NEWLY-minted MCA president Datuk Ong Tee Keat raised eyebrows with his pick for the post of secretary-general. The person he chose was Datuk Wong Foon Meng, 54, who takes over the influential party post from Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan. Though he has been Senate deputy president since 2004, Wong, a one-term state assemblyperson for […]
Of rights, royalty and language
Translation by Jacqueline Ann SurinSIMILAR to the other press, the 6 Dec 2008 Bukit Antarabangsa landslide dominated the news in the Malay press between 5 and 12 Dec. But several other issues were also highlighted in the Malay press. These were primarily about Malay rights, the royalty, and the Malay language. On 10 Dec, Berita Harian published a column […]
Disasters, political defections, Tamil schools
Translation by Sharmila Valli NarayananFOR the week of 6 to 12 Dec 2008, Tamil newspapers focussed on disasters, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s controversial statement on vernacular schools, party defection and the storm over the land allocation for a Tamil school. Deadly hillslopes The tragic landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa dominated the newspapers with several papers carrying editorials on the matter. Makkal […]
Soi Lek speaks up
Translation by Leong Lai MingFOR the week of 6 to 12 Dec 2008, the Chinese press highlighted the issue of responsibility over the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide and reactions towards Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim’s statement that minority races should give up their mother tongue. The Chinese press also looked at a brewing fishing-community strike. In a 12 Dec […]
Kontroversi fatwa berterusan
Oleh Shanon Shah(© Ilker / sxc.hu) ADA perkembangan terbaru dalam isu fatwa di Malaysia. Tanggal 2 Dis 2008, Utusan Malaysia melaporkan yang Majlis Muzakarah Fatwa Kebangsaan mengaku tidak boleh memaksa kerajaan negeri mewartakan fatwa berkaitan rokok. Alasannya kerana kuasa mewartakan fatwa terletak di bawah Jabatan Mufti Negeri masing-masing. Sebelum ini, ahli parlimen PAS, Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, […]
N For Nude
By Amir MuhammadA nude day has comeAnd nothing it can do Can do me wrong Amir Muhammad is a writer, publisher and moviemaker who lives in Damansara, which is more a state of mind than geography. Amir’s Alphabet will have 26 parts but will not be presented in order, as he was never a fan of the […]
PKR’s plan for the monarch
By Deborah LohSupporters during PKR’s annual congress, 29 Nov 2008 KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Dec 2008: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is defending the Malay rulers’ rights as part of efforts to balance the power currently concentrated in the executive, its vice-president R Sivarasa said. He said two areas in the Federal Constitution ought to be reformed to reflect […]
PKR’s questionable fix
By Deborah LohWHAT are Malaysians to make of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s proposal to “return the immunity of the rulers” which it plans to implement if it comes to federal power? Firstly, the party seems to have picked a good time to raise this, given that the royalty is more popular with the masses now than before, […]
JAC Bill a let-down
By Elizabeth LooiThe Palace of Justice in Putrajaya (public domain. Source: wikipedia.org) PETALING JAYA, 12 Dec 2008: The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Bill that was tabled for first reading in Parliament on 10 Dec is a disappointment, said lawyers and ex-judges. Several aspects of the bill did not address the concerns of the judiciary, namely the interference […]
“Nothing specifically Hindu about yoga”
By Zedeck SiewYoga practitioner on the top of Ancient Greek’s town of Mycenae (source: wikipedia.org) PETALING JAYA, 11 Dec 2008: There is nothing specifically Hindu about yoga, instructors said, with one adding that it was possible to become a better Muslim because of yoga practice. Yoga instructor Azmi Samdjaga explained that Patanjali, the compiler of the Yoga […]
