SOCIAL networking. Sensational or controversial news involving women, politicians or celebrities. If our searches on the internet are indications of what we as a nation or society are concerned or curious about, then these were the topics that most internet users in Malaysia were interested in over the past year, according to Google Zeitgeist 2009. […]
Get real, Pakatan Rakyat
By Deborah LohONE odd thing about the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s inaugural convention on 19 Dec 2009 was the fact that none of the grassroots level members were given the chance to debate the common policy framework. Instead, those who “debated” the document after it was unveiled were mainly second-tier leaders from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and […]
PR’s spin on local elections
By Wong Chin HuatSPARE us the spin. The Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s promise to merely “strengthen local government democracy” in its common policy framework (CPF) is not a wider plan to go beyond local elections. It’s a compromise to substitute local elections. And from DAP chairperson Karpal Singh‘s comment, the obstacle to the coalition’s commitment to local elections is […]
BTN’s stolen Malaysians
By Shanon ShahI NEVER attended a Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programme. But I, too, sat in a darkened room while the facilitator taught the song Warisan, which ended with the line Melayu kan gagah di Nusantara and some participants crying. I, too, was made to carry an egg and then reprimanded for letting a mischievous trainer defile […]
Malaysian Insider may be sued
By Deborah LohPETALING JAYA, 22 Dec 2009: Former theSun associate editor Ng Kee Seng is demanding RM3 million, an apology and a retraction from The Malaysian Insider consultant editor Leslie Lau over an allegedly libellous article. Ng has threatened to sue Lau, who wrote the article Back to the wall, Tee Keat resorts to bizarre moves, unless […]
Proud to be rojak
By Ding Jo-AnnBERNARD Goh, artistic director and co-founder of internationally acclaimed drum troupe Hands Percussion, was drawn to music and drums even as a boy. “Drums are very straightforward, maybe it’s like me,” he tells The Nut Graph during his 23 Nov 2009 interview in Kuala Lumpur. “I like you, or I don’t like you, I will […]
PR must make clear its plan on council elections
By the Coalition for Good GovernanceTHE Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) is concerned by the article Pakatan tones down electoral reforms, published on The Malaysian Insider on 15 Dec 2009. According to the report, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), in its coming national convention, may not include local council elections in its Common Policy Framework. The CGG would like to remind […]
Deadlock over climate change
By Gan Pei LingAn estimated 100,000 people marched on the streets of Copenhagen on 12 Dec IF a bridge had a 50% chance of collapsing, would you cross it? I wouldn’t. But it seems that most developed countries, except Norway, are willing to take this risk in the face of our global climate crisis, just so they can […]
Learning about “hak istimewa orang Melayu”
By Shanon ShahDR Harvin Kaur, 25, attended the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) pre-employment induction course in October 2008. A recent medical graduate who started her house officer year in Malaysia, Harvin has since resigned to follow her husband to Australia. With the ongoing controversy regarding the government-run BTN, Harvin agreed to an exclusive e-mail interview, from India […]
Pakatan Rakyat vs local elections
By Wong Chin HuatIT is funny to hear my friends in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) complaining that civil society is pressuring only the opposition coalition to revive local elections and not the Barisan Nasional (BN). It becomes more hilarious now that the PR has reportedly reduced its commitment to merely “strengthening local democracy.” One unnamed leader defends it […]
