SAYA sangat tidak bersetuju dengan keputusan kabinet yang mengesyorkan supaya digubal undang-undang untuk menafikan penukaran agama bagi kanak-kanak di bawah 18 tahun. Jawatankuasa itu juga mengesyorkan supaya isu berkaitan ini diberi bidangkuasa kepada Mahkamah Sivil dan bukan Mahkamah Syariah. Saya tidak pasti sama ada kabinet telah benar-benar diberi penerangan tentang kedudukan perlembagaan dan keputusan-keputusan Mahkamah […]
Letters to the Editor
National Water Resources Study flawed
By the Coalition for Sustainable Water ManagementTHE Coalition For Sustainable Water Management calls upon the federal government, and the Selangor and Pahang state governments to stop all ongoing work on the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project pending a complete review of the basis for the water transfer projects as given in the National Water Resources Study (NWRS) report. The Pahang-Selangor Raw […]
Fresh Perak elections needed
By AliranTHE results of the recent by-election in Bukit Gantang strongly signal that Perakians want the Pakatan Rakyat government to continue to serve them. It is their preferred chosen government and they have given the thumbs-down to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government led by Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. When the voters elected PAS’s Datuk Seri […]
Fearless reporting needs free environment
By Gayathry VenkiteswaranIN response to Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Najib Razak‘s 6 April 2009 speech on encouraging a national dialogue through the media, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) asks for a more concrete set of commitments in realising the PM’s vision. Najib Razak (Pic courtesy of theSun)To foster a transparent “national discourse” that leads to […]
Najib needs to do more
By Charles SantiagoI WELCOME the decision by Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to release 13 prisoners who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). I also laud his move to lift the ban on two [Pakatan Rakyat party] newspapers. But Najib’s announcements come at the time of three crucial by-elections that would gauge […]
30% women, please
By Chong EngTHE new cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should comprise at least 30% women ministers. Even if the new Najib-led cabinet is reduced in number, the prime minister should still implement and ensure at least 30% participation of women, in accordance with the United Nation’s Convention on the Elimination of […]
Realising 1Malaysia
By Datuk Dr Denison JayasooriaTHE 1Malaysia slogan is a refreshing concept that is timely at a moment in Malaysia’s history when we are faced with economic and political crises. The slogan under new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is better than the Bangsa Malaysia concept, which seemed to have an assimilation orientation and did not really catch on. […]
Obligations of media and govt
By Yip Wai FongWHILE the 12th general election had opened up some democratic space in the realms of media and freedom of expression, we are now watching it quickly disappear. The government’s censorship of the name of a certain murdered Mongolian looks absurd, as does the seizure of DVDs produced by the opposition. The fact that politicians choose […]
Opportunity for BN in Bkt Selambau?
By Datuk Dr Denison JayasooriaTHE Hindraf movement captured the imagination of not only the Indian Malaysian community but all communities in Malaysia in their ability to mobilise mass protests against the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government. This was reflected by a major swing against the BN and the MIC during the 12th general elections. At the heart of the matter […]
Open letter to the incoming prime minister
By Malaysia Think TankDear Sir, We at the Malaysia Think Tank look forward to your upcoming appointment. We apologise for not being able to address you by name yet, as that would transgress the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Your judgment and wisdom will affect the fate of our democracy and the future of 27 million Malaysians. […]
