vox populi big thumbnail 'By cancelling the NS scheme, government can save almost RM3 billion which would be sufficient to pay for both the Porr and the Penang monorail projects.'

On Penang fumes over scrapping of mega-projects

Derek Law: Whilst it is a good thing that the federal government has finally recognised the need to ‘walk the talk and cutback on non-essential projects, the cancellation of the Porr and the Penang monorail project is clearly an attempt to punish the voters of Penang although the PM has denied this.

The Porr and the monorail project are clearly projects that would bring tangible benefits to Penang by reducing traffic congestion, improving productivity and also reducing the oil subsidy burden of the federal government through the reduced traffic congestion.

The PM in launching the Second Penang Bridge said that something which goes like: ‘If we don’t build the bridge now, it would cost us much more later’.

By the same token, by deferring the Porr and the monorail project, it would definitely cost the government much more to build such projects in the future.

Instead, the PM should cancel the National Service programme as it is clearly a project that does not bring any tangible benefit to the people other than to the related vendors.

Since the NS programme was introduced, a total of RM2.3 billion has been spent with RM565 million being spent in 2007 alone.

It would be fair to assume that the same amount, if not more. will be spent every year.

By cancelling the NS programme, the federal government can save almost RM600 million per year.

Multiply that by five years - which is how long it would take to complete both the Porr and the Penang monorail projects - and we can save at least RM3 billion.

Factor in the additional interest savings and it would be sufficient to pay for both the Porr and the Penang monorail project

On Raja Petra could face the rap

Peter Ooi: As usual, any allegation of wrong doing by politicians or well-connected persons are met with denial and dismissed as ‘irresponsible’.

RPK’s allegation on Rosmah's involvement in Altantantunya's murder is no exception.Before looking into the matter seriously, the prime minister preempted any other opinion by stating that Rosman was not involved.

As some one had already questioned, how did Pak Lah know that? I strongly believe that Rosmah was not involved and the allegation was wild and farfetched, but the bone of contention here is Pak Lah, being a leader in the country should not give any opinion on the matter.

It reflects poorly of his leadership. As if that was not enough, now the full force of the government machinery is bearing down upon RPK.

Before even completing the investigation, the Federal CID director Bakri Zinin warned that action would be taken against RPK.

From his statement, it is apparent his opinion of RPK is not favourable. It appears that to him, RPK was out to create trouble.

If RPK is really found to be slanderous in his allegation, by all means charge him fairly. The investigation must be done fairly without fear and favour.

Where high-profile individuals are involved, it would be helpful if the police can get some foreign expertise from overseas, preferably from Britain or the US to help.

This will definitely instil confidence of the public in police fairness. The last thing the police should do is to issue threats and so forth. This will deter any future report on wrong doings by people in high places

Yih Feng Low: Accuse the DPM of being involved in a murder but the DPM doesn't get probed, but the accuser immediately gets arrested for sedition.

Now accuse the opposition leader of sodomy...

On Ka Ting out of presidential race

Kaisim: I am the second generation MCA member and I have witnessed the ups and downs of MCA on various occasion in the past fifty years. I think the decision of the president not to stand in the coming election makes good sense.

A community leader should practice this principle. That is, if you are not an effective leader, let someone else take over.

A political party which fights for one race only, will not make it easy to run Malaysia. Time and again, we see the components of BN quarrel over many issues. MCA is always in a dilemma because it has to please both sides - the Chinese community and Umno, especially the ultras.

The new leadership has to re-invent MCA in order to say relevant in this modern society. Malaysia is a democratic society so we must be allowed to play the game according to the constitution and the Rukun Negara. Not as puppets.

MCA should not been seen as weak in an affiliation. Come out if you must - stay independent but support any party that can go along with you for the common good of the country.

One day, the rakyat may have only two major parties in the parliament - Conservative and Democrat. Let the people choose for themselves.

On PM: Bumi equity only at 19.4%

Munn-zie: Was Pak Lah correctly briefed by his advisors when he announced that the 30% bumi equity target has not been achieved, and that it stands only at 19.4%?

What equity? Could that be the market value of securities less all debt incurred? In which case, the 19.4% figure is highly suspicious if not unduly shrunk.

Remember not long ago when a top economist challenged the government on its dubious statistics . He was swept aside unceremoniously, leading eventually to his resignation.

A good number of Malaysians nowadays refuse to believe any official government statistics for more often than not, the figures have been either tampered with or manipulated to the advantage of the regime.

The government had long been ignoring and sidelining people who truly understand numbers to get the job properly done.

Sadly, only the uninitiated but with apparently right backgrounds are the ones running the show.

On 'I'd rather fail trying than having failed to try'

Daryl Lane: It is all about what BN has not done ie. being fair to all races in Malaysia and improving the living standards of all. Instead, it brought hardship by raising petrol and electricity prices (just to name two).

This is why we voted for the opposition. Being a Penangnite (born here, educated here, worked here all my life and now retired and still staying here in Penang), I am proud to have the guts to have the opposition run Penang with the belief they could not be worse than Gerakan/BN running the state.

Personally, I do not believe DAP in Lim Guan Eng is doing badly. In fact he is an example for others to follow, especially BN (MCA included).