It is a foregone conclusion that even if such index is introduced, the plundering of national wealth will still go on under a different pretext or disguise., claims a reader.

On New system to tackle financial abuses

Venze C: Oh yes, we are coming back a full circle, again and again. Not very long ago, malpractice in public spending had been discovered and the government quickly promised to set up committees to investigate. The committees could not produce any results partly because some of the members themselves were not that transparent. As a result, sub-committees were formed to involve more sub-sub-committees. The final outcome? Yet more rounds of deafening silence.

Now, the government wants to bring in an 'accountability index' in 2008. Can the citizens be so naive as to believe that this is not another new round of hoaxes? It is a foregone conclusion that even if such index is introduced, the plundering of national wealth will still go on under a different pretext or disguise. This is really a sick nation, right down to the very core.

On Auditor-General's report: ACA to probe allegations

Chandran Sukumaran: This is nothing new. We have heard this slogan year after year. The government of the day has been in power for too long and is intoxicated with power and corruption as you can see from the attitude of the ministers and members of Parliament. There is no point complaining as the PM can only initiate a probe of the misdeed whenever it surface- but it stops there.

I believe he, too, knows that nothing can been done as the perpetrators of corruption are the very same people who help deliver the votes to the party. Therefore, the only solution to stop the rot lies with the rakyat. Elect a new government. Period. Until such a time the country's wealth will be plundered. On top of that, the rakyat will be further burdened by way of tax and price increases.

On MP to query RM1b contract to Taib's son

Peter Ooi: A contract of such magnitude won by Taib's son is no longer surprising to us. In fact, his is only one of the many that is given to siblings, sons and daughters or in-laws of ministers .

This is the only country in the world where a ministership will train one and his or her relatives to be super-good businessmen. Just look at most of the children of ministers and deputies. Most of them are super rich doing business. They were mostly trained by their parent ministers.

This is the very reason why I admire the capabilities of our ministers. With their training as ministers, they are highly sought after, too, when they retire. Lim Liong Sik was made chairman of Transmile. Samy Vellu's son is Maika CEO. Pak Lah's son is a substantial shareholder in Scomi.

Even the US president or the PM of Great Britain is not in this class. Clinton has to ply his trade lecturing in universities. Tony Blair did not even dare to venture into business. He is just an envoy of the UN, no more no less. A bouquet of flowers to our ministers and deputies.

On Forum: Budget not for everyone

SM Mohamed Idris: The government should not go ahead with the proposed Employees Provident Fund (EPF) monthly housing withdrawal scheme as it is likely to reduce members' savings and is open to abuse.

Presently, EPF already allows members to make lump sum withdrawals to part-finance their homes, build houses or to reduce their mortgages though Account 2. As such here is no need to have monthly EPF housing withdrawals.

The proposed monthly withdrawal scheme will encourage members to withdraw as much as possible to finance more expensive homes. This will result in very little or no savings left in Account 2. Furthermore, paying the monthly withdrawals into members' personal accounts makes it prone to abuse.

For example, a member who has no problem paying his housing loan may decide that the monthly withdrawals would be just perfect to help him finance his new car. We must never forget that EPF savings are meant members old age It has often been said that most workers do not have enough savings to live on after retirement.

It is disappointing that instead of taking steps to increase the retirement savings, government is doing the opposite. The EPF monthly housing withdrawal scheme should be scrapped.

On Mega city project robs common green

Pensioner: The PM last month launched the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) and that was the first time many of us came to know about the project. But to some privileged few, the choice jobs and contracts had already been given out to them without bids or tender.

One such person is an Egyptian architect, by the name of Hani Rashid, who told the press that he has been working on the design of the buildings for the past one year and his colleagues have even been involved in the project since four years ago.

So for ordinary folks like you and I, we will get to see the finished product when it's ready - and don't forget to pay our taxes along the way.

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