FOR the week of 9 to 15 March 2009, the Chinese press was concerned with issues related to money. In particular, the press focused on the announcement of the second stimulus package, and the declaration of executive councillors’ assets by the Selangor government. (sxc.hu) Kwong Wah Yit […]
Uniting the Malays
Translation by Zedeck SiewBETWEEN 9 and 15 March 2009 — excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results notwithstanding — the defence of the Malay race, disunity among Muslims, and economic troubles worried the opinion pages and editorials of the Malay-language press. Closing ranks Closing ranks, especially along racial lines, was a big theme in the past week. The editorial […]
A nation divided
By Shanon Shah and Zedeck SiewPolice, media and the majority Malay Malaysian crowd during the GMP gathering on 7 March 2009 PERHAPS the easiest observation one could make about the Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP) gathering on 7 March 2009 is that it was mono-cultural. While there were representatives from Chinese-language education proponents in the thousands-strong crowd, these numbered in the […]
Tudung bukan senjata perang
Oleh Shanon Shah“MULA-mula saya naik pentas ramai yang ‘boo’ bila tengok penampilan saya dengan bertudung. Ada juga yang kata kalau nak nyanyi nasyid, lebih baik balik. Ejekan itu membuat saya sedikit gementar kerana saya memilih cara berbeza daripada kumpulan muzik indie yang ada. Majalah Al Islam, edisi Mac 2009“Tapi bila saya mula bermain gitar dan menyanyi, ramai […]
When Muslims betray Muslims
By Azril Mohd AminA MUSLIM American of Pakistani descent recently betrayed the entire American dakwah (Islamic outreach) movement by beheading his wife to punish her for asking for a divorce. He beheaded his wife — they were not yet divorced — in the very television studio they were using to portray the “beauties of Islam” to the American […]
The problem with the “Allah” ban
By Deborah Loh and Shanon ShahIT is bewildering that a gazette on such a significant matter of public interest as the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims was issued and then rescinded just 24 hours after it was announced. Did not Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar spot the mistake in the ruling, which he signed? The gazette, […]
The world according to Musa
By Shanon Shah“We had no choice but to use tear gas to disperse the crowd…I assure the public that stern action will be taken against those involved in organising the demonstrations. They are not fighting for democracy but are demo crazy.” INSPECTOR General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, on the release of tear gas against hundreds […]
Keeping PJ safe
By KW MakNeighbourhood watch (Pic by Shane Atken / sxc.hu) WITH all the ongoing politicking, I thought it would be good for communities to focus on something else other than politics. One of the projects by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is aimed at tackling the issue of security within the city. To address security concerns […]
BN’s disrespect for democracy
By Jacqueline Ann SurinIN many ways, it was a privilege to be in the US when 9/11 happened. I was a journalist on a fellowship at the University of Maryland, College Park when the World Trade Centre came crashing down in an unexpected terrorist attack on American soil [1]. The privilege of being in the US then was […]
Malay dominance and rights
By Deborah LohIN five short years, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has emerged from the sidelines in Umno to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Jerlun, and now a popular candidate in the Umno Youth chief race. Despite his soft-spoken demeanour, he has not shied away from controversy, no less because of his ties to his outspoken father, […]
