KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Nov 2009: Barisan Nasional (BN) parties want the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to stay out of their internal party matters. Representatives from the MCA, Gerakan and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) told a forum yesterday that the ROS should just focus on its administrative role of registering societies. “There is nothing in […]
Archives for November 2009
Let Banggarma choose her own religion
By Rev. Dr Thomas PhilipsTHE Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hindusim, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) refers to the case of 27-year-old Banggarma Subramaniam, a.k.a. Siti Hasnah Vengarama Abdullah, who said she was converted to Islam at age seven. Banggarma says this was done by the welfare home, while the welfare authorities say it was done by her father. […]
Karaoke: Stories behind the songs
Compiled by Nick Choo
Updated 3:35pm, 25 Nov 2009 MALAYSIAN filmmaker Chris Chong Chan Fui‘s critically acclaimed feature Karaoke will debut in Malaysia when it screens for a limited one-week run at GSC Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur from 26 Nov to 2 Dec 2009. The winner of the first Maverick award at the 10th annual Calgary International Film […]
Defending Nik Aziz
By Hafidz BaharomNik Aziz I’M not a fan of Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat or his party, PAS. In fact, I am personally downright against PAS ever winning the federal or any state government. This is because what PAS stands for is not in line with my own liberal beliefs in terms of religious freedoms and […]
IGP: Confusing suspects and witnesses?
By Deborah Loh“If that is the case, then those who want to lodge police reports after office hours can see Karpal.” INSPECTOR-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan‘s retort to lawyer Karpal Singh, who said the police should stop interrogating witnesses after office hours following the High Court’s decision on 19 Nov that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission […]
Regulating 1Malaysia clinics
By Dr Ng Swee ChoonTHE Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Association of Malaysia (FPMPAM) would like to raise concern over the quality of 1Malaysia clinics, which are staffed by hospital assistants. FPMPAM fully supports and encourages more health initiatives to serve the public and their health needs. However, clinics serving the public must comply with the standard outlined by […]
Closed Penan rape cases an injustice
By Women's action groups
TOMORROW, 25 Nov 2009, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We join advocates around the world in calling attention to the systematic violations of women’s rights, particularly through crimes of sexual violence. In Malaysia, the rapes of Penan women and children in Sarawak serves as a horrific reminder of the […]
Musicals for mental health
By Nick ChooTHIS edition of Merely Playing belatedly commemorates World Mental Health Day, which falls annually on 10 Oct. According to an article in theSun, an estimated 450 million people around the world suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It added that in Malaysia, some 400,227 patients sought psychiatric help in government […]
Keeping domestic helpers safe
By Koh Lay Chin(© Otnaydur / Dreamstime) OVER the past few years, things have not looked good for Indonesian domestic helpers in this country. Horrific cases of abuse such as those involving Nirmala Bonat in 2004, Ceriyati Dapin in 2007, and then Siti Hajar in 2009 didn’t just make the local headlines. They also raised Malaysia’s profile internationally, […]
Keeping citizens loyal
By Deborah LohTO Umno veteran Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat, loyalty is a lost virtue in politics. In his recently published memoir, Umno: Akhir Sebuah Impian, Mohamed laments Umno’s other disease besides money politics: the culture of backstabbing to further self-interests. Mohamed was information minister from 1987 to 1999. He served under no one less formidable than former […]
