BOTH the PR state governments in Selangor and Penang have passed Freedom of Information (FOI) laws while the BN-led federal government has yet to dismantle the Official Secrets Act. Find out what the different parties think about a citizen’s right to know before heading to the polls on 5 May 2013.

THE Pakatan Rakyat (PR) manifesto professes to improve Malaysians’ standard of living by raising household incomes and the minimum wage, and creating new jobs. But does it say enough about developing sustainably as a nation? What more needs to be included for the PR to truly be a viable and comprehensive alternative to the Barisan Nasional?

WHAT has the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor government achieved after two and a half years in power? If one relied on traditional media reports or Umno’s “Save Selangor” roadshow, the answer may well be, “Not very much”. But the reality is much more nuanced, as demonstrated in the book The Road to Reform: Pakatan Rakyat [...]

EVEN as the Selangor government is being lauded for introducing freedom of information (FOI) legislation in the state, much is lacking in the Pakatan Rakyat-led government’s enactment. Indeed, the Selangor government may be shortchanging citizens in the state with its version of FOI. There are two reasons why access to information is a vital right [...]

THE last general election birthed a situation that was not common before 2008: the Barisan Nasional (BN) functioning as an opposition. Although the BN has been the opposition in Kelantan for many years, it was a completely new experience for them in Selangor, Penang, Perak and Kedah. Indeed, the blanket term “opposition” previously used to [...]

THE following Member of Parliament (MP) has not replied to the six questions under MP Watch: Eye on Parliament as of Tuesday, 15 June 2010, the end of a two-week deadline. His response will be updated if and when he replies. Name: Rais Yatim; constituency: Jelebu [...]