RANDOM, general observations about covering by-elections since March 2008: There has been a lack of substantive campaign issues. Umno always plays the race and religion card, and thinks prosperity and development are the only things that will make everyone happy. Of the eight by-elections in the past 18 months, I think the Kuala Terengganu by-election […]
The tattooed Bidayuh
By Shanon ShahTHE Malay-language entertainment industry knows Tony Eusoff, 32, as a rising television and film actor. Tony’s talent, however, extends beyond acting. At the 2006 Boh Cameronian Arts Awards, he was nominated for Best Solo Performance (Voice) for his vocal chops in Five Arts Centre’s musical production, Encore. What is less known about Tony, though, is […]
Penans want to view task force report
By Zedeck SiewA Penan mother and child (Pic courtesy of Sofiyah Israa @ Flickr) PETALING JAYA, 26 Aug 2009: The parents of young Penan women allegedly abused by logging company employees want to access and view the Penan task force report that the government refuses to make public. “[The parents] have asked for the task force’s report,” […]
Najib: Corporal punishment should be last choice
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Aug 2009: Corporal punishment in enforcing syariah law, especially on women, should be the last choice, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. He said enforcement of syariah law should first go through the process of educating the offenders and be tempered with mercy and compassion, and that the authorities concerned should […]
The meaning of Permatang Pasir
By Deborah LohPAS candidate Mohd Salleh Man (right), Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng on nomination day, 17 Aug (Pic courtesy of theSun) IT was a by-election the Barisan Nasional (BN) knew it would lose, but had to fight anyway. Unable to use the same excuse it had for opting out of Penanti, the BN went into Permatang […]
Kartika sentence postponed “until caning can be done the syariah way”
PUTRAJAYA, 25 Aug 2009: The caning of 32-year-old part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for consuming alcohol is postponed until the Home Ministry has the expertise to carry out the sentence according to syariah laws, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. He said the Prisons Department did not have staff who were experienced to […]
T’ganu won’t empower mosque officials to arrest Muslims
KUALA TERENGGANU, 25 Aug 2009: The Terengganu state government has no intention of emulating Selangor in empowering its mosque officials to arrest Muslims drinking alcohol in public places in the state, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said today. He said the existing laws and enforcement personnel were sufficient to handle such matters, and that it […]
Problematic licensing laws hamper freedom of expression
By CIJ and WamiTHE Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) are concerned about the confiscation of a cartoon magazine on current issues edited by prominent cartoonist Zunar. The confiscation smacks of harassment and censorship of discussion of current issues. On 25 Aug, officials from the Control of Publication Department of the Ministry […]
Strong voter turnout in Permatang Pasir
By Deborah Loh
Updated 5.35pm on 25 Aug 2009 PERMATANG PASIR, 25 Aug 2009: Polling in Permatang Pasir ended at 5pm today with 73.1% or 14,832 voters, out of the 20,290 registered voters, having cast their ballots, the Election Commission (EC) said. On Twitter, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang predicted a PAS win with a majority of […]
The truth is out there!
By Zedeck SiewEditor’s note: On 23 Aug 2009, a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Nuri that was en route from Sungai Besi Airbase to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on a routine flight crashed in an oil palm plantation in Sepang. There were no survivors, and military authorities have insisted that recovered remains were “too damaged for identification”. […]
