Syrian Orthodox icon GROWING up, I always used to dread explaining to people which religious faith I belonged to. The questions were typical. “You’re a Christian? So you’re not Indian.” As if to imply one could not be both. “Are you Catholic or Christian?” All Catholics are Christians, though all Christians are not always Catholics. […]
Reinterpreting Christmas
By Sivin KitAdvent is represented by lighting four candles, before a fifth is lit on Christmas day (© Traute Klasser / sxc.hu) CHRISTMAS is celebration. Shopping. Decorations. Parties. Carols. But very few of us are aware that in the Christian calendar there are four Sundays that build up to the climax of Christmas day. These Sundays are […]
Defending Chinese schools
By Elizabeth LooiDR Kua Kia Soong has been a Chinese educationist since 1983 when he became the higher education adviser for Dong Jiao Zong, the Chinese education movement. The former DAP Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya didn’t benefit from a Chinese-language education himself. He chose to learn Mandarin as an adult. And in 1985, his book […]
Gearing up for KT
Translation by Leong Lai MingFROM 13 to 19 Dec 2008, the Chinese press highlighted the issue of the Kuala Terengganu by-election; reactions towards the restructuring of Warta Mandarin; and the continuing New Era College dispute. Morality in Kuala Terengganu Oriental Daily’s 14 Dec interview with PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa by Xie Zhong Yang provided a glimpse of PAS’s […]
By-election hobnobbing
Translation by Cindy ThamWITH the 17 Jan 2009 Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election about two months before the March 2009 Umno polls, the Malay dailies have picked up on the efforts by some Umno leaders to boost their chances in the party polls. Besides this, the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English, and the discovery of the carcass […]
In defence of Tamil
Translation by Sevan DoraisamyCorrected on 22 Dec 2008 at 6.55pm BETWEEN 13 and 19 Dec 2008, the Tamil newspapers focused on the teaching of Mathematics and Science in Tamil, the need for government transparency, and the internal fighting in the Indian Progressive Front (IPF). During the past one week, community leaders and politicians have expressed various views on […]
Shirin Ebadi still uninvited
By Shanon ShahShirin Ebadi (all pics © Shahram Sharif / flickr) PETALING JAYA, 19 Dec 2008: Nobel Laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi has still not been re-invited to Malaysia despite Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim’s retraction of a ministry-recommended ban. “Absolutely nothing. We have not received any invitation, or oral or written, formal or informal apology […]
Mandatory testing flawed
By Shanon Shah1,000 crosses put up by World Concern, USA, in support of World AIDS Day (© Andrew Conn / sxc.hu) STARTING from 2009, Muslim couples intending to marry must undergo mandatory screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). We don’t know how this became official, but it now is, with the cabinet’s approval. Deputy Prime Minister […]
Heading towards first class
By Elizabeth LooiBetween 28 April and 15 Dec 2008, four opposition MPs have been thrown out of the House SINCE the historic 8 March elections, expectations have understandably been high for interesting parliamentary sittings. With the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s two-thirds majority reduced in Parliament, the checks and balances needed in a robust democracy have been more imaginable. […]
Teaching in English: Do or don’t
By Deborah Loh(© Dan O’Connell / sxc.hu) THE English for Teaching Mathematics and Science (ETeMS) policy has become more than just about its effectiveness. It has been politicised to the extent that all kinds of claims have been thrown into the mix. These include threats to national unity and the position of Bahasa Malaysia (BM), to the […]
