(From left) Shafie Apdal, Muhyiddin Yassin, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Hishammuddin Hussein THAT Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is Umno deputy president is probably a good thing for Malaysia’s largest political party. Analysts have been looking to him as the most competent contender for the deputy president’s post, especially since Umno’s deputy president is almost certain […]
Features
Shadow over Umno
By Zedeck SiewKhairy Jamaluddin celebrates his victory (All pics courtesy of theSun) AFTER more than two hours and three recounts, Umno Youth’s new chief was finally confirmed at 11.30pm on 25 March, 2009. Khairy Jamaluddin, with 304 votes, beat rivals Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (232 votes) and Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo (254 votes) in a closely-fought contest […]
Is change really coming to Umno?
By Zedeck SiewTHE first day of the 59th Umno general assembly on 24 March 2009 was coloured by three major elements. These were the banning of new media outfits from covering the event; the closed-door speech of outgoing party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi; and incoming president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech that jointly opened the […]
Umno’s future, Malaysia’s future
By Zedeck SiewCorrected at 11.20am, 20 March 2009 Najib (left) is widely expected to be made the next prime minister (File pic) IT goes without saying that the upcoming Umno general assembly from 24 to 28 March 2009 will be about power transitions. (Corrected) When the assembly closes, Umno will have a new president, Datuk Seri Najib […]
Renegotiating “sacred contracts”
By Deborah LohCorrected at 12.50pm on 20 March 2009 (highway pic © drouu / sxc.hu) WHEN toll concession agreements were declassified in January 2009, it was a milestone for the nation because for the first time ever, these contracts could be scrutinised. To the credit of the DAP, its politicians spent hours copying the agreement by hand […]
The problem with the “Allah” ban
By Deborah Loh and Shanon ShahIT is bewildering that a gazette on such a significant matter of public interest as the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims was issued and then rescinded just 24 hours after it was announced. Did not Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar spot the mistake in the ruling, which he signed? The gazette, […]
Making Kugan’s death matter
By Zedeck Siew(Pic by Mark Coggins / Flickr) THE fresh findings on what caused A Kugan’s death while in police custody are horrific and outrageous. Politicians, civil society groups and citizens have all expressed shock and anger. Unfortunately, Kugan’s death is not an isolated incident. In February 2005, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his capacity as […]
Agitating Malay Muslims
By Shanon ShahOVER the past year, several Malay-Muslim groups have been in the headlines. From lawsuits filed against the DAP’s Teresa Kok for allegedly insulting Islam, to campaigns responding to the crisis in Gaza, the defence of Islam and Malay rights has occuppied the national attention, sometimes in frightening ways. Just what are these groups about? What […]
Perak’s political drama heightens
By Deborah LohTHE political drama in Perak, which has escalated from one height to another, is set to spike tomorrow with an emergency state assembly sitting to vote on two motions related to the state’s constitutional crisis. However, even if the emergency sitting is successful, it would not immediately solve the impasse. It would, in fact, be […]
Anti-hopping laws versus five-year ban
By Deborah LohWHEN Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong left the DAP to become an independent supporting Barisan Nasional (BN), some of her constituents cried, “We didn’t vote for her, we voted for her party!” That was the mildest of angry sentiments expressed on the night of 5 Feb 2009 at the Perak Menteri Besar’s official residence, where […]
