IN part two of stories about those who have encountered the religious police, freelance writer Nabila Nasir, 25, recounts the harassment and extortion she and a now ex-boyfriend experienced at the hands of moral guardians in mid-2007.
Exclusives
Married but busted for khalwat
By Shanon ShahWHEN moral policing in Malaysia makes the headlines, it’s often for the wrong reasons. Take the Federal Territories Islamic Department’s raid on Zouk nightclub, Kuala Lumpur, in 2005, which created an international uproar. Or in 2007, when Amnesty International appealed on behalf of Ayu, a transsexual woman assaulted by Malacca’s Islamic law enforcers. More recently, […]
Understanding ethical journalism
By Shanon ShahBob Woodward (left) and Carl Bernstein (Woodward pic © Kat Walsh; Bernstein pic © Larry D Moore | Wiki Commons) JOSHUA Wong Ngee Choong, 42, quit his job as a producer at ntv7 on principle — he is opposed to self-censorship and political interference in the media. No wonder, then, that one of his favourite […]
“Don’t self-censor”
By Shanon ShahJoshua Wong holding up promotional material from his No political interference! campaign NEWS savvy Malaysians now probably know Joshua Wong Ngee Choong, 42, as the ntv7 producer who quit the network on 20 April 2010. The headlines, however, focused on the alleged political interference by the Prime Minister’s Office and the prime minister’s wife, Datin […]
“Love the PM. Any PM”
By Shanon ShahYB (Pic courtesy of Instant Cafe Theatre) THOUGH difficult to track down, the infamous YB (just “YB”, like “Madonna” or “Sting” or “Prince”) finally agreed to an exclusive with The Nut Graph. In this interview on 12 May 2010, YB shares his views with us on things Malaysian and current. YB is currently Deputy Minister […]
Punjabi party wants in
By Deborah LohTHE little-known Parti Punjabi Malaysia (PPM) got a spot in the newspapers recently when it elected its first woman president, Dr Susheel Kaur, a senior consultant in social impact studies and population geography. The 24-year-old party has been trying to join the Barisan Nasional (BN) for the last 10 years. PPM represents less than 2.5% […]
Treating religious minorities with respect
By Ding Jo-AnnREV Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), was recently in Kuala Lumpur for the 13th general assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia. Tveit has been heavily involved in interfaith dialogue as moderator of the Church of Norway-Islamic Council of Norway. He was also co-chair of the WCC […]
Understanding Malaysia
By Deborah LohIT was somewhat of a joke when the Malaysian government finally released the political biography, Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times, for sale here. Barry Wain (pic courtesy of Barry Wain) In the five months since November 2008 when 800 copies were shipped from Hong Kong to Port Klang and placed on hold, Malaysians […]
Zaid’s promise for Hulu Selangor
By Deborah LohZaid meeting estate workers at Ladang Sungai Air Jernih in Kerling in Hulu Selangor WHICH would you prefer: a candidate who lies to cover up his past, or one who admits it? That could be the question Hulu Selangor voters, particularly Malay-Muslim Malaysians, are grappling with. The by-election has started on a personal and predictable […]
Talking about Islam
By Shanon ShahDr Ahmad Farouk Musa (Background image source: Wiki commons) CAN Muslims and non-Muslims question or critique Islamic laws? Are Islamic laws inherently unjust? Should Malaysia be an Islamic state? Does one need to be an Islamic “authority” in order to figure these issues out? Islamic Renaissance Front founder and chairperson Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa shares […]