The article ‘Lynas: Umno will collapse in the next general election’ by Moaz Nair in Malaysia Chronicle (Feb 5, 2012) caught my attention. Of significance is the last paragraph: It was also reported that the CEO of Lynas said, “The company had approvals to build its refinery in Australia and rejected that option because it … Read more
I was in Singapore the last few days for work. Have not been to Singapore for over 20 years. The driver of the taxi that drove me from the airport to my hotel was Malay. On the ride to the hotel he pointed out that all the land along the coast that was now fully … Read more
The family and friends of P. Kathir Oli, who was shot dead by a plainclothes policeman on 15 Sept 2011 outside an Ipoh pub, held a protest last Friday outside the Perak police headquarters to condemn the Chief Police Officer’s biased statement on the shooting and demand an explanation and apology from him. Prominent representatives … Read more
PAS and DAP’s decision to ‘agree to disagree’ on hudud must be taken for what it really is: a politically-motivated temporary ceasefire. It does not resolve the hudud controversy. The controversy can never be resolved as long as the fundamental questions of the hudud debate continue to be avoided. The questions are: 1. What … Read more
There appears to be a Malay-Islamic Inquisition in Malaysia. It does not involve burnings at the stake. It comes as ostracism at school, the workplace and in the community for failing to comply with rigid parameters. Not wearing a headscarf is frowned upon. Transgenders are institutional pariahs. Religious arrogance and zealotry are norms. Muslim leaders … Read more
Extracts from Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Enquiry: Decision on the second term of reference: [119] Having considered all the evidence in its entirety, we found that TBH was driven to commit suicide by the aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous interrogation to which he was subjected by certain officers of the MACC who were … Read more
Recently The Star tendered a public apology for its ‘mistake’ of publishing a photograph of a pork dish in an advertorial pullout on Ramadan delights. The photo and accompanying feature article were deemed offensive to Muslims during the fasting month. It is different in Indonesia where the country’s press freedom has in many ways contributed … Read more
I was ‘honoured’ to be welcomed back at the Kuching airport on Monday (Aug 8) by five police officers. Immediately after I crossed the immigration counter at 6.15pm, one of them who introduced herself as ASP Angela ak Ladie, approached me and she and her colleagues then ushered me into a room. Another introduced himself … Read more
Some 17 years ago, I was absolutely delighted when the state government announced that Dana Johor, a trust fund newly set up, was to be opened up to all citizens regardless of race. Before this it had set up Amanah Saham Johor that was for Bumiputera only. My Malay friend was equally excited. We immediately … Read more
In 1974, Malaysia and China established diplomatic ties. There is a famous picture of the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdul Razak Hussein, shaking hands with Chairman Mao Zedong, the Communist revolutionary and strategist who established the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Chairman Mao and the Communist Party of China are widely known to … Read more