“If he wants to join a cause he feels is right, like PAS’s, we would not object. It is compulsory that we accept him…Looking at the situation now, party-hopping is acceptable as the Barisan Nasional member does not like the party anymore.” PAS Terengganu state commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali when commenting on Bota state assemblyperson […]
Will Perak snap?
By Shanon Shah and Zedeck SiewTarnished silver (© Chris Deraud / sxc.hu) THE silver state is in crisis, with the Pakatan Raykat-led state government having lost its majority in the legislative assembly with four assemblypersons leaving its fold. Now, with the Perak government in limbo, experts tell The Nut Graph that the best option for the formation of a state […]
“Advantageous” to postpone BN convention
By Deborah Loh(clock image © Ilker / sxc.hu) KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Jan 2009: Some Barisan Nasional (BN) component leaders prefer letting the new Umno leadership, to be elected in March, take charge of the BN convention which aims to repair the coalition’s tattered image. This means that the convention could be postponed to after February, once Umno […]
Umno’s disciplinary problems
By Datuk Zaid Ibrahim(© Kriss Szkurlatowski / sxc.hu) THE call by Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Ismail, chairperson of Umno’s disciplinary tribunal, for the party to disband its youth, wanita and puteri wings, has drawn much flak. Even though Rithauddeen made this suggestion as a measure to curb corruption, the party’s senior leaders, including president-elect Datuk Seri Najib […]
Hamba abdi zaman kini
Oleh Rohana Ariffin(© Sophie / sxc.hu) DALAM abad ke-21 ini ramai orang menyangka bahawa penghambaabdian itu tidak wujud lagi. Jika ada pun, ia melibatkan bilangan kecil seperti pelacur dan pekerja yang dieksploitasi tanpa dibayar gaji atau dibayar upah sangat rendah, tidak memadai dengan beban kerjanya. Anggapan ini benar tetapi tidak menyeluruh. Menjadi hamba ini ada dua bentuk, […]
For Allah’s sake
By Jacqueline Ann SurinWHEN the Home Ministry forbids a non-Muslim group from saying “Allah”, then attempts to prevent it from publishing in Malay, the government is imposing more than a ban. In both instances, the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government is forcefully applying exclusivity for both the pre-Islamic name for the Almighty and the national language. The BN does […]
Amir Muhammad’s latest film restricted
By Zedeck SiewMalaysian Gods poster (pic courtesy of Da Huang Pictures) PETALING JAYA, 30 Jan 2009: Amir Muhammad‘s latest film, Malaysian Gods, has been barred from wide release by the censors. The National Film Censorship Board has decided that the roughly 60-minute movie cannot be shown on TV or in cinemas. The board gave no reasons for […]
Tackling FT’s challenges
Bernama reportTHE Federal Territories (FT), which comprises Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, will be celebrating its 35th anniversary on 1 Feb. For Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, 14 Feb will mark his third year as Federal Territories Minister. He has strived to give FT a new identity and image by introducing changes with the vision of making […]
Revisiting “Ketuanan Melayu”
By Shanon Shah“PEOPLE have secrets, and sometimes don’t say what they mean,” says Zalfian Fuzi, Instant Café Theatre Company associate director. “But at some point, your hidden meaning and feelings will come out no matter how hard you try to suppress them. It’s inevitable.” Some words, Zalfian adds, are loaded. Although he is referring to the art […]
Tiara’s Malaysian dream
By N Shashi KalaPRODUCER and actress Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina Abdullah is best known for Puteri Gunung Ledang, both the movie and stage musical which she produced and starred in. PGL is being restaged from 6 to 21 Feb at Istana Budaya by Tiara’s company, Enfiniti Productions. It will be Tiara’s swan song — she is reprising her […]

