Slash in road tax nothing to cheer about
Road tax of RM30 is being reduced to RM20 - a mere RM10, and if divided by 12 months it only come to less than RM1.
On Toll agreement: Secret document revealed
Lee:
With the increase in toll from Jan 1, there are areas with 60% increase in toll rate from RM1 to RM1.60. What benefit do the owners of vehicles below the 1,000cc get? Road tax of RM30 is being reduced to RM20 - a mere RM10, and if divided by 12 months it only come to less than RM1.The rakyat are protesting but I don't see any protest from our elected BN MP/DUN/ministers/MB/CM... in the media. Ordinary citizens, be prepared for the big battle...
Anon: I write to say a few words to our ministers. We voted for you to help us, not to make our life miserable. If the cost of everything is going up and up all the time, then all the ministers should step down and let us have our own money back. Rather than paying your salary, we can use that money to build roads.
Don't talk about subsidy as we are not beggars. I'm an Umno member but ever since Mahathir stepped down, I feel more and more reluctant to continue my membership with all the nonsense that our ministers are doing.
One thing for sure, it's a bye-bye for Barisan in the next election.
On MCA stages anti-toll hike protest
Peter: When I read the headline, 'MCA stages anti-toll hike protest', I almost fell off my chair. As the year has come to a close, I would consider this act as the joke of the year.
YSM: MCA as part of the BN are guilty of the people's plight. Why do they now protest when the then transport minister, the president of MCA, said nothing and did nothing as a cabinet minister when the concessions were written. MCA is now guilty of bringing the burden upon the people. The entire BN coalition has no more ideas except to tax the people and bring more hardship upon the rakyat.
On Americans' ordeal will not hurt tourism campaign
Peter Ooi: I am shocked to read such a statement coming from a minister. This type of 'tidak apa' attitude to any wrongdoings by the authority is going to cause us billions of ringgit. Even though only two out of 17.5 million tourists are affected, the consequence is immeasurable. The minister must be really ignorant of the damage the mass media can cause in this information technology age. News of the incident would have circulated worldwide within minutes after it had happened.
Already, most foreigners are bypassing Malaysia for Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong as holiday destination, this stupid statement by the minister would further worsen the situation. A responsible minister would call for a detail investigation of the matter and promise that actions would be taken against the culprits.
On American duo see red over 'black' raid
Ah Chong: Welcome to racist Malaysia. It should be Visit Malaysia 2007 only if you are white and have lots of money. From the top leadership to the civil servants, we have been trained to distinguish by skin colour and accord service by skin colour.
Not too long ago, our Royal Malaysian Police harassed some Indian computer programers who were staying in a condo. Today it's blacks or Afro Americans. It's very sad but this is the truth of our culture.
For 49 years even our political system is race-based. We cannot accord the same privileges to all Malaysians because of skin colour. We cannot see all Malaysians as Malaysians despite their cultural differences. We must begin with a government that is colour blind and seeks to govern and protect all Malaysians equally, irrespective of race or religion.
The role of this government is to protect the poor, the weak and the downtrodden (the minority) and to ensure that they are given a fair start and an opportunity to get out of the rut. It is truly sad that Malaysia after 50 years of independence still have race-based parties in government which spews out venomous racial slurs to some and sweet statements about racial harmony to the masses.
On Retirees get contracts, trainees miss buses
Yee: Malaysian business is based on the patronage system. There is no real value add. The patronage system has breed a generation of businessmen who has no office and many who carry pseudo-doctorate degrees. They meet in hotel lobbies to sign deals. They charge an arm and a leg for introductions and apart from that, they have no real value to the business deal. They represent the billions of ringgit leaked in every government deal and project. They are the cause of the shoddy work and service as seen in last week's transport service for NS students.
What is even more damaging is the loss of productivity and foreign investments. The inability to compete globally as the world do not play the games played in this little cocoon we call Malaysia. The government and the flashy businessmen who drives the Mercedes' E-class or Kompressor are fooling themselves if they think they are businessmen. They are nothing more then shady, fly-by-night conmen who rely on their government contacts. This patronage system will kill Malaysia as we are already seeing its effects.
On Contractor denies supplying slave labour
TC: I feel that the true basis of the issue has been overlooked. First, working under such conditions due to debt is an unacceptable solution. If a person has debts which he or she is unable to pay then that person is bankrupt and needs to declare as such. Second, beating, bullying or otherwise abusing employees for any reason or at any time is unacceptable. This offence needs to be punished by criminal law and arrests must take place.
Finally, children of school age must attend school. That too is the law, and if needed, prosecutions must be brought against the responsible adult, whether that is the parent or the employer. All those who have made use of this labour must examine their own souls for the part they have played in this abuse of humanity.
On Johor not conducive for investment
Kaisim: Investors will not put in the money where they don`t feel safe. Johor will not progress as long as people judged us as a high risk state. Not only Singapore investors are looking away from Johor but our own people are moving to China and Vietnam.
Investors are shrewd people and they are well-informed. They judge our speech and action, especially the politicians, because these are future leaders who will run the states and country. Unless Umno wants to do business only in the country, fiery speeches and racial issues need to be toned down. No investors want to invest millions in a place where there is no political stability.
On Dr M: Saddam's execution barbaric
Bob BS: I fully support ex-PM Mahathir's statement. It indeed barbaric! All hangings are barbaric. But why didn't Mahathir stop the barbaric hangings in Malaysia where he once had almost dictatorial powers? This is another case of the pot calling the kettle black.
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