THE most logical and obvious solution to addressing pregnancies out of wedlock – sex education – still seems to escape our decision-makers and politicians, whose suggestions have not just become increasingly ridiculous but also highly punitive.
Current Issues
Utusan Malaysia and Teoh Beng Hock
By Ding Jo-Ann
HOW far can a newspaper go in presenting its version of the truth? Yes, it has become generally accepted in Malaysia and internationally that newspapers don’t necessarily print “The Truth” and have their biases. After all, a recent Merdeka Centre survey revealed that almost six out of 10 Malaysians don’t trust the traditional media. But […]
Receiving live bullets “comes with the job”?
By Ding Jo-AnnSHOCK and outrage were expressed by many when DAP Member of Parliament (MP) Tony Pua received a death threat in the form of a live bullet and note on 11 Aug 2010. Such threats are unacceptable and should be thoroughly investigated and stopped. But according to one senior editor, receiving death threats is “part of an MP’s job”.
Sharing the economic pie, according to Umno
By Ding Jo-AnnPRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently invited Chinese Malaysians to take the lead in making the nation a high-income economy and to form genuine partnerships with bumiputera. But how does Umno want to divide the economic pie once it is enlarged? And should race-based demands and policies continue because Malay Malaysians are “great” or because they are still “not successful”?
Are our students free?
By Ding Jo-AnnACCORDING to our government, university students are freer than they have been because the UUCA has been amended and there are speaker’s corners on campus. But is there real freedom?
To the media’s defence
By Deborah Loh
PETALING JAYA, 17 Aug 2010: A new non-governmental organisation, the South East Asia Media Legal Defence Network (SEAMLDN), is all set to provide journalists in the region with legal protection. SEAMLDN, which was soft-launched in Kuala Lumpur on 23 July 2010, will provide legal assistance, including payment of legal fees, to journalists and media organisations. […]
Is there a common PR stand on quotas?
By Tarani PalaniPETALING Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua’s recent suggestion for Selangor to abolish the 7% bumiputera discount for high-end property has not been uniformly received by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders yet. Can we expect the implementation of Pua’s proposal for needs-based affirmative action in the PR-led states?
Student Power lecture repeatedly banned on campus
By Gan Pei Ling
PETALING JAYA, 13 Aug 2010: Artist, filmmaker and historian Fahmi Reza has consistently been barred from presenting his Student Power lecture at Universiti Malaya (UM) since October 2009. All three attempts of Fahmi’s attempts to present his historical findings in UM about the student movement have been thwarted by the university administration. Fahmi was first […]
Umno = Perkasa?
By Tarani PalaniIS it a coincidence that the rhetoric used by both Umno and Perkasa, in support of Malay Malaysian privileges and the right to use “Allah”, is so similar? Or perhaps there is no such thing as a coincidence?
Revamping education: Is the government up to it?
By Deborah Loh
THE idea of abolishing the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) exams shouldn’t have taken us by surprise when Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced it in June 2010. Those who follow developments in the Education Ministry might recall that plans to have school-based assessments instead of centralised exams […]
