vox populi big thumbnail ‘The oral sex allegation against the MCA deputy president is nothing new as it is based on the sex tape that almost cost Chua his political career a year ago. Why is this issue being brought up again?'

On Cops probe Soi Lek for alleged oral sex

Jing Yi Lim: There are a large number of Malaysians who love watching TV drama series, be they from Hong Kong, Taiwan or the US. The magic of TV dramas lie in their ability to influence the audience's minds.

The same goes to the political dramas occurring in our country at the moment. When we discovered there were three ‘frogs' causing a whole lot of trouble in Perak, we did not mince our words but reproved them straight off.

When V Sivakumar wielded his power to suspend Perak menteri besar Zambry and all his six state exco members, we praised him and applauded such action.

When Elizabeth Wong steadily said ‘I have done nothing wrong' to the people, we threw our support behind her while condemning those who made her private photos public.

So what now? The police are probing the allegation of MCA Deputy President Chua Soi Lek performing oral sex. This is indeed nothing new as the alleged oral sex was based on the sex tape that almost cost Chua his political career a year ago.

Why is this issue being brought up again? Who is involved in this event to blemish his image? What is the real motive? As more questions arise, does it sound like a well-planned conspiracy that we watch on TV?

Aren't all the aforementioned events similar to the dramas we watch? Our moods swing and our feelings change based on what politicians say and do. We get titillated when something we perceive as positive is done.

We get infuriated when something deemed detrimental to us is carried out. We always rally around those we favour while cursing those we abhor, just like what we do with the characters in those engrossing TV dramas.

People say life is a drama, I think so is politics. It is always some good guys, baddies, and victims, mixed with elements of sex and violence - they all are sufficient to make up a good drama.

But it is good to watch on TV and not so great when we have to live with it in real-life..

Ahmad Kamal: Why are police chasing Chua Soi Lek and not finding the culprits who made the tape?

Do we want Chua's explanation to this episode? Its ulang tayang and the public is not interested really.

We want answers to the Perak constitutional crisis, the Selangor water situation. Are we losing jobs, am I going to lose my meagre savings in the bank etc?

Will Najib not make it as PM? Will police arrest some politicians for wanting some Perakians done in for defending their civil liberties in the illegal BN takeover of the Perak government?

Will nasi lemak prices soar? Where is Bala? Wake up!

Lim Soon Hock

: I want to say that the above and all that's been happening lately including Elizabeth Wong's situation is a reflection on how sick our country is.

And at the core of the sickness is our police force and government. I am getting more disillusioned and disgusted by the day.

This beautiful country has been dragged down for too long now by gutter politics.

On 'A bad start off the blocks for MACC'

Richard Teo: When the BN government spent millions to send a spaceman to space using taxpayers' money why was there no outcry that it was corruption?

Now that the Pakatan Rakyat Selnagor government is spending a fraction of the money to buy 46 cows for distribution in Khalid Ibrahim's constituency during the Eid-Al-Adha Muslim festival in December, the MACC has deemed the act as corruption.

MACC should first investigate those responsible for using taxpayers' money to send a man to space before it investigates why money was spent to buy 46 cows for the Muslim religious festival.

MACC 's action can only be construed as acting on behalf of the government to cast aspersion on the Pakatan Rakyat menteri besar.

What was even more shocking was the MACC chief's statement on the Selangor MB. Why did he not give a statement when the IGP and the AG were being investigated?

The perception by the rakyat is that the MACC, at the behest of the government, is merely targeting Pakatan Rakyat's politician.

In Ipoh, the two state assemblypersons who subsequently hopped over to BN were also being investigated for corruption.

Is it a mere coincidence that BN politicians are not being investigated for any corrupt act while it seems that the Pakatan Rakyat politicians are the only ones indulging in corrupt acts?

As suggested by someone, the MACC chief should perhaps join a political party so that he can further vocalise his support for the BN government.

On S'gor water assets: Spanner in the works

CH Lee: With so many lopsided privatisation deals causing hardship to the rakyat , we would expect the people in power to do all they can to alleviate the people's misery by getting a fair deal for all.

On one hand, we have the Selangor government trying very hard to renegotiate the water deal so as to bring affordable water to the people but guess who is throwing a spanner into the works?

The federal government - with a higher offer! I for one cannot understand the federal government's position on this.

Shouldn't it be working with the state government to get a better deal for the people? With water tariffs set to rise 30 percent soon, why is the federal government trying to outbid the state government?

What benefit will this bring? Or rather, who will the higher bids benefit? Certainly not the rakyat, who will end up footing the bill at both ends.

Times are already bad enough so it is incomprehensible that the federal government goes out of its way to make life more difficult for the rakyat .

Is it any wonder Barisan is losing the people's trust?

On Water Project: Why kowtow to the Japanese?

John Choy: How fair is Jica? How transparent is Jica?

They insist our government awards according to their wish but fall short of advising our government on the Nishimatsu scandalous activities in Japan and in other countries?

Jica ignores Japan's high ethical demands but encourages our government to accept a contractor who's being investigated in Japan for criminal acts.

Should our government be bent on satisfying an unprofessional request ? Please do not sell our country to an unscrupulous money lender. Please maintain our national pride.

Sim See Ping: The Malaysian government must not change what it has decided. To subjugate our principle of trust to Jica's pressure does not only compromise our sovereignty but also reputation and integrity.

How is Jica going to assure us that the lowest non-compliant tenderer would not make use of other irregularities to raise its claims? Would Jica shoulder this extra cost when it happens?

Moreover, the Malaysian government should signal strongly to Jica that our country emphasises on integrity and high ethics that are at par with the Japanese government's.

Those who violate these principles abroad will not be spared and welcomed in this country.

As a proud nation, our government should hold fast to its commitments to the rakyat who puts it into power. Please do not allow hidden hands to manipulate and betray the country's dignity.

On Kugan's spirit 'lives on' in the House

Pooranimanalan: Hats off to the Kalabakan MP Abdul Ghapur Salleh for demanding an independent inquiry into the death of Kugan.

I am extremely happy that there are people who are truly sensitive to the problems of Malaysians regardless of their origin. Recent incidents shows that some of our brothers in the police force seem to be trigger-happy.

They want to close the cases as soon as possible by eliminating all the suspects and close the files without any regard to the justice system.

Apart from the Kugan's case, there were few more deaths in our police lock-ups and the recent incident involving the shooting of six men in Kulim.

I am not blaming the entire police force. We salute them for what they have done so far to safeguard our people and belongings. There is no question about that.

I am also not denying that the victims may have been involved in criminal activities. But do the police have the right to eliminate them without giving them a chance to defend themselves in a court of law?

Please put a stop to these kind of atrocities otherwise Malaysians will lose their respect for the police force.

On Seeing red over Vell Paari's latest role in MIC

Yuvan: Vell Paari says he has no ulterior motives and that he will serve to make the party better. Well, people in the MIC and the Indian Malaysian public should know better.

I suppose Samy Vellu could not find anyone better from the rank and files of MIC to do the job that he has entrusted to his son.

In the name of re-branding his party (MIC), Samy Vellu thinks that he can do anything and whatever he does will be accepted by his members and the Indians in general.

This has been his style all along. The truth is that, after the general elections last year, a large portion of Indian Malaysians have ‘re-branded' themselves and have moved away from the MIC and the rhetoric of its leaders.

The one and the only way MIC can redeem itself is to go back to its roots and totally commit to stand by its community without fear or favour.

The MIC needs new and young leaders with guts and determination to fight truthfully and to protect the rights of all Indian Malaysians (not just MIC members) even if it means they have to give up their government positions and privileges.

I doubt MIC has such leaders and I do not think that the party can ever ‘develop' leaders of such calibre in its present format.

Lawrence Arokisamy: MIC was formed to protect the rights, welfare and growth of Indians in Malaysia. For many decades, MIC was a strong party in the Barisan Nasional and looked after the socio-economic development of Indians.

However, this popularity ended in the general election of March 8, 2008. I think the MIC leaders have failed to train new leaders for the party.

A leader's decision is much important in satisfying all levels of people. Leaders should think and the act in the best interest of the party, community and nation.

Most of the successful countries in the world like the United States have made it a point to train new leaders. Unlike in Malaysia where most of the party chieftains fail to train new leaders.

Please, can anyone tell me who will be our next MIC president? This question needs to be answered in order to ascertain the direction of the Indian community. What is the direction of MIC in appointing Vell Paari?

This appointment is not going to solve the blunders made by the past leaders of the Indian community. In today's political situation, we need a leader who can transform the Indian community and lead it to unity.

Any appointment in the party needs to studied for its impact. Moreover, any selection process should be very transparent with no favouritism or nepotism involved. This is to maintain the image and sustainability of the party.

The MIC head has appointed his son as a committee chairman, a move which reflects favouritism and highlights the lack of leaders of calibre in MIC.

It has become a trend in Malaysian politics to appoint family members to party positions. I hope this will not continue. Finally, I seek a good decision from the MIC president so as not to destroy MIC's reputation.