CPI note: The Perak Academy is a non-profit body which organizes projects and activities involving intellectual discourse, research, writing, fine arts and performing arts. It organizes the popular ‘Perak Lectures??? series with speakers of national and international standing invited to speak on a variety of topics aimed at stimulating and disseminating intellectual discussion. Below we … Read more
(Translation from Malay by CPI) Sorry to say, but I am proud to be Malay. Although sometimes I’m embarrassed by the attitude, behaviour and achievement levels of the Malay and even more so when Malays are linked with corruption and laziness, nonetheless I’m still proud to be a Malay in Malaysia. I’m sure a Chinese … Read more
(Terjemahaan daripada bahasa Inggeris oleh CPI) Banyak komen daripada pembaca telah diterima sejak mulanya artikel “Ethnic dominance in the civil service??? disiarkan. Kebanyakan daripada komen tersebut menyokong dan bersetuju perlunya pembaharuan dilakukan terhadap kedominanan lampau bangsa Melayu dalam perkhidmatan awam hari ini. Terdapat juga respons yang menentang dengan hujah bahawa kedominanan Melayu dalam perkhidmatan … Read more
During the last few days we have had two clear examples of how tyrannical and vicious the Malaysian bureaucracy can be, and how unyielding it is to any reform measures or initiatives. This Mr Hyde side of the Malaysian bureaucracy is not the usual dark side that the Malaysian public is familiar with – … Read more
Malaysia was formed as a federated state where power is shared between three levels of administration, i.e. Federal, State and local governments. Under this arrangement, the state governments have control over management of religion, land, natural resources and water. However, in reality, state governments in the country are practically left with very little fiscal … Read more
Dalam ceramah-ceramah kempen pilihanraya anjuran Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP), antara hujah yang sering dikemukakan untuk menggesa pengundi bukan Melayu supaya tidak mengundi Barisan Nasional (BN) ialah apa yang disifatkan mereka sebagai dasar Islamisasi kerajaan BN yang keterlaluan. Maka, dicanangkanlah kata-kata seperti ‘semua undi pada MCA adalah undi pada Umno dan tanda sokongan terhadap dasar Islamisasi … Read more
Salah satu daripada Bidang Keberhasilan Utama Negara (NKRA)[i] di bawah Program Transformasi Kerajaan (GTP)[ii] yang diumumkan baru-baru ini adalah NKRA “Mempertingkatkan taraf kehidupan isirumah berpendapatan rendah???. Dengan aspirasi “tiada rakyat Malaysia yang ketinggalan???[iii] Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat yang dipertanggungjawabkan menerajui NKRA tersebut berkata: “Taraf kehidupan rakyat Malaysia bertambah baik … Read more
I have been meaning to write about the abundance of hypocrisy in the caning of the three women for their alleged voluntary confession of illicit sex. However, the universe connived to prevent me from doing so in a timely manner. However, a learned friend of mine, Shaikh Saleem, has written an excellent article about … Read more
Many have asked as to why I wrote, ‘Isu Sebatan – Islam atau Politik’ in Bahasa Malaysia [“BM???] rather than English. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, there are many other more capable writers who can express the same issues (and who have done so) in English. Secondly (and more importantly), writing in … Read more
Since the article “Ethnic dominance in the civil service??? first came out, there have been a slew of comments from readers. Most of these comments have been favorable and concur on the need to reform the present situation of Malay over-dominance in the civil service. There have also been dissenting responses arguing that Malay … Read more