KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Nov 2009: The High Court here today allowed Kelantan prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Sultan Ismail Petra to enter judgment in default in his RM105 million defamation suit against his estranged Indonesian wife, Manohara Odelia Pinot, and her mother, Daisy Fajarina, after they failed to appoint counsel. Senior Assistant Registrar Shazali Hidayat Shariff […]
Current Issues
Should governments fear diversity and dissent?
By Shanon ShahBrian McKinnon Class Brothers 2008 Acrylic and foam on canvas 152 x 91cm (Artwork courtesy the artist and Indigenart — Mossenson GalleriesImage © the artist, courtesy Indigenart — Mossenson Galleries) THERE is a visual artwork by an Aboriginal Australian artist, Brian McKinnon, called Class Brothers. It is a striking political poster art, and has a […]
Fairer deal needed for states
By Ding Jo-AnnCorrected on 6 Nov 2009 at 11.20am PETALING JAYA, 5 Nov 2009: The federal government has too much discretion to decide on the annual budget allocation for states, hence making it difficult for states to plan their development, Pakatan Rakyat-elected representatives said. At a forum on the 2010 Budget last night, Petaling Jaya Utara Member […]
Overriding the religious state
By Shanon ShahZalman Kastel leading a multi-faith prayer A POPULAR former state mufti has just been arrested by the Islamic religious authorities. A Muslim woman who drank alcohol must be whipped. Those who question the sentence on her must be silenced. The proposed relocation of a Hindu temple was met by a Muslim-led protest threatening bloodshed. Christians […]
“Emerging dominance” of Islam in M’sia
By Shanon Shah and Koh Jun LinKUALA LUMPUR, 4 Nov 2009: Malaysia is a country witnessing the “emerging dominance” of Islam even though it was not always a Muslim-majority country, the chair of a United Nations (UN) body on inter-religious relations said. Gary D BoumaProfessor Emeritus Gary D Bouma¸ who is Unesco Chair in Inter-religious and Intercultural Relations — Asia Pacific, […]
Chua is MCA deputy president, again
Chua Soi Lek (file pic) PUTRAJAYA, 3 Nov 2009: The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has declared that Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek remains as MCA deputy president. Registrar Datuk Md Alias Kalil said the ROS felt that there was no vacancy for the post. He said this was because the decision on the resolution […]
Former Selangor MB aide charged
SHAH ALAM, 3 Nov 2009: A former aide to the Selangor Menteri Besar, Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to cheating and using forged documents. Mohd Yahya is charged with cheating the president of Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd, Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar, by deceiving him into believing that […]
The role of intra-faith dialogue
By Shanon ShahWe need more intra-faith dialogue (© arte_ram / sxc.hu) DISCUSSIONS on religious issues, or a lack thereof, are increasingly defining public policy and society in Malaysia. A few key words are enough to jog memories — the cow-head protest, the whipping sentence on Muslims for drinking alcohol, Christians and the word “Allah”, concert banning, and […]
Umno, not racist?
By Ding Jo-AnnDATUK Seri Najib Razak‘s assertion over the weekend that only “one or two Umno leaders” have made racist comments and that they do not represent the party’s views belies belief. Umno’s top leaders have in fact publicly and repeatedly championed the Malay agenda over the legitimate interests of other Malaysians. In some instances, intimidation […]
Why no action in Lingam case?
By Koh Jun Lin“The Commissioners find sufficient evidence of misbehaviour on the part of certain individuals or personalities identified or mentioned in the video clip.” “The Commissioners find sufficient cause to invoke the Sedition Act 1948, the Legal Profession Act 1976, the Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Penal Code against the various individuals mentioned in the video […]
