FOR the week of 2 to 8 Feb 2009, the Tamil papers highlighted the political tussle in Perak, the effect of the Sri Lankan war, and the Thaipusam festivities. Fallout in Perak The political events in Perak that resulted in the state’s takeover by the Barisan Nasional (BN) were widely reported in the Tamil papers […]
Found in Translation
Treason, Malay-ness and Allah
Translation by Zedeck SiewTHE collapse of the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government was the most visible issue in the Malay language papers from 2 to 8 Feb 2009. In examining the event, the press focused on questions of treason and Malay-ness, and attempted to pinpoint causes and effects. Treason Karpal Singh (Source: karpalsingh.net) After the palace-approved Barisan Nasional (BN) […]
Defections, deaths, dengue
By The Nut Graph and BFM 89.9FROM 26 Jan to 2 Feb 2009, the vernacular presses focused on defections from political parties, deaths in police custody, the war in Sri Lanka, and the dengue outbreak in Malaysia. The Malay press also discussed the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslim groups. Click on the BFM 89.9 audio report of Found in […]
Death and the horrors of war
Translation by Sharmila Valli NarayananGLOOMY news dominated the Tamil papers for the week of 26 Jan to 1 Feb 2009. A Kugan’s death, the ongoing war in Sri Lanka, and the death of a young man in Chennai were widely discussed in the papers. Death in detention Like all other papers in the country, 22-year-old Kugan’s death while in […]
Defections and dengue
Translation by Leong Lai MingFROM 26 Jan to 1 Feb 2009, besides ushering in the Year of the Ox, the Chinese press highlighted speculation that MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek would cross over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR); reactions towards defecting politicians in Perak; and squabbles over managing the dengue outbreak. Another defection? On 29 […]
Religion, crime and politics
Translation by Zedeck SiewUSE of the word “Allah”, A Kugan’s death in custody, and political party-hopping were some of the concerns the Malay-language press was engrossed in between 28 Jan to 2 Feb 2009. “Don’t challenge Islam” The headline for Mingguan Malaysia‘s 1 Feb edition was Jangan cabar Islam, and the lead read: “Don’t challenge the sanctity of […]
Toll rates, the Sri Lankan war and language
By The Nut Graph and BFM 89.9FOR the week between 12 and 19 Jan 2009, the different vernacular presses highlighted both national and international issues. In this BFM 89.9 audio report of Found in Translation, toll discounts, the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war, and the use of English to teach Maths and Science are highlighted. BFM 89.9 is a 24-hour radio […]
KT, Palestine, sex toys and language
Translation by Zedeck SiewBETWEEN 12 and 19 Jan 2009, alongside the Kuala Terengganu by-election and the conflict in Palestine, the Malay-language press was also preoccupied with the sale of sex toys and the teaching of science and maths in the English language. Jews in the news Israel’s invasion of Gaza continued to occupy headlines throughout the week. On […]
Signal from KT
Translation by Leong Lai MingFROM 12 to 18 Jan 2009, the Chinese press highlighted the Kuala Terengganu by-election. Guang Ming Daily‘s editorial on 18 Jan, titled Pay attention to the signal from the Kuala Terengganu by-election, examined what Chinese Malaysian voters want from political parties. The 17 Jan by-election saw PAS candidate Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut wresting the parliamentary […]
Sri Lanka’s civil war
Translation by Sharmila Valli NarayananA Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam vehicle with soldiers (© Ulflarsen; source: Wikipedia) THE plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils, the rising crime rate among the Tamil community, and Ponggal wishes dominated the Tamil press headlines during the week of 12 to 18 Jan 2009. Tamil newspapers have always reported on the ongoing civil war […]
