit longer than the duration of a boat-ride to a nearby country. Malnutrition, in particular, results from long-term deprivation of adequate food and drink, and must have been due to poor conditions in the Malaysian detention camp.

This is not the first time that the conditions and running of detention camps has been called into question, and it is high time that an honest assessment is made and necessary improvements made. In the immediate term, the medical assessment of intended deportees should consist of more than simply asking the deportees if they and their children are "OK".

Deportees are human beings, too, and they have a right to decent basic amenities, and also to dignity.

HL Too: How stupid does Sabah Federal Task Force director Masri Barham think we are? According to him, Timah who was deported on Sept 29 died the same day of severe malnutrition. Severe malnutrition? In one day? Aw, come on, Mr Masri, do you really have such a low opinion of the intelligence of the public.

The mother, Nurhani, died the next day. Again, one of the causes of her death was "severe malnutrition". Can the doctor who signed the death certificate, please tell us how can a person suffer from severe malnutrition in one day or even two?