From shopping local to donating to worthy causes, here’s a green guide to making Christmas and the New Year meaningful and environmentally friendly.
Columns
Wajah Islam di Indonesia dan Malaysia
Asam Pedas oleh Norhayati Kaprawi
MALAYSIA dan Indonesia ialah dua negara berjiran yang ibarat saudara kandung. Kedua-duanya penduduknya majoriti beragama Islam dan dari rumpun Melayu. Walaupun masyarakatnya banyak persamaan, namun majoriti ulama dan rakyat Indonesia tidak mahukan ‘Negara Islam’ sedangkan ramai ulama dan sebahagian masyarakat Islam di Malaysia menuntut didirikan ‘Negara Islam’ dan melaksanakan hudud. Mengapa begitu?
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.
Pluralism: The new bogey
THERE is a new threat against Muslims in Malaysia and its name is pluralism. But just what kind of threat does pluralism pose to Malaysian Muslims? And what are other nations, which also experience cultural and religious diversity, doing about pluralism that we may learn from them?
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.
Why are Malaysians living in the dark?
As if Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
KLANG Valley youth these days probably own a few electronic gadgets from smart phones and laptops to digital cameras. But why are there whole communities in Malaysia still without electricity? And why won’t the government fund the affordable systems that will allow them to generate their own electricity?
Renewing Petaling Jaya leasehold titles
Ampersand by KW Mak
IN June 2011, the Selangor government promised Petaling Jaya Old Town house owners they could renew their 99-year leasehold land titles for a mere RM1,000. What has become of this promise? And more importantly, is the renewal of leasehold land titles legal?
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?
Voting for an “Islamic state”
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
According to MCA, a vote for DAP equals a vote for PAS equals a vote for an Islamic state and hudud. Is there truth to any of the charges and predictions MCA is making? And are they being completely honest about what the Umno-led Barisan Nasional itself has been responsible for?
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?
