Hampir 90 peratus daripada lebih satu juta kakitangan awam adalah orang Melayu yang layak mengundi serta perlu ditambat sokongan mereka. Tatkala Umno mengalami kemerosotan undi yang sangat ketara pada pilihanraya umum 1999, ramai pemerhati politik meramalkan Umno akan berkubur pada pilihanraya yang seterusnya. Majoriti pengundi-pengundi Melayu dilihat sudah beralih arah dan mula memihak kepada Parti … Read more
A Malay boy – in his middle or late childhood years – was captured on video attempting to stomp on the gory cow head during the protest against a Hindu temple by Muslims in Shah Alam. The boy displayed a simultaneous attraction and repulsion to the act, and viewers were left with an indelible image … Read more
It is established theory in political sociology that potential ‘class conflict’ is endemic to democratically elected governments. Applying theories of imperialism and colonialism, I have shown in my Oxford doctoral thesis that in the case of Malaysia, the manipulation of British colonial policies of indirect rule, and divide and rule resulted in ‘intra-class conflict’ … Read more
In my article, Visiting the Malay ‘Rights’ (the Bahasa Malaysia version can be read here), I had commented on article 153 of the Federal Constitution. I stated that under its provisions, the Malays in fact do not possess any special ‘rights’. There is only the special ‘position’ of the Malays and the natives of … Read more
Kini deman Akademi Fantasia kembali. Selepas lapan tahun Akademi Fantasia bertapak, rancangan realiti TV itu masih mendapat sambutan daripada penonton televisyen terutama sekali dari kalangan remaja dan luar bandar. Sekiranya dilihat aura musim yang lalu, penonton dan penggemar Akademi Fantasia secara majoriti memilih Mohd Hafiz Mohd Suip. Demam kempen kemenangan Hafiz amat berbeza permainannya dengan … Read more
This article is a response to ‘I wish to remain a Malay’, a translation carried by CPI on March 2. I am always been proud to be a Malaysian, but unlike Kadir Jasin I don’t need to apologise for this. However, like Pak Kadir, I too am embarrassed when some Malaysians showed their tidakapathy … Read more
MCA is an ineffective political force in part because it has long played only a marginal role in the previous Malaysia Plans — implemented by the Umno-aligned, Malay dominated civil service — that have shaped socio-economic development in the country. The Malaysian public, especially the Chinese, must be wondering if MCA can ever get its … Read more
Bersempena Hari Wanita Sedunia kelmarin, kesaksamaan gender menjadi jeritan pejuang-pejuang hak asasi manusia yang mahukan hak kaum hawa diberi ruang yang lebih dalam apa jua bidang yang menyumbang dalam pembangunan negara. Feminisme sudah tentu mempunyai pendekatan tersendiri dalam merangka rencana, menangani masalah mahupun menggubal undang-undang. Feminisme merupakan produk sampingan pasca-modernisme. Pasca-modernisme itu sendiri telah mendualiti … Read more
The dinner talk by the people’s Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin at Ipoh Swimming Club on Saturday, March 6, has encouraged me to write this article. Last year I wrote a piece after Speaker V. Sivakumar was physically removed from his chair in the Perak state assembly. In my column, ‘We urge the Perak Sultan … Read more
Two years ago on March 8, 2008, Malaysians wrote history by weakening Umno/Barisan Nasional’s electoral one-party state. For the first time since Independence, the ruling coalition lost its two-third parliamentary majority and a total of five states were ruled by the opposition parties. As a result, Malaysians have benefited tremendously from the vibrant competition between … Read more