Harapan Baru (A New Dawn) is the theme for this year’s PKR congress THE results of the 8 March 2008 general election suggested that voters are not completely besotted with race-based politics. Since then, there has been encouraging talk about multi-racial politics and policies which respect all Malaysians as equal citizens. One of the proponents […]
MPs serve notice to refer CJ to tribunal
By Ng Boon HooiPETALING JAYA, 26 Nov 2008: Fifty seven parliamentarians have made a historical request for a parliamentary motion to refer Chief Justice (CJ) Tan Sri Zaki Azmi to a tribunal on the grounds of his alleged misconduct. DAP Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh, said 57 MPs including an independent, Sabah Progressive Party […]
Hindraf, one year on
By Zedeck Siew
THE Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is arguably one of the most influential forces in Malaysia today. The non-governmental-organisation coalition brought the issue of Hindu temple demolition national attention, intensified outcry against laws of detention without trial, and was one of the deciding factors in the 12th general election. Its most famous slogan, Makkal Sakthi, […]
Fatwas shouldn’t be law
By Sisters in Islam(© Hayat Alyaqout / sxc.hu) SISTERS in Islam calls on the government to review the fatwa as an instrument of mandatory and binding rule-making in Malaysia. Our call is made on the grounds that fatwas having the automatic force of law: has no basis in Islamic legal theory and practice; conflict with the Federal Constitution; […]
Activist’s acquittal welcomed
By Gayathry VenkiteswaranIrene Fernandez THE Centre for Independent Journalism expresses its support and happiness at the acquittal of activist Irene Fernandez of the charge of maliciously publishing false news pertaining to conditions at immigration detention centres. However, we share her sentiments that the acquittal was a result of the prosecution’s decision not to fight the appeal and […]
Fatwa on tomboys is regressive
By Sisters in IslamFatwa protestors outside KLCC (photos by Lainie Yeoh) DOES Malaysia have serious morality and social problems? Definitely. To name a few: corruption, money politics, draconian laws like the Internal Security Act (ISA), abuse of power, violation of citizen’s rights, environmental problems, failure to reduce the high crime rate, rampant snatch theft, domestic violence, and failure […]
Images of Malaysians
By Jacqueline Ann SurinYee I-Lann (Images courtesy of Galeri Petronas) ALMOST immediately, I was struck by two observations at the Imaging Selfs: Portraits by Soraya Yusof Talismail exhibition, currently on at the Galeri Petronas until 18 Jan 2009. One was the diversity of textures, colours, and looks of each and every one of the 78 prominent Malaysian artists […]
Malaysia isn’t Medina
By Aloysious MoweIN recent weeks, I have come across two articles devoted to the issue of interfaith relations in Malaysia proposing the Charter of Medina as a model for governance. One writer described the charter given by the Prophet Muhammad to the people of Medina as a “brilliant constitution“, because “every member of that Islamic nation was […]
Hard to change
By Ng Boon HooiDatuk Seri Chua Soi Lek after winning the post of MCA deputy president MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was at his lowest ebb at the start of 2008 when his affair with a woman friend was videotaped and circulated, ostensibly to bring him down. Despite the scandal of having his private […]
Surviving the Altantuya murder trial
By Elizabeth LooiKUALA LUMPUR, 20 Nov 2008: Former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda is certain that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor never met murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Abdul Razak, who was acquitted of abetting in Altantuya’s murder by explosives, also said he believed Najib would make a good […]
