(© Konrad Mostert/sxc.hu) THERE are two issues around the appointment of Low Siew Moi as general manager of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS). The first, as raised by laywer-cum-blogger Haris Ibrahim, is whether this state agency should act like an ethnic institution that serves only Malays or bumiputera. The second is, if indeed PKNS’s […]
Where is my susu pekat manis?
By Tony Pua(Source: eatingasia.typepad.com) MOST Malaysians of my generation, or even the generation before, grew up with sweetened condensed milk (susu pekat manis) as an essential additive to our daily beverages. It was an item I could not do without when drinking kopi at my local coffee shop, making my own cup of Milo at home, or […]
The traditional media’s own worst enemy
By N Shashi Kala and Zedeck SiewCONTRARY to popular analyses, it is not the internet that is threatening the traditional media. The biggest enemies of the traditional mass media are the mass media themselves, says Dr Indrajit Banerjee, who is secretary-general for the Singapore-based Asian Media Information and Communication Centre. “I would say the most critical factor in the decline of […]
Repent, heretic!
By Zedeck SiewIT has not rained for several days, so a swirl of dust rises up when the gang leader’s face hits the dirt. Syukur sneezes. He places a foot on the gang leader’s denim jacket, then casually lights a cigarette. The rest of the sticker-adorned, sneaker-shod delinquents, moving to help their chief, back away when Syukur […]
Hindraf and Deepavali wishes
Translation by Sevan DoraisamiFROM 25 to 31 Oct 2008, the Tamil press continued to focus on Hindraf and its struggles. Of particular interest was the help offered by Islamist party PAS to mediate between Hindraf and the government. “We are willing to be the mediator,” Malaysia Nanban quoted PAS as saying on 25 Oct. PAS vice-president Datuk Husam […]
Tomboys and street signs
Translation by Khairil AnharDURING the week of 25 to 31 Oct, the fatwa on tomboys, the proposal to put up multilingual street signs in Georgetown, and the need for the Barisan Nasional (BN) to change its focus were highlighted in the Malay dailies. On 25 Oct, Berita Harian reported the imam of the National Mosque, Tan Sri Syaikh […]
Contesting language and quota
Translation by Ng Boon HooiFROM 25 to 31 Oct 2008, the Chinese media highlighted the use of multilingual signboards in DAP-led Penang; Datuk Liow Tiong Lai’s suggestion to review the 30% target for bumiputra equity ownership; and unemployment of local workers. She Rong Kun’s 30 Oct commentary in Kwong Wah e-Newspaper said the original purpose of putting up multilingual […]
Fatwa dalam pembangunan masyarakat
Oleh Shanon Shah“PENGKID itu apa? Bahasa apa tu?” Itulah persoalan dalam satu diskusi e-mel yang membuat saya tertawa baru-baru ini. Ketika itu si penyoal baru terbaca tentang pengharaman pengkid oleh Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan pada 23 Okt 2008. Tetapi dia dari generasi matang sikit, jadi dia terpaksa mencari kepastian tentang maksud perkataan “pengkid”. Tapi, walaupun kenalan saya ini […]
Sex scandals and politicians
By Hafidz BaharomLewinsky and Clinton (Source images: Public domain) “I DID not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.” We’ve all seen and heard the parodies of this line after former US President Bill Clinton’s sex scandal in 1998. But that’s not the only sex scandal to have made the headlines. Hasn’t Malaysia seen its own […]
Letter from the Sarawak rainforest
By Sim Kwang YangTHE disturbing news of the rape of Penan schoolgirls by loggers in Sarawak briefly caught national attention. But the flicker of conscience among Malaysians was soon doused by the deluge of reports of power struggles among the high-and-mighty in Malaysian politics. It is hard to prolong our attention span on the Penans. They are so […]
