THE national unity debate is an unresolved one, but one that Malaysians must not tire of if they are to prevent race relations from being hijacked for political ends. Recently, Malaysians showed they haven’t given up. Over 400 people attended a public forum on race relations by British anti-racism activist Dr Aneez Esmail on 16 […]
Features
Politicians and local councils
By Zedeck SiewTHE spat between Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP over the appointment of Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP) president Mokhtar Mohd Jait began with a boycott, by PKR councillors, of Mokhtar’s swearing in. This then led to DAP leaders calling for the resignation of Johari Kassim, the PKR whip in MPSP which led the boycott. […]
Funding our MPs
By Deborah Loh(ATM pic public domain / Wiki Commons) PARLIAMENT’S suspension of Puchong legislator Gobind Singh Deo‘s allowances and benefits for a year is revealing. That Gobind, who has filed a suit against his suspension, is an opposition Member of Parliament (MP) makes the whole exercise more telling. The episode betrays a mindset about the concept of […]
Islamic state, actually
By Shanon ShahPAS delegates lined up to salam with the incoming and outgoing leadership after the muktamar officially closed on 7 June 2009 WITH PAS, it was never really about “progressives” versus “conservatives”, or “professionals” versus “ulama”. It is, and always has been, about setting up an Islamic state. And so, given Malaysia’s dramatically shifting political landscape, […]
PAS’s next step
By Deborah Loh and Shanon ShahTowels with “PAS for all” slogans MUCH has been made about PAS’s 55th muktamar (annual general assembly) and the elections tomorrow, 5 June 2009, as a battle between the conservatives, represented by the ulama, and the moderates or professionals. But labels aside, the issue at hand is about PAS’s future. And the muktamar which begins […]
Not all are “BN stooges”
By Shanon ShahAre independent candidates part of the BN’s ploy? INDEPENDENT candidates have become a sort of joke in Malaysian politics, ever since the record-breaking 13 independents decided to slug it out in Bukit Selambau in April 2009. All 13, however, lost their deposits on polling day on 7 April, during which it was clear that voters […]
“YB” Kamarul Ramizu
By Shanon ShahKAMARUL Ramizu Idris, the eyebrow-raising independent candidate in both the Bukit Gantang and Penanti by-elections, is being skewered for coming out in support of the Internal Security Act (ISA). “Whether the ISA exists or is abolished is meaningless now. It just should not be abused, either by individuals or the government. It must be transparent […]
The Aminah enigma
By Shanon ShahAminah AMINAH Abdullah apologises a lot. She apologises for even slightly raising her voice, for not providing food and drink to reporters, for arriving late at her own press conferences, and even for not being “highly educated”, as she puts it. The former Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Wanita chief is contesting the Penanti state […]
PKR’s campaign homophobia
By Shanon ShahThe audience at the Jalan Berapit ceramah “THE Barisan Nasional (BN) should change its name to Barisan Pondan (faggot)!” bellows Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim to the 5,000-strong crowd in Jalan Berapit on 23 May 2009. The audience applauds the Bayan Baru MP, and emboldened, he goes on to […]
Nai doesn’t have to toe party lines
By Shanon ShahNai Khan Ari Nai Keow (maroon shirt) greets the press on nomination day on 23 May “CAN I ask my friend to come pick you up on his motorcycle? I am still at the Malay kampung and will be coming late to the temple,” Nai Khan Ari Nai Keow tells The Nut Graph over the […]
