WHAT is the real intent behind giving Sabah and Sarawak their own autonomy over immigration matters, including the right to ban people from entering these states? Political scientist Dr Wong Chin Huat looks at how a good intention has been abused and no longer serves its original purpose.
More internet policing in store for Malaysia
The Digital Circus by Bernice Low
The police will be setting up a Cyber Investigation Response Center to be more proactive in curbing “misuse of the internet”. Whilst social media content about the missing MH370 may be the impetus for the police’s plans, the implications for net users will go beyond how social media has been responding to the mystery and tragedy of the Malaysia Airlines plane.
Bomoh, kebudayaan, Islam dan keadilan
Asam Pedas oleh Norhayati Kaprawi
Upacara yang dilakukan di KLIA oleh Ibrahim Mat Zin yang mengaku sebagai Raja Bomoh, telah menjadi bahan ejekan samada di dalam dan di luar Negara. Adakah benar amalannya itu sesat atau murtad? Dan apakah yang dikatakan oleh ajaran Islam berkenaan dengan amalan-amalan sebegini?
The obstacles to local council elections
Ampersand by KW Mak
It’s now six years since the DAP and PKR promised to enact local council elections. Yet neither Penang nor Selangor, which are under the control of the Pakatan Rakyat, has succeeded in doing so. What exactly is the problem with local council elections that it is taking so long to implement? And why is there so much secrecy surrounding the appointment of councillors?
Malaysia’s pursuit of anarchy
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
What do the recent attacks on Malaysiakini, the Federal Court, Teresa Kok and Comango tell us about what is going on in Malaysia? And how do we know that these attacks constitute an attempt at nurturing anarchy in the country?
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Can Sabah and Sarawak secede?
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
There have been renewed calls for Sabah and Sarawak to assert its interests and rights within the federation of Malaysia. These calls have even included proposals to consider secession. The Nut Graph finds out what’s behind these calls and whether secession by any state in the federation would even be possible.
Gauging Anwar’s promises for Selangor
Ampersand by KW Mak
How will we know whether a Selangor PR government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be more effective than under Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s current administration? And what lessons can we be aware of with regards to how the state is currently being run?
A kangkung leaf covering the nakedness of censorship
The Digital Circus by Bernice Low
IS the Multimedia Super Corridor’s Bill of Guarantees promising Internet freedom a strong enough protection for freedom of online information? Bernice Low suggests that we may have been taking it for granted all this while, and calls for clearer steps to protect such rights.
The importance of “Allah”
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
Christians have been told that they should turn the other cheek and adhere to the ban on the use of “Allah”. Some others have also opined that Christians should back down so that temperatures don’t rise any further over this contentious issue. But the “Allah” issue, if uncontested, has far wider ramifications for all Malaysians than just Christians losing their constitutional right to worship peacefully.
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Constituency redelineation and citizen vigilance
By Wong Chin Huat
AMID furore over banned words and price hikes, the redelineation of electoral boundaries is the next big thing that Malaysian voters must not let slip without close scrutiny. Political scientist Dr Wong Chin Huat explains the issues to look out for in this upcoming exercise.
