HOME Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced in August 2009 that amendments to the Internal Security Act (ISA) would be tabled during the following October Parliament sitting. This was just after the massive anti-ISA protest in Kuala Lumpur. That amendment, however, never materialised. Hishammuddin then said in December 2009 that the ISA amendments would be […]
Current Issues
Najib’s version of media freedom
By Shanon Shah“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, denying that Malaysia lacked press freedom and saying that such accusations were grossly unfair. Najib said this to journalists and the business fraternity before giving out […]
Are the police shooting to kill?
By Ding Jo-AnnNorizan Salleh (file pic) POLICE-shooting victim Norizan Salleh never imagined she would ever be shot at. She describes how she felt lying on a highway near Gombak on 30 Oct 2009 after being shot five times by the police while on her way home: “I kept asking myself, ‘Betul ke, saya kena tembak? Is this […]
Orang Asli Hospital not fulfilling role
By Ding Jo-AnnKUALA LUMPUR, 22 Mar 2010: A hospital set up by the British to serve the Orang Asli in Gombak is not fulfilling its objectives in part because most of its patients are non-Orang Asli. Dr Selva Vathany Kanapathi Pillai, recently transferred out of the hospital after publicly voicing her concerns, told The Nut Graph that […]
Friday sermons to Islam’s rescue
By Shanon Shah“Marilah kita hidup di negara ini dengan hormat-menghormati antara satu sama lain. Budaya ini akan menjamin kesejahteraan dan kebahagiaan. Jika ada pihak lain yang tidak mahu hidup hormat-menghormati, sudah pasti akan berlaku kemungkinan permusuhan, pergaduhan dan pembunuhan yang pastinya kesemua sekali akan rugi negara akan musnah. Hentikanlah menghina Islam, kerana Islam adalah ciptaan Allah.” THE […]
Democratic parties are possible
By Shanon Shah(Pic by Jirikabele / Dreamstime) WHEN the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government dismissed local government elections and school elections on the grounds that these involve “politicking”, it was telling us that it either misunderstands democracy, or holds it in contempt. But when the Selangor and Penang Pakatan Rakyat (PR) governments pushed to restore local government […]
Outspoken doctor persistently “sidelined”
By Ding Jo-AnnCorrected at 12:20pm, 22 March 2010 PETALING JAYA, 16 Mar 2010: An outspoken doctor has charged that her attempts to highlight the mismanagement of an Orang Asli hospital in Gombak were persistently undermined by the authorities. Dr Selva (Courtesy of Bar Council) Dr Selva Vathany Kanapathi Pillai, who went public recently with serious allegations of […]
Direct BN membership
By Deborah LohWILL direct membership into Barisan Nasional (BN) really help boost support for the ruling coalition? Or are there more pitfalls than advantages? Politicians from various parties have weighed in, and while it is viewed as a workable strategy, the move could potentially harm BN’s internal cohesiveness. Drawing more support from outside the coalition through this […]
Whither national education?
By Deborah LohIN this final of a four-part series on education, The Nut Graph attempts to examine the problems that have become entrenched in the national school system. While public schools were reliable and multi-racial centres of education for Malaysian children not too long ago, today, parents who can afford it are sending their children to private […]
The home schooling option
By Deborah LohCorrected at 12:10pm, 10 March 2010 IN this third of a four-part series on education, The Nut Graph attempts to examine the problems that have become entrenched in the national school system. While public schools were reliable and multi-racial centres of education for Malaysian children not too long ago, today, parents who can afford it […]
