IN an effort to give space in the media to marginalised voices, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) held its second annual Community Audio Carnival in July 2008. The event comprised a radio production competition and a workshop that trained women and youth in rural communities in simple radio production skills. Supported by the Global […]
Pictures
Saying “no” to the ISA: The sequel
By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Ng Boon Hooi
HOLDING candles, waving banners and chanting, about 2,000 people gathered and marched peacefully in downtown Kuala Lumpur on 27 Sept 2008 to protest against the Internal Security Act (ISA). The crowd, which began walking from two different meeting points — Central Market and Dataran Merdeka — started gathering at 7pm. When police prevented them from […]
A night of grievance and joy
By Khairil Anhar
EVEN a steady drizzle early in the evening of 15 Sept 2008 failed to dampen the spirits of thousands of Malaysians who thronged the MBPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya for the Malaysia Day rally organised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). The rally was also held in support of the two recent Internal Security Act (ISA) […]
Saying “no” to the ISA
By Danny Lim, Ng Boon Hooi and Cindy Tham
IN light of the latest spate of arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA), the legal profession, non-governmental organisations, politicians, and members of the public who oppose the use of the Act have come out to make a stand. The Bar Council has slammed the arrests of Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, Seputeh Member […]
Speaking up for indigenous rights
By Ooi Ying Nee
MORE than 150 Orang Asal (indigenous peoples of Malaysia) gathered at the Annexe Central Market in Kuala Lumpur at 10.30am on 13 Sept 2008. Their intention was to march peacefully to the palace, where they would submit a memorandum to the King. The march was, however, thwarted, and its leaders threatened with arrest by the […]
A truly Malaysian mandala
By Carolyn Lau and Ng Sek San
ON Merdeka morning, on a whim, we abandoned watching the parade on TV and headed for Kuantan. We were welcomed by breezy beaches with the sun beaming down on happy families. How perfect was that after weeks of rain in KL? The next day, we got up early for bouldering and a long walk to […]
Housing woes
By Ng Boon Hooi
SELANGOR has a glut of low-cost houses — on paper, at least. Yet thousands of urban poor in the state are still languishing in temporary longhouse settlements, and some have been there for decades. All they want is a chance to own a roof over their heads. But obstacles such as the inability to qualify […]
A consumer-friendly budget
Illustrations by Shieko
AS promised, the government delivered a consumer-friendly budget for 2009 that was themed A Caring Government. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi delivered the proposed Budget 2009 in Parliament on 29 Aug 2008, a day after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament and made opposition leader. […]
Merdeka fever
By Khairil Anhar
A WHILE ago, a group of bloggers decided to express their dissatisfaction with the state of the nation by displaying the Jalur Gemilang upside down on their respective blog sites. This action predictably evoked various reactions from all over the country. Some people called them traitors and demanded that they be arrested and charged under […]
Permatang Pauh: Time to vote
By Danny Lim and Ng Boon Hooi
THE eve of polling day for the Permatang Pauh by-election on 26 Aug 2008 saw two of the three candidates,, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, doing last-minute rounds and meeting supporters. Polling day dawned bright, with 40% of the voters making their […]
