The more the religious authorities are bent on regulating our lives in the name of Islam, the more defiant Muslims will become. Why should so many Muslims who have practised yoga and not felt their faith undermined be bound by an edict that addresses a problem that does not exist?

The way to deal with the grievances and injustices over the years which have resulted in open and ugly contestations is not to silence the debate but to sit together and find solutions.

Will major parties grappling with a changing political climate have the clear-mindedness to reform their parties or will they remain stuck in a context whose sell-by date has long expired?

We are 51 years old and we still do not know how to disagree rationally, civilly, and intelligently.

The promise of a new democracy and transformation after March 8 has turned into corrosive pessimism as our political leaders fail us, yet again.

It is ridiculous that the Government tells the world that its policies on equality and non-discrimination apply only to non-Muslims while Muslim women must continue to suffer discrimination.

Umno must decide which road to take for it to remainthe backbone of the Barisan Nasional. It cannot be allthings to all Malays.

This is the last chance for this government to get it rightor else the usual 10-year electoral cycle of 'rise and fall'in the performance of the ruling party will be broken. Itwill be the fall and fall.

Once Umno could put up a banana stump and it could win an election. Now the Opposition can put up a motley of bloggers, activists, petty traders and amateur videographers to stand for a seat and they can win.