THERE’s a rumour making the rounds that the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will close down the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya (PJ) because the premise was not approved for a church. For certain, the land that DUMC is located on is not designated for a “religious institution” that would permit the […]
Najib’s dangerous diatribe
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
POST-Bersih 2.0 rally, what has Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak been saying to defend the government’s actions of repressing dissent? It would seem that since the 9 July 2011 rally and after arresting more than 1,900 people, including detaining without trial six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, Najib’s responses have been disingenuous, narrow-minded, and […]
Durian tidak boleh dimakan?
Asam Pedas by Norhayati Kaprawi
*Corrected on 5 Aug 2011, 9.30am: This was earlier published as “suami lelaki bujang”. DURIAN itu halal. Makan durian juga halal. Tapi kalau ada penyakit darah tinggi, mungkin sekali doktor nasihatkan jangan makan. Lalu, apakah doktor itu berdosa besar kerana melarang kita dari makan makanan yang dihalalkan dalam Islam? Tentu tidak, kerana ia bertujuan untuk […]
Awaiting MBPJ’s answers
Ampersand by KW Mak
ONE might think that as a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor, getting answers from local authorities and government departments would be relatively easier. It is, in fact, one of the biggest challenges I face. Indeed, even when I receive “answers”, they are seldom satisfactory and instead pose more questions, which, then again, go unanswered. […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Bersih 2.0 – what next?
By Ding Jo-Ann
PRIOR to 25 June 2011, all seemed to be going relatively well for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration. The Barisan Nasional (BN) government was hard at work improving public perception, with extensive media coverage on government programmes such as the Government Transformation Programme and Economic Transformation Programme. There were talks of a possible […]
Najib or Anwar?
Reductio ad Absurdum by Chan Kheng Hoe
IN light of the recent Bersih 2.0 demonstrations, and the unjustified crackdown by the authorities, one may be forgiven if one were to be carried away in denouncing the current administration. They handled the demonstrations in an appalling manner, both in the run-up to the actual day and on the day itself. The conduct of […]
J Anu: “Nowhere else to go”
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
ANURENDERA Jegadeva, or better known as J Anu, is not just an artist. Whether he admits it or not, he is also a political observer and commentator. His art, which plays with, among others, “ideas of empire”, identity and belonging, are often satirical commentaries about Malaysian life and the life of the Malaysian. “I learnt […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Bersih 2.0 – Why walk?
By Ding Jo-AnnTHE planned Bersih 2.0 rally calling for improvements to Malaysia’s electoral system has been garnering mixed reactions. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said police may arrest illegal demonstrators, even under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite state detention without trial. Perkasa said they would demonstrate, too, to keep Bersih protesters from mischief. […]
The life and works of P Ramlee
Compiled by Nick Choo
AN exhibition of 60 photographs celebrating Malaysia’s cinematic icon, the late Tan Sri P Ramlee, is being held at Badan Warisan Malaysia’s Heritage Centre in Kuala Lumpur from 24 June to 16 July 2011. The photographs show scenes from the legendary actor-singer-composer’s films from 1949 to 1973. The exhibition, organised by publisher MPH in association […]
Defahmi and defamation online
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
THEATRE practitioner, writer and aspiring politician Fahmi Fadzil has become a minor celebrity after agreeing to tweet 100 times that he defamed a publishing company. Fahmi had published a tweet about a pregnant friend who purportedly resigned from Female magazine due to poor human resource practices by her employer, BluInc Media. In his 100-tweet apology, […]
