THE knives have been out for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) since its candidate Datuk Zaid Ibrahim lost the Hulu Selangor by-election to the MIC’s P Kamalanathan. Analysis and commentaries have emerged calling PKR the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s “weakest link”. There have also been “unnamed sources” citing internal bickering, a weak election machinery, and lack of […]
Current Issues
Criticising the monarchy
By Shanon Shah“Because the Rajas so easily handed over Singapore, Penang and Pangkor to the colonialists and then the Malay states, the People (“rakyat”) could no longer accept a system that only gives power to the Rajas and the People are not given any role in the country’s politics.” FORMER Umno president and Prime Minister Tun Dr […]
What use, that cabinet order?
By Deborah Loh“Conversion is not a grounds for the automatic dissolution of a marriage. The children should be brought up in the common religion. For the spouse who intends to convert into Islam, he or she would also have to come clean…The convert would have to fulfil his or her marriage responsibilities according to civil laws prior […]
Najib’s version of media freedom ll
By Shanon Shah“I believe the world media can take some lessons from our Malaysian media.” “As long as the reports do not run foul of our existing laws, the press is free to report on pretty much anything.” PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, speaking to journalists and business leaders before giving out awards at the National […]
Voting and race
By Deborah LohORANG Cina Malaysia, apa lagi yang anda mahu? queried the headline of an Utusan Malaysia editorial last week following the 25 April 2010 Hulu Selangor by-election. Indeed, Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians are trying to understand just what it is that will make Chinese Malaysian voters return to the BN’s fold. Not all Chinese Malaysians voted […]
Diverting Aminulrasyid’s shooting
By Deborah Loh“People are angry when a member of public is shot but the same can’t be said when police are shot. They have no sympathy at all. Is there a difference between the life of the public and police [officers]?” HOME Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, asking the public to be fair to the police following […]
JHEOA involved in Orang Asli conversion
By Ding Jo-AnnColin Nicholas PETALING JAYA, 4 May 2010: The Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) has been involved in the Islamisation of Orang Asli for decades, said Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas. “One of JHEOA‘s main objective is to convert Orang Asli to Islam. They don’t say it openly but their budget […]
Suhakam denied shooting guidelines
By Ding Jo-AnnPETALING JAYA, 30 April 2010: The police have denied the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) a copy of its written guidelines on the use of firearms despite requests following a shooting that happened last year. “The police have told us that there are written guidelines. However, it is a very confidential document,” Suhakam commissioner Datuk […]
When alcohol trumps polygamy
By Shanon ShahLET’S assume that in a democracy, the purpose of journalism is to provide the public with accurate and reliable information to function as individuals and members of society. By this definition, Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia should then be an accurate and reliable provider of public interest information to Malay-speaking readers across the nation. During the period […]
Comparing Malay and Chinese Malaysian voters
By Ding Jo-Ann“The people in these areas are very simple folk who just want development, peace and harmony. Outside issues do not have much of an impact on them as their priority is bread and butter issues.” UMNO information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan, speaking about Felda settlers and Malay Malaysian voting trends in the Hulu Selangor by-election. […]
