From shopping local to donating to worthy causes, here’s a green guide to making Christmas and the New Year meaningful and environmentally friendly.
Some light in Malaysia’s human rights tunnel
Holding Court by Ding Jo-AnnAt no other time does Malaysian civil society need to push harder than ever for greater recognition of human rights in our country. For despite piecemeal reforms and an impotent Asean Human Rights Declaration signed recently, these grudging steps are indications that Malaysia is moving, albeit slowly, towards a more open democracy.
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Maintaining the monarchy
By Ding Jo-Ann
MALAYSIA’s internet community has been buzzing with the 2 Nov 2012 arrest of Ahmad Abdul Jalil for allegedly posting insulting remarks about the Johor sultan. The Nut Graph speaks to political scientist Wong Chin Huat on the role of the monarchy in today’s world and how they are relevant and useful to democracy and the people.
Making elections better
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
Underneath the team colours and the performance, the cheering and the competition – whether in the US or in Malaysia – what are elections good for? And how can they be improved?
Amalan kahwin bawah umur: Sesuaikah untuk masyarakat kini?
Asam Pedas oleh Norhayati Kaprawi
Di era dunia moden ini, sesuaikah budak-budak perempuan dikahwinkan di zaman kanak-kanaknya, seperti yang lebih kerap berlaku di Malaysia baru-baru ini? Ada yang akan beri jawapan “di zaman Nabi dulu begitu”. Tetapi adakah dan patutkah semua amalan yang dilakukan semasa zaman Nabi juga diamalkan pada zaman ini?
Who’s destabilising the government?
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
Suaram apparently poses a grave threat to Malaysia. Why else has the government set six agencies on it? What has Suaram done that is so dangerous to the government? And who, in fact, is truly destabilising the nation through its actions?
Can local govt elections protect public interest and the environment?
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
IF we could bring back local government elections, councillors could at least be held accountable for giving the nod to projects without the communities’ knowledge and approval.
Crowded cities: What happened to the open-space policy?
Ampersand by KW Mak
The open space policy is meant to prevent overdevelopment and to provide for social-infrastructural facilities. It is a good mechanism to ensure the nation’s social needs are prioritised, but it is not being implemented.
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Merdeka and the rise of citizens
By Ding Jo-Ann
MALAYSIANS are no longer content to watch the official government-organised Merdeka parade on their televisions. Instead, they have been taking to the streets to celebrate Merdeka in their own way. What’s behind these different celebrations and do they make Malaysians unpatriotic?
What are the Islamic authorities up to?
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
CAN Islamic authorities raid churches and bookstores even though they are non-Muslim entities and summon non-Muslims for questioning? Does the syariah court have jurisdiction the moment Islam or a Muslim is involved? Ding Jo-Ann examines the constitutional issues.
