Between a deputy prime minister and a hawker, the social chasm is wide indeed. Yet, both suffered the same brutal force at the hands of the very people whom we look to for protection.

On Hawker: Police broke my leg during rally

Doh Mee Yuen: I had heard about it before but had never seen it. Till September 1998 when the then newly-sacked deputy prime minister was produced in court to be charged for corruption of power and sodomy. There, in the full glory of it for all the world to see, was the black left-eye sustained during police detention - a testament of police brutality.

Close to a decade later, a hawker has one knee mercilessly crushed by the riot police during a peaceful demonstration - another testament of police brutality.

Between a deputy prime minister and a hawker, the social chasm is wide indeed. Yet, both suffered the same brutal force at the hands of the very people whom we look to for protection. The question that has been begging to be asked all these years was: if a former DPM (even though disgraced by then) could suffer such a blow at the hands of the law enforcers, what is there to protect the common people from the same fate, if not worse?

Aleyasak's wife, Maryam, summarised it well, "You can't do this to people."

Grandpa: In Malaysia, rallying for a free and fair election under an independent Election Commission is a crime in the eyes of the Barisan Nasional government and the brutal Polis Raja DiMalaysia (PRDM). It is akin to a request for a fair referee in a football match. It is not politics. It is a right.

On More allegations of judicial graft emerge

Mohd Kamal Abdullah: With new evidences cropping up daily, it seems surprising that VK Lingam and Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim do not want to come forward and admit that these things did actually happen. They have no sense of responsibility and integrity, and prefer public funds be wasted.

They should be gentlemen and face up to these allegations and accept whatever consequences that come along. The government can then clean up the judiciary by re-opening old cases where injustice had been done.

On The nation being held hostage by one party

R Rama Chandran: Congratulations to Gerard Lourdesamy on his thesis of good governance. Some of us, as good citizens, write only on specific topics of good governance on current issues. Gerard has laboured and covered on all important aspects of the topic. I hope the powers-that-be heed this and other good advice that Malaysiakinians give regularly - all of which is done in total sincerity.

On Minister Chua refutes Rashid's claims

KSN: I read with disgust and disbelief the statement by Dr Chua Soi Lek, vice-president of MCA, that there will be a repeat of May 13 if the Chinese voted for DAP instead of MCA.

It is frightening enough for the Chinese and non-Malays that Umno leaders never fail to remind the country about May 13 repeatedly so that the status quo will remain. Now we have the MCA, the so-called Chinese representative in the BN, threatening the Chinese a repeat of May 13 should they vote for DAP.

Perhaps Chua, who probably has inside and confidential information about things to come, care to explain to the Chinese why this should happen that way. Why should there be racial trouble if the Chinese vote for DAP? Is it not their constitutional right to vote for anyone they choose?

On Zam, what say you about the local media?

Rakesh Ram: I am quite surprised by the recent antics of our information minister. Apart from being silly at press conferences, he is also displaying a low IQ. All we can deduce is that he rose to the ranks of editor-in-chief in Utusan Malaysia through political backing.

It is doubtful that he has as journalistic quality; otherwise he won't behave the way he is behaving towards the press. He was a half-baked journalist and he is now a half-backed information minister. That's all we can conclude about him.

On Parole system next year

Vijay: I was very amused to read that the Prisons Act will be amended soon to allow the implementation of the parole system. It is obvious that the Prisons Department is unaware that this system has long been in practice in Malaysia, particularly by certain political parties.

In fact, Umno has put into place a highly-refined version, under which crooks, criminals and other sundry vermin are allowed not just to live outside the walls of jails where they rightfully belong but actually do not even have to enjoy enforced hospitality in the first place.

And this generous parole system is being executed for the benefit of bandits who seem to have unfettered and unshackled access to other people's payroll.