IT’s hard to trust the prime minister, no matter if public approval for him has risen following a slew of government handouts. It’s not just because the seasoned journalist in me has seen more than my fair share of untrustworthy politicians. Trust, as we often hear and know to be true, has to be earned. Prime […]
Columns
Islam membenarkan bapa kahwin anak kandungnya?
Asam Pedas oleh Norhayati KaprawiADAKAH Islam membenarkan seorang bapa mengahwini anak kandungnya? Menurut sesetengah pendapat Mazhab Shafi’e, begitulah. Anak yang dilahirkan di luar pernikahan, boleh dikahwini oleh bapa kandungnya sendiri. Di Malaysia, yang lebih memberatkan pendapat Mazhab Shafi’e, Fatwa Kebangsaan Malaysia 1971 menyatakan bahawa anak tak sah taraf tidak boleh dibin atau dibintikan bapanya dan bapanya tidak boleh menjadi wali […]
Nasihat tentang tattoo
Secubit Garam oleh Shanon Shah
SEMENJAK memulakan pengajian sarjana saya di London, saya kerap melayari internet untuk mencari ilham tentang kaedah-kaedah penyelidikan. Alangkah terkejutnya saya apabila mendapati bahawa kolumnis pujaan ramai, Kak Nora, menjadi tumpuan kajian ilmiah! Ikutilah perkembangannya: Assalamualaikum saudari Noranisah binti Minit (atau Kak Nora), Saya pelajar akhir tahun Prasiswazah Usuluddin di Akademi Pengajian Islam Universiti Tanahair Se-Malaysia, Kerteh. […]
Seksualiti Merdeka: Threat to national security?
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
ON 1 March 2012, the High Court dismissed Seksualiti Merdeka‘s leave application to judicially review a police ban on their annual festival. The November 2011 festival was banned under section 27A(1)(c) of the Police Act. The section (since superseded by the Peaceful Assembly Act) allowed the police to stop any activity on private premises “likely […]
Why I don’t want to vote for the BN
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
IF only voting were easy. For one thing, I’m still waiting for the Election Commission (EC) secretariat to tell me why my absent voter application was rejected. If the EC eventually approves my application — or if the elections coincide with my summer research at home — and if intra-party seat allocations don’t change, I’ll […]
On the runaround with local councils
Ampersand by KW Mak
HAVING served in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) for almost four years, I must say that the default image the public has about government officers is that they are corrupt. It is hard not to be categorised as such when there are plenty of news articles that point towards impropriety in both conduct and […]
Who’s afraid of a debate?
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
DISAPPOINTING as the Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek-Lim Guan Eng televised debate was, what’s clear is this: Malaysia could do with more public debates between the politicians who covet our votes and the power of public office. Since the 18 Feb 2012 debate between the MCA president and the DAP secretary-general, calls have been […]
The doughnut of justice
As if Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
ECONOMIC development and jobs or toxic waste and radiation? The Lynas rare earth refinery in Gebeng, Kuantan was granted a temporary operating license by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board on 1 Feb 2012. Lynas claims its company contributes towards “sustainable development” and helps create jobs as rare earth materials are increasingly being used to manufacture green technology products. But […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Why hasn’t Shahrizat resigned?
By Ding Jo-Ann
WHAT do cows and condominiums have to do with each other? This question arose after it was revealed that the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) had purchased several luxury condominiums. The question was a no-brainer because the NFC received a RM250 million government soft loan to run a cattle-breeding project, not dabble in real estate. The […]
Nasihat untuk Syria
Secubit Garam oleh Shanon Shah
SETELAH lebih setahun tercetusnya pergolakan di dunia Arab, saya masih khuatir dengan keadaan di sana. Sedih bila melihat rakyat jelata terbunuh dan cedera akibat tindakan kerajaan sendiri, terutamanya di Syria. Setelah terlalu banyak membaca laporan dari sumber-sumber bahasa Inggeris, saya cuba pula untuk mencari komentar dalam bahasa Melayu. Alangkah terkejutnya saya apabila mendapati bahawa kolumnis […]
