THE recent azan controversy was a missed opportunity for the Barisan Nasional (BN) to show how it can be a government for all Malaysians. It could have been a chance for the BN to lead instead of react, by fostering dialogue, understanding and respect among different ethnic groups and religions. But the government and some […]
Archives for January 2011
Utusan Malaysia, Interlok and the azan
By Ding Jo-Ann
IT’S commonly accepted that the media play a role in shaping public perception. But how exactly does that happen? Here’s an analysis of Utusan Malaysia‘s coverage on two issues: the controversy over Interlok, and the request for the dawn azan’s volume to be lowered at a Kampung Kerinchi mosque. Interlok Let’s first look at the […]
Nasihat tentang Tahun Baru Cina
Secubit Garam oleh Shanon Shah
AGAK rindulah juga saya terhadap sanak saudara dan kawan-kawan di tanahair setelah beberapa bulan saya bermastautin di London kerana melanjutkan pelajaran di peringkat sarjana. Untuk mengubat sikit perasaan rindu, saya rajin juga membaca tulisan kolumnis pujaan saya, Kak Nora. Saya mahu berkongsi di sini nasihat terbarunya untuk seorang pembaca yang serba salah tentang sambutan Tahun […]
Lim Keng Yaik: “Let’s build on commonalities”
By Deborah Loh
LIFE for former Gerakan president and cabinet minister Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik is quiet these days since he retired as party head in April 2007 and from government the following year. In his last media interview in February 2010, Lim talked about his frustrations with the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and with Gerakan, the […]
January 2011
TO the question about which story about his ancestry was accurate, Datuk Seri Nazir Razak replied that he thought it was the “later” one, not “latter” one which was originally published.
Nazir Razak: Diversity is our strength
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
Updated at 4:45pm, 27 Jan 2011 Corrected at 10am, 25 Jan 2011 “WHEN the word ‘Malaysian’ comes to me, I always think of diversity,” Datuk Seri Nazir Razak says at the CIMB headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, where he is the bank’s group chief executive. It is our diversity, he adds, that has allowed us to […]
Green issues: Top 10 in 2010
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
WHAT were the environmental highlights and low points of 2010? Do we stand a chance in conserving Malaysia’s amazing biodiversity and rich natural resources? With the help of several “greenie” friends, I made a list of 10 major environmental happenings in Malaysia in 2010. These events give us an indication not only of how the […]
Muslims serving alcohol: Ban or no ban?
By Nick ChooTHE Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ)’s recent ruling disallowing businesses that serve alcohol from hiring Muslims has raised many questions. Is it a law? A guideline? Just advice? Has it been rescinded? Who enacted the law that the ruling is based on? Why wasn’t it enforced before? And why the furore now?
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Khusrin’s appointment – a larger issue of federalism
By Ding Jo-Ann
DATUK Mohd Khusrin Munawi’s appointment as Selangor’s state secretary has ruffled a lot of feathers in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government. Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said he was bypassed in the appointment process and has excluded Khusrin from executive council meetings. Allegations have arisen that Khusrin’s appointment is politically motivated and is a […]
The opposition label
Ampersand by KW Mak
IN the course of serving as a councillor in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) for more than two years, I have been viewed as the “opposition” by some of my colleagues. Though none have said this to me personally, they find other tongue-in-cheek ways of making it known. For example, one councillor who sat […]
