ONE odd thing about the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s inaugural convention on 19 Dec 2009 was the fact that none of the grassroots level members were given the chance to debate the common policy framework. Instead, those who “debated” the document after it was unveiled were mainly second-tier leaders from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and […]
Archives for December 2009
The Nut Graph‘s future
By Jacqueline Ann SurinLetters from our readers TIS the season for celebrating so here’s the good news. The Nut Graph is going to be able to keep going until June 2010 for sure, potentially even to September 2010. And if some other funding we’ve applied for, and will be applying for, is approved in the months to come, […]
Signs of the times
By Cindy ThamSOCIAL networking. Sensational or controversial news involving women, politicians or celebrities. If our searches on the internet are indications of what we as a nation or society are concerned or curious about, then these were the topics that most internet users in Malaysia were interested in over the past year, according to Google Zeitgeist 2009. […]
The madness of 2009
By Deborah LohTHE year 2009 has been a breathless one of political upheaval. But as we sift through the year’s events, we ask, which were the ones that really mattered? Which events indicate if democracy and political maturity are improving? Which tell us things are becoming worse? The Nut Graph offers its take on 10 highlights of […]
Singing Penang stories
Compiled by Nick Choo
OMBAK Ombak ARTStudio presents KO-TAI Penang (Penang’s Song Stage), a 40-minute musical drama that traces Penang’s journey from Merdeka and the founding of George Town to today. It features the stories of multiethnic Penang residents, some of whom have been displaced as a result of development and the repeal of the Rent Control Act. Based […]
Confessions of a “Melayu celup”
By Shanon ShahDATUK Zahim Albakri, 47, has had a brilliant end to 2009. He co-directed Cuci the Musical, which played from 23 Oct to 8 Nov at Istana Budaya, to much critical and commercial acclaim. Zahim also executive produced Jit Murad’s successful One Load of Bull Jit show at PJ Live Arts Theatre from 24 to 29 […]
BTN’s stolen Malaysians
By Shanon ShahI NEVER attended a Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programme. But I, too, sat in a darkened room while the facilitator taught the song Warisan, which ended with the line Melayu kan gagah di Nusantara and some participants crying. I, too, was made to carry an egg and then reprimanded for letting a mischievous trainer defile […]
PR’s spin on local elections
By Wong Chin HuatSPARE us the spin. The Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s promise to merely “strengthen local government democracy” in its common policy framework (CPF) is not a wider plan to go beyond local elections. It’s a compromise to substitute local elections. And from DAP chairperson Karpal Singh‘s comment, the obstacle to the coalition’s commitment to local elections is […]
“Why are Chinese [Malaysians] dangerous?”
By Shanon ShahARIF Johny Abdullah, 34, attended his Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programme back in the 1990s when he was in secondary school. He has blogged about his experiences at the camp, including an escape from camp grounds to find replacements for participants who had broken their eggs. Arif is a Sino-Kadazan from Sabah and officially converted […]
Panggilan misteri daripada polis
By Fahmi FadzilTidak pernah dan tidak akan muncul di kedai buku berdekatan LEBIH sebulan sudah berlalu sejak kejadian percubaan rasuah di Balai Polis Tun HS Lee yang saya ceritakan dahulu. Kini, saya cuba memberanikan diri untuk melaporkan kejadian tersebut kepada Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), tapi hajat masih belum tercapai sebab sibuk. Tetapi semasa menunggu sampai sempat […]
