The speeches by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Ong Ka Ting at the MCA annual general assembly were 'tooooo' good to be true. And the 'rakyat' have lost confidence, a reader proclaims.

On Pak Lah: I don't practice favouritism

Dhammika: The speeches by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Ong Ka Ting at the MCA annual general assembly were 'tooooo' good to be true. History is repeating. The 'rakyat' - especially the Chinese - have lost confidence in the leadership as we are more politically awakened and enlightened. Near an election, you can only fool the people once, not every time.

The Chinese masses have been suffering silently not out of cowardice but due to the oppressive laws which prevent them from expressing themselves through peaceful demonstrations. The Chinese have received racial and religious verbal abuse yet they cannot respond because of these laws.

Corruption has escalated at every level. I urge ABB and OKT to get feedback in the right perspectives. I also hope that through the coming election, the 'rakyat' will use their wisdom and purify their minds with a new mandate. A true 'performance appraisal' by the people must be accepted when in defeat.

On 'Negarakuku' - what's the big deal?

YSM: The AG should prosecute Namewee. Fine him and is family lots of money. This way, the government can then see the extent of support he will get from the Chinese community. I am sure there will be many who will be more than happy to send money to pay for his fine. Deep down, are not the issues he rapped about the ones Chinese face?

On Revoke Treasury's 'racist' circular, PM told

Meng: I thought the PM in his speech to the MCA leaders said that he has always tried to be fair and will always be fair to Malaysians. Circulars like these are not fair and have never been fair. I thought the PM said he is the prime minister for all Malaysians.

Circulars like these are not for all Malaysians. Chinese contractors and entrepreneurs who do less than RM30 million jobs might as well close down if they want to rely on local Malaysian business unless they wait for a bumiputera company which subcontracts out these projects.

On Jitters over PKFZ extends to IDR

Mat Bulog: It seems odd that Malaysia would continue with the archaic practice of protective duties on imports such that a 'free trade zone' is necessary to develop trade. The money spent to operate a customs duties-gathering organisation with its attendant opportunities for graft are immense.

Why does Malaysia insist on maintaining a schedule of import duties? Of course, to protect someone's industry. Whose? Follow the money for a good answer. No one in their right mind would continue with such an old world approach to collecting revenue unless there was some really big advantage for those behind these measures.

GST would resolve all that. It's that simple. And boondoggles like PKFZ and many of the other hare-brained schemes of the government of the privileged, by the privileged and for the privileged would not be necessary.

On Bumis to lose most in plantation mega-merger

Orwell M: 'Shareholders' logic on the merger of the plantation companies verges on the ludicrous - his only gripe being that there will only be one bumiputra CEO instead of three as the the other two will presumably be sent off to pasture. Loss of bumiputera CEO's? Is that all that's relevant?

I think the clue lies in the last snipe that CIMB's Nasir Abdul Razak is going to be richer by RM3 billion in this deal (that's doubtful to me). But isn't this young man also a bumiputra? So it must be okay then.

Ever heard of the impending sub-prime liquidity crunch? When it hits the financial markets again, bumiputera or no bumiputera, we are all sunk (or a least back to 1997).

Kuala Lumpur: Can the writer of this letter please advise how he/she arrived at Nazir Razak making RM3 billion? If so, I'd say, sell your stocks in the plantations and buy CIMB and profit!

Please be logical when you make a statement. I'm not a supporter of Nazir Razak, but RM3 billion is a bit of exaggerated.

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