(Pic by Dez Pain / sxc.hu (Corrected at 7:55pm, 20 Jan 2010) FROM Hopenhagen to Dopenhagen to Brokenhagen, a series of puns has emerged from the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) held in December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Those who were hopeful about a strong deal at the beginning of COP15 were left […]
Responding to “Allah” differently
By Ding Jo-Ann(Pic by Adrian Van Leen / sxc.hu) PREDICTABLE. This best sums up the reactions by some Muslim groups and the government to the High Court’s 31 Dec 2009 decision to lift the ban on the use of “Allah” by Catholic paper Herald. Malaysians were probably able to anticipate the newspaper headlines and ensuing comments, given […]
Bonuses in peril
By Wong Chin HuatDESPITE all the madness in 2009, it was a year in which Malaysians saw positive changes on two important fronts: ethnic relations and good governance. A good example, notwithstanding the initial flip-flopping, is the federal government’s decision to revamp the racist and fascist content of the Biro Tata Negara courses after being forced to by […]
Achievable resolutions
By Yasmin Masidi(Pic by Elvinstar / Dreamstime) HERE we are, just past the cusp of 2010, when parts of the world that observe 1 Jan list New Year hopes both fanciful and pragmatic. It’s always a useful exercise to do both, and to think about just why it is that one writes off a wish as “unrealistic”. […]
The new social contract
By Chan Kheng HoeMALAYSIANS are constantly reminded of our social contract. As the story goes, some time before 1957, founding leaders from three communities (only three, no others) signed up to this arrangement on how we ought to live together in this land previously known as Tanah Melayu. The terms of the arrangement were simple enough: Malays get […]
How rude!
By Nick Choo(Pic by LinusB4 / sxc.hu) RECENTLY, during a visit to the cinema, I encountered the infamous subset of Malaysians who seem to enjoy ruining the viewing experiences of others by being inconsiderate. You know the kind: those who let their mobile phone ring during the movie, or check their SMSes and distract you with the […]
Full MP List
IN mid-January 2010, The Nut Graph began reaching all 222 Members of Parliament (MP) in batches for the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project. The purpose of the project is to record the MPs’ positions on key issues of democracy. Each MP is posed six questions, three of which were selected by readers and three […]
Regaining our Malaysian voice
By Ding Jo-Ann(Pic by Yamamoto Ortiz / sxc.hu) MY New Year wish for all Malaysians is that we will regain our voice. We face an uncertain 2010. But if we are to become politically stable and economically secure, it is now, more than ever, that we need to be able to be openly critical of outdated policies […]
Singing Penang stories
Compiled by Nick Choo
OMBAK Ombak ARTStudio presents KO-TAI Penang (Penang’s Song Stage), a 40-minute musical drama that traces Penang’s journey from Merdeka and the founding of George Town to today. It features the stories of multiethnic Penang residents, some of whom have been displaced as a result of development and the repeal of the Rent Control Act. Based […]
The madness of 2009
By Deborah LohTHE year 2009 has been a breathless one of political upheaval. But as we sift through the year’s events, we ask, which were the ones that really mattered? Which events indicate if democracy and political maturity are improving? Which tell us things are becoming worse? The Nut Graph offers its take on 10 highlights of […]
