PETALING JAYA, 21 July 2010: A landmark study on polygamy in Malaysia has cast doubt on whether husbands in polygamous marriages are able to treat their wives and children equally as intoned by the Quran. The study, conducted by Sisters in Islam in collaboration with academics from several local universities, found that while almost 80% […]
Current Issues
Who wants PAS-Umno unity?
By Gan Pei LingUnity talks between Umno and PAS seem to have been revived recently. But who are the ones behind it?
Corporatising JHEOA: Its impact on indigenous rights
By Deborah Loh
PETALING JAYA, 20 July 2010: A proposed move to corporatise the Orang Asli Affairs Department, known by its Malay acronym JHEOA, to take charge of land development for the Orang Asli will impoverish the indigenous peoples. Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas said corporatisation was likely to be among the amendments […]
Reviewing the NEP: Who should know better?
By Deborah LohCONFLICTING statements on the New Economic Policy (NEP) from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, CIMB chief executive officer Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, and Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali. Nazir has frequently called for a review of the NEP; Najib has made about-turns on the issue of abolishing the policy, while Ibrahim wants it retained.
Where’s the national health scheme?
By Koh Lay ChinMore than two decades have passed and the National Health Financing Scheme still seems up in the air in terms of concept and implementation. Will it be a flat-rate or not? Will it take a year or ten? Despite continuous studies on the proposed scheme, is Malaysia anywhere closer to a health financing scheme which is affordable, fair and accessible to all levels of society?
First phase of MP Watch completed
By Deborah Loh
PETALING JAYA, 16 July 2010: All 222 Members of Parliament (MPs) have been contacted for the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, and have responded with either full answers or a non-reply. As of 15 July, 113 MPs answered in full all six questions on key democracy issues that were posed to them. The other […]
The secretive Malaysian government
By Ding Jo-Ann
A SHOW-CAUSE letter sent to whistleblower Dr Selva Vathany Kanapathi Pillai, who has been highlighting mismanagement at the Orang Asli hospital in Gombak, cites rule 19 of the Peraturan-Peraturan Pegawai Awam (Kelakuan dan Tatatertib) 1993. It states, amongst other things, that a civil servant cannot make any public statement or provide factual information about the […]
Who caused Selangor’s water woes?
By Ding Jo-Ann
Who really caused Selangor to be in a deadlock with private water concessionaires over restructuring the water industry and ensuring that water tariffs would not be frequently raised?
How the govt undermines Suhakam
By Deborah Loh
WE know that Senator Ezam Mohd Nor was diverting from the real issue when he commented on the story about foreign workers at the new Istana Negara construction site allegedly not being paid their wages. He turned what was really a human rights issue and possible labour law violation into a case of undermining the monarchy. What is more important than Ezam’s rhetoric is that once again, an authority tasked with protecting people, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), is disregarded.
JPA scholarships: What will it be?
By Ding Jo-AnnThe status of Public Service Department scholarships has changed three times within a month, from one minister saying there were insufficient funds, to another saying it would not be a problem to source for additional funding. So what’s the real deal with JPA scholarships?
