What really is all the fuss over the theme, logo and song lyrics of our upcoming Merdeka celebrations? Is it really a case of political manoeuvrings by the Barisan Nasional (BN)? Or poor judgement by the government of the day? Or both? Or does it say something more about what the current federal leadership promotes?
The Nut Graph’s future
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
It’s been four years since The Nut Graph was launched. Its gone through some challenging times financially and is still not making enough money to sustain full operations. Still, it seems The Nut Graph continues to have some kind of future.
Examining Anwar’s inconsistency
By Shanon Shah
What is the big deal about Anwar’s stand on homosexuality? Sure, he speaks out against racism, detention without trial and corruption, but is he inconsistent for insisting that homosexuality remain criminalised? Does it matter that Anwar’s stand on homosexuality is no different from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s?
Ramon Navaratnam: “Malaysia first”
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
AT 77, there are many things Tan Sri Ramon V Navaratnam is thankful for. Topmost is the fact that all three of his sons and their families, including his four grandchildren, remain in Malaysia. “Thank God! I think there are not many left of my age [whose] children are all here. I think I did […]
Looking beyond the Chua-Lim debate
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
MUCH has been said about the 8 July debate between DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. The debate, titled “Whose policies benefit the country more?”, drew conflicting responses. For example, theSun reported that “Lim went on the offensive”, while Malaysiakini said it was Chua who took […]
From dumpsites to nature sanctuaries
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
THINK of a landfill. What comes to mind? First thing – probably the stink. Toxic leachate seeping out and contaminating waterways. Now, imagine a landfill so clean that people have picnics and take nature walks there. Impossible? Think again. On a recent visit to Singapore after covering an international conference for National Geographic‘s energy blog, I […]
The perils of being Muslim in Malaysia
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
Muslims constitute the majority of the Malaysian population and the country’s top leadership. Still, just how safe is it to be a Muslim in Malaysia? And can Muslims trust that their rights will be protected and upheld by a public administration that increasingly says it wants to uphold Islamic values and teachings?
Squaring Najib’s statements on “pendatang” and the Malay agenda
By Ding Jo-Ann
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently told Chinese Malaysians they are “citizens with full rights” and that those who call them pendatang are “lunatics”. But how do Chinese Malaysians having “full rights” accord with the “Malay agenda” that Najib also claims to champion? To what threat is Najib referring when he warns Malay Malaysians that they may become squatters in their own land? And what has Najib said previously about organisations such as Perkasa that have openly chastised Chinese Malaysians for being ungrateful to the Umno-led government?
Refocusing the PTPTN debate
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans debate will not get far until we move beyond the polarised back-and-forth between maintaining it and abolishing student fees. Hwa Yue-Yi adds looks at broader issues: a wider range of policy solutions to higher education financing and more thorough consideration of national educational aspirations.
Slow death by aluminum smelters?
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
While green activists in Peninsular Malaysia are protesting the rare earth refinery that has yet to begin operations in Gebeng, Pahang, villagers living near an aluminium smelting plant in Balingian, Mukah, Sarawak, have been suffering in silence. How is the plant affecting the lives of local communities in Balingian? Should we be alarmed at plans for new plants?
