THE Dewan Negara, or Senate, has long been perceived as a “rubber stamp” of the Dewan Rakyat or Lower House in Malaysia. In a Westminster parliamentary democracy, the Senate is meant to provide checks and balances on the Lower House. Indeed, healthy democracies thrive because of checks and balances. That the Dewan Negara in Malaysia [...]

“People are angry when a member of public is shot but the same can’t be said when police are shot. They have no sympathy at all. Is there a difference between the life of the public and police [officers]?” HOME Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, asking the public to be fair to the police following [...]

(Pic by NTLam @ Flickr) THE allegation in late 2009 of a sex offender operating a kindergarten is just one of a growing number of reported cases of child abuse, molestation and rape. Police statistics indicate a rise from 2,236 reported cases in 2005 to 5,744 in 2008, an increase of more than 2.5 times [...]

KES Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno yang disabit bersalah kerana meminum arak telah menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi di kalangan umat Islam di Malaysia. Merujuk kepada artikel-artikel terbitan akhbar arus perdana khususnya, ramai yang menyokong hukuman maksima yang diputuskan oleh Mahkamah Syariah Pahang terhadap Kartika iaitu denda sebanyak RM5,000 dan enam kali sebatan. Walaubagaimanapun, terdapat juga pihak-pihak lain [...]

“It is a verbal oath. Under the oath, a candidate promises not to sell out the party or hop to another party. If the candidate does it, he will have to divorce his wife.” SHAH Alam PAS Member of Parliament (MP) Khalid Samad, explaining a loyalty oath imposed on PAS legislators. Under the oath, PAS’s [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Oct 2009: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who was shocked and upset over the death of a toddler who was potentially abused, has proposed maximum sentences be meted out to offenders. Urging the police to speed up investigations into child abuse causes, she said the Welfare [...]