“In our country, if one refers to Allah or mentions kalimah Allah, it will bring to one’s mind that it refers to the God for Muslims. Kalimah Allah is sacred to the Muslims and put at the highest position, and its sanctity must be protected.” “The usage of kalimah Allah as an interpretation of the […]
Archives for December 2009
Reaching common ground
By Deborah LohPKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng PAKATAN Rakyat (PR)’s common policy to be unveiled this Saturday on 19 Dec 2009 appears to have reached some compromise on the divisive issue of PAS‘s goal for an Islamic state. Clearly, PAS […]
Proud to be rojak
By Ding Jo-AnnBERNARD Goh, artistic director and co-founder of internationally acclaimed drum troupe Hands Percussion, was drawn to music and drums even as a boy. “Drums are very straightforward, maybe it’s like me,” he tells The Nut Graph during his 23 Nov 2009 interview in Kuala Lumpur. “I like you, or I don’t like you, I will […]
The politics of sugar
By Deborah Loh“Boss, limau ais kosong, satu” (© Brian Lary / sxc.hu)NEXT year, the government will possibly abolish the sugar subsidy. I’m personally all for that. For many years now, I’ve learnt to enjoy food and beverages without adding (or at least reducing the amount of) sugar. “Boss” at the mamak stall at first raised his eyebrows […]
PR must make clear its plan on council elections
By the Coalition for Good GovernanceTHE Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) is concerned by the article Pakatan tones down electoral reforms, published on The Malaysian Insider on 15 Dec 2009. According to the report, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), in its coming national convention, may not include local council elections in its Common Policy Framework. The CGG would like to remind […]
Consider proxy voting in Parliament
By Tan Keng LiangI REFER to the incident in Parliament on 14 Dec 2009 whereby a substantial number of Members of Parliament (MPs) failed to turn up for an important debate and the voting of the 2010 Budget. As a result, the budget was passed by a thin majority of 66-63. However, the pertinent issue is not the […]
Patriotism lessons
By Lainie YeohLainie Yeoh is grateful she didn’t have to attend the BTN programme.
Pakatan Rakyat vs local elections
By Wong Chin HuatIT is funny to hear my friends in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) complaining that civil society is pressuring only the opposition coalition to revive local elections and not the Barisan Nasional (BN). It becomes more hilarious now that the PR has reportedly reduced its commitment to merely “strengthening local democracy.” One unnamed leader defends it […]
Learning about “hak istimewa orang Melayu”
By Shanon ShahDR Harvin Kaur, 25, attended the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) pre-employment induction course in October 2008. A recent medical graduate who started her house officer year in Malaysia, Harvin has since resigned to follow her husband to Australia. With the ongoing controversy regarding the government-run BTN, Harvin agreed to an exclusive e-mail interview, from India […]
Deadlock over climate change
By Gan Pei LingAn estimated 100,000 people marched on the streets of Copenhagen on 12 Dec IF a bridge had a 50% chance of collapsing, would you cross it? I wouldn’t. But it seems that most developed countries, except Norway, are willing to take this risk in the face of our global climate crisis, just so they can […]
