SAMY'S INSULT TO TUN DR MAHATHIR

Shamsul Yunus | Marahku

MIC is Samy Vellu, the result of the recent party election is proof that the party is simply and extension of Samy's personality adn consciousness, it second guesses the president's thoughts better than his wife or family. In fact I do not think that any MIC member would dare to even flinch a muscle without getting Samy's blessing.

With that in mind and the lack of any effort to stop the slipper garland being put on Tun Dr Mahathir's picture, I think there is no escaping the conclusion that the whole episode was, if nor hatched by Samy himself, carried out with his full blessing.

I think Samy must reconsider his position as a politician, he has become so arrogant that he thinks his personal ego is more important than national unity. Along the same vein, MIC members must also reconsider their own personal aims and goals for joining the party. If their aim and goal is to enjoy Samy's table scraps then they should continue to be his lapdog.

However if their intention of joining the MIC is to advance the lot of the Indian community in the country then they must find themselves a leader that is more open, progressive and inclusive. they need to find a leader who does not think that the party is his personal territory.

If they want to continue to be Samy's lapdogs and if Samy's idea of respect is not telling him if he is doing something wrong, then I guess there really is no place for MIC within the inclusive and consultative environment of Barisan Nasional.

If Samy feels so insulted by Tun Dr Mahathir's timely reminder for him to relinquish his iron grip on MIC, then he should make a stand on whether he wants to stay within BN or not.

Because lets face it, although Umno is the one under most attack for corruption, it is MIC which has lost the most support from the community it purports to represent.

From where I am sitting MIC has become a burden to Barisan Nasional because Samy Vellu is perceived in such a negative light.

How negative?

I have one word to describe just how poorly the Indian community sees him... HINDRA.

MEMBUAT ONAR UNTUK TUTUP ONAR YANG LAIN

Zainal A Kasim | C-bOk

Suratan atau Kebetulan?

Di hari yang sama Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengadap Hakim di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, bekas MB Perak berarak untuk mengadakan persidangan UN yang tidak sah.

Seperti biasa, berlakulah kacau bilau dan tunjuk perasaan (tunjuk emosi/gila talak?) yang keterlaluan sehingga terangkat-angkat tangan (macam biasa nampaknya je sebelum ini).

Persoalannya, ini kebetulan atau sesuatu yang dirancang? Apabila berlaku onar di Ipoh, pastinya tertumpulah media dalam dan luar negara ke Ipoh. Maka kuranglah tumpuan kepada sebutan kes DSAI di Kuala Lumpur.

Bijak! Sungguh bijak!

LET'S HAVE THAT SINGLE SYSTEM

Aziz Hassan | Mana-mana

So we are 52 years old today and some are overjoyed despite a much subdued celebration confined to the august house of Parliament. But do we have enough reasons to look ahead with optimism, that somehow we will prevail and overcome?

1Malaysia is everywhere. While it provides business opportunities to a lot of people, especially those in advertising and other sections of the media, I cringe just thinking of the money spent so far to promote this slogan.

For me the racial unity and harmony that we have been trumpeting to the world for years seems artificial, barely skimming the surface. But below it lurks something that could force its way out to explode. I hope it doesn't happen but the environment we live in somehow doesn't give me good vibes.

This concept from Prime Minister Najib Razak must be applauded by all. It is full of good intentions but the problem with political sloganeering is that it usually ends the day the brains behind it is no longer in power.

There have been many slogans and taglines in the past. Each PM tries to promote at least one. Under the previous administration it was Islam Hadhari but now that the man who introduced it has retired, how often do you hear people talking about it or simply mentioning it? When was the last time the press wrote about it?

I am in no doubt that the way to go for us is for everyone to be courageous enough to admit our limitations as a people and then agree to have a single education/school system. That is where it all starts. I remember former PM Mahathir Mohamad once lamenting about the "failings" of our school system which he said had an Islamic instead of a secular (nationalistic) bias, thereby failing to attract many non-Malays who are mainly non-Muslims. The school uniforms too took on a design associated more with the Malay/Muslim Malaysian. But until today I have always wondered why as a PM Mahathir didn't seem to have used his power and influence to get the schools back on track as a truly national institution.

We need that single system. Without it I wouldn't feel too optimistic about us as a people who truly and honestly feel Malaysian whatever the circumstances.