*Corrected on 31 May 2011, 10.30am: This was earlier published as “partly free”. THE Barisan Nasional (BN) government is hardly an exemplary proponent of press freedom. Its wide ownership and control of much of the Malaysian press probably contributed to Malaysia’s “not free”* rating in a recent survey by Freedom House, a global press watchdog. […]
Columns
Fighting the likes of Ibrahim Ali and Utusan Malaysia
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
PERKASA president Datuk Ibrahim Ali‘s call for a “crusade” against Christians who challenge Islam’s position was disturbing, to say the least. As was the unsubstantiated front-page Utusan Malaysia report that Christian leaders had pledged to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia. What should be the right response to such hurtful and false speech? Should […]
The mobile vendor dilemma
Ampersand by KW Mak
STREET hawkers who ply their wares off mobile vans are a common sight these days around Petaling Jaya (PJ). During the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ)’s April full board meeting, the issue was discussed in brief. The matter of how street hawkers were taking up valuable parking space was raised and reported in The Star […]
Who wants another 13 May?
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
I DIDN’T live through the racial clashes of 13 May 1969. I was born a year after. And yet, throughout my childhood and into my adulthood, just mentioning “13 May” evoked whispered warnings and an unnameable fear. What is it about 13 May that gives rise to fear and suspicion that fellow Malaysians might re-enact […]
The need for access to environmental information
Guest column by Sonia Randhawa
GIVEN the public opposition against Lynas Corporation‘s proposed rare earth processing plant in Pahang, it is timely to revisit the due process that is supposed to govern the inception of such projects. How did the public come to know about the project so late after federal approval had already been given for it? Can public […]
Osama’s death: Nothing to celebrate
Reductio ad Absurdum By Chan Kheng Hoe
THE world was taken by surprise on 2 May 2011 with the announcement that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed. Some mourned, whilst others cheered. And to a few, the death brought closure to the 11 Sept 2001 attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre. But what was the thinking behind US President […]
Nasihat untuk lelaki lembut
Secubit Garam oleh Shanon Shah
BARU-baru ini saya terbaca tentang kem yang dikendalikan oleh Jabatan Pelajaran Terengganu untuk 66 orang pelajar sekolah menengah yang dianggap “lelaki lembut”. Kebetulannya, saya pernah menulis naskhah teater tentang isu yang sama, berjudul Air Con, yang dipentaskan pada tahun 2008 dan 2009. Jadi saya pun berkobar-kobarlah mahu menulis komentar tentang isu ini, akan tetapi saya […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: The meaning of Sarawak
By Ding Jo-Ann
ALL eyes are now on the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to see whether a general election will be called following the Sarawak elections. But although BN retained its two-thirds majority in Sarawak, it suffered a decline in the popular vote. Meanwhile, political rivals DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) increased their seats from six and […]
The Malaysian state of impunity (Updated)
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
(Updated 2:45pm, 1 May 2011) TWO things alarmed me about the arrest of Adrian Yeo, who is Selangor exco Elizabeth Wong’s aide, in Miri on 16 April 2011 after the Sarawak elections. One was the number of police officers who publicly assaulted him before he was taken away. The other was how none of the […]
Going solar and renewable
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
Have you ever wanted to install solar panels at your home, but couldn’t afford the capital cost? Once the Renewable Energy Act comes into force, this dream could become a reality. Passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 4 April 2011, the Act will allow individuals to sell electricity produced from renewable sources like solar photovoltaic […]
