(Updated 28 April 2009, 7.36pm) PETALING JAYA, 28 April 2009: Amending laws to stop the unilateral conversion of children to Islam will pave the way to resolving other thorny issues when a family member converts, the Bar Council said today. Urging the government to move swiftly on amending laws to enforce the cabinet’s recent directive […]
The politics of Penanti
Translation by Shanon ShahAMONG the main concerns of the Malay-language press from the week of 20 to 26 April 2009 were the Penanti by-election, Islamic laws, and defending the monarchy. On 20 April, Utusan Malaysia‘s Hassan Mohd Noor said in his Selak column that the resignation of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as Penanti state assemblyperson was no surprise. In […]
Not without my baby
Translation by Sharmila Valli NarayananFOR the week of 20 to 26 April 2009, Tamil papers highlighted M Indira Gandhi’s continued struggle to get back her 11-month-old baby from her Muslim-convert husband. The papers also reported on the shares offered to Indian Malaysians by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), and the anger of Indian Malaysians, particularly Tamil Malaysians against India’s support […]
Mob in Pekan Nanas
Translation by Gan Pei LingFROM 20 to 26 April 2009, the Chinese media highlighted the Pekan Nanas school-fight-turned-mob incident. The media also rejoiced at the Higher Education Ministry’s announcement to allow New Era College to conduct its media studies courses in Mandarin. Nanyang Siang Pau and Merdeka Review also reported on Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob’s intention […]
Scrap Approved Permits
By Deborah LohPETALING JAYA, 27 April 2009: Politicians on both sides of the divide agree with the government’s suggestion to scrap Approved Permits (AP) for imported vehicles. Gerakan vice-president and head of its central economic bureau, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, said the AP scheme should be stopped immediately as it was “protectionist”, “monopolistic”, and had only benefited […]
Open up unsold ASM shares to all
By Deborah LohPETALING JAYA, 27 April 2009: The remaining Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) shares allocated for bumiputera and Indian Malaysians which have not yet been bought should be opened up to all Malaysians, suggests Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang. He said the ASM units for bumiputera may not be attractive because of other products that […]
M’sian film in running for award at Cannes
By Zedeck SiewPETALING JAYA, 27 April 2009: A Malaysian filmmaker’s debut feature will be screened at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Chris Chong’s Karaoke was selected from a host of other films to be included in the Directors’ Fortnight platform. This the first Malaysian film in 14 years, since U-Wei Shaari’s Kaki Bakar, to be selected for […]
Proposal to EC on Perak crisis
By Tan Keng LiangON 18 April 2009, I sent in several proposals to the Election Commission on amending election law. One of these concerned amending Article 48(6) of the Federal Constitution so that an assemblyperson who wishes to change allegiance to another party can resign and hold a by-election. Article 48(6) of the Federal Constitution states: “A person […]
Serving the BN
By Zedeck Siew“I will be looking at the role of television and radio stations in nation building. There are 34 radio stations under the government.” INFORMATION, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who blamed the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s recent poor elections performance on private television and radio stations that did not “carry messages good […]
Teater hanya untuk elit?
Oleh Shanon ShahTEMPOH hari saya ditanya dalam rancangan Hujah di rangkaian tv9, adakah teater itu bersifat elitis dari sudut kandungan karya mahupun kemampuan penonton untuk menghayatinya? Saya benar-benar merasakan tidak. Saya mula menghujah bahawa mana-mana naskhah teater, walaupun naskhah Shakespeare sekalipun, boleh dipentaskan dan dihayati oleh sesiapa saja yang boleh mencapai naskhah itu. Mungkin sekumpulan pelajar Tingkatan […]
