YOU cannot blame the people of Hong Kong for being outraged over the deaths of eight of their fellow countrymen who were taken hostage while on a tour bus in Manila. To put it mildly, it was a major screw-up, and the Philippine police should certainly be ashamed of how they bungled up the rescue operation.

The hostage incident was watched by people across the globe because it was broadcast live by the major cable news networks.

IT’S just about 10 days now to National Day. By right, we should be in an upbeat and celebratory mood and yet Malaysians are gripped with emotional political issues that are threatening to tear us apart instead of bringing us together as a nation.

The country turns 53 on Aug 31. As a nation, we are not old but we are not so young either. We can have our differences, especially political allegiances and economic approaches, but we also share the same destiny and many aspirations as Malaysians.

More than ever, we should not let racists and religious bigots hijack our hopes. We must say no to self-serving politicians who beat the racial and religious drums and get their way at the expense of the moderates.

WHICHEVER way you look at it, the fact remains that the PAS-led Kelantan state government has introduced a new system of currency. The state government calls it an alternative but it certainly wants the people to use it.

The alternative for the ringgit notes and sen coins is now the gold and silver coins that the state government has called the dinar and dirham respectively.