WHY has there been such a furore over the government’s amendment of the Subordinate Courts Act? And why should the public care that the Act has been amended? As a result of Parliament passing the amendment, the Sessions Court can now hear civil cases worth up to RM1 million while the Magistrates Court cases worth […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Whither MACC?
By Ding Jo-Ann
ONE year ago, on 16 July 2009, DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock was found dead at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Shah Alam. Teoh had been interrogated for almost 11 hours. The inquest into his mysterious death is still ongoing. More recently, the MACC summoned two Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Selangor […]
Where’s the national health scheme?
By Koh Lay ChinMore than two decades have passed and the National Health Financing Scheme still seems up in the air in terms of concept and implementation. Will it be a flat-rate or not? Will it take a year or ten? Despite continuous studies on the proposed scheme, is Malaysia anywhere closer to a health financing scheme which is affordable, fair and accessible to all levels of society?
First phase of MP Watch completed
By Deborah Loh
PETALING JAYA, 16 July 2010: All 222 Members of Parliament (MPs) have been contacted for the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, and have responded with either full answers or a non-reply. As of 15 July, 113 MPs answered in full all six questions on key democracy issues that were posed to them. The other […]
Detention without trial allowed under other laws
By The Fairly Current ShowTHE Internal Security Act (ISA) has been receiving much attention, with expectation that the government plans to amend this legislation that allows for indefinite detention without trial. However, civil society groups have been fighting to draw more focus to two other laws that also allow for detention without trial. The Fairly Current Show host Fahmi […]
Amran Ab Ghani (Tanah Merah) [Updated 15 July 2010]
By Koh Lay ChinTANAH MERAH Member of Parliament (MP) Amran Ab Ghani’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions. Name: Amran Ab Ghani Constituency: Tanah Merah Party: PKR Years as MP: Since 2008 Government position: None Party position: • Kelantan treasurer Membership in parliamentary committees or caucuses: None Blog/Website: […]
The secretive Malaysian government
By Ding Jo-Ann
A SHOW-CAUSE letter sent to whistleblower Dr Selva Vathany Kanapathi Pillai, who has been highlighting mismanagement at the Orang Asli hospital in Gombak, cites rule 19 of the Peraturan-Peraturan Pegawai Awam (Kelakuan dan Tatatertib) 1993. It states, amongst other things, that a civil servant cannot make any public statement or provide factual information about the […]
Who caused Selangor’s water woes?
By Ding Jo-Ann
Who really caused Selangor to be in a deadlock with private water concessionaires over restructuring the water industry and ensuring that water tariffs would not be frequently raised?
“They think I don’t know Malay”
By Gan Pei Ling
BORN on 1 June 1982, Mohd Azlan Iskandar started playing squash when he was eight. He turned professional in 2001 and has won 11 professional titles since then. The Asian champion is currently ranked 18th in the world. His highest ranking was 11th, in September 2008. The national number one is also setting up his […]
Wan Abd Rahim Wan Abdullah (Kota Baru) [Updated 14 July 2010]
By Koh Lay ChinKOTA BARU Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Wan Abd Rahim Wan Abdullah’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions.
