IT is likely that this is the first general election since Malaya’s independence, otherwise known as GE13, that overseas Malaysians have consciously organised themselves to return home to vote. Just who are these Malaysians? What sacrifices are they making in order to vote? And what is motivating them?

THINK of a landfill. What comes to mind? First thing – probably the stink. Toxic leachate seeping out and contaminating waterways. Now, imagine a landfill so clean that people have picnics and take nature walks there. Impossible? Think again. On a recent visit to Singapore after covering an international conference for National Geographic‘s energy blog, I [...]

HE’s a first-generation Malaysian with a German Jewish name. But Hans Isaac, whose full name is actually Gerald Hans Isaac, says he is “more Malaysian than a lot of Malaysians”. Isaac is a well-known actor with numerous film credits and awards and he is today famously known for successfully directing his debut film Cuci (2008), [...]

WHATEVER anyone wants to say about the Malaysian theatre scene, when it comes to musical theatre, I think we are getting somewhere. PGL the Musical promotional picture (source: pglthemusical.com.my) I have seen three different musicals at Istana Budaya — P Ramlee the Musical, Puteri Gunung Ledang (PGL) the Musical and lately, Cuci the Musical — [...]

PLAYWRIGHT and performer Leow Puay Tin has been involved in the theatre scene for more than 20 years. Working alongside the late, renowned Malaysian director Krishen Jit, she devised Tikam-Tikam: And Her Grandmother Said in 1983, and later wrote acclaimed plays, Three Children (1984), Ang Tau Mui (1993) and Family (1995). A common thread running [...]

Does this nasi lemak with sambal gesek ikan bilis still make the heritage food list, with the sambal babi on the side?(food pics © Lainie Yeoh) AT the end of the year, the Tourism Minister is supposed to have identified certain foods to declare as Malaysian. According to the minister, Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, [...]