However, while a certain amount of distrust and wariness is proper when dealing with political speech, it is also true that in certain instances rhetoric and formal policy commitments can matter quite a lot.

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It certainly would be unlikely to work fast enough to allow the government to bring forward a proper bill in next May's Queen's Speech.

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Likewise, an actual open dialogue on the contents of these bills and the proper way to go about stopping online piracy while protecting freedom of speech would be a truly welcome development.

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For a shy and reticent politician who's rarely heard in the parliament and has never given a proper media interview, Mr Gandhi delivered an unusually candid and heartfelt speech to mark his anointment as the number two in the party.

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In his closing speech, he railed again against foreigners, chided Mr Zahid for not using proper party channels to voice his complaints, and defended passionately the pro-bumiputra policy.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia