PROMINENT stories in the Malay-language press between 9 and 15 Feb 2009 revolved around the monarchy, Pakatan Rakyat (PR)-lynching, and the impending Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections. On 10 Feb, Utusan Malaysia got no less than Foreign Minister and Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to write on the Barisan Nasional […]
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Reflections on defections
By The Nut Graph and BFM 89.9FROM 2 Feb to 8 Feb 2009, all three vernacular presses focused on the issue of defections and resignations from political parties that led to the current political crisis in Perak. Additionally, the Malay press also expressed anger at the statement by DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh that he would take Sultan Azlan Shah […]
Criticising defections
Translation by Leong Lai MingFOR the week between 2 and 8 Feb 2008, the political crisis in Perak overshadowed other issues in the Chinese media despite the community’s preoccupation with the Chinese New Year celebrations. The week also saw the passing of Chinese Malaysian educationist Datuk Sim Mow Yu, and the looming anxiety of mass retrenchments as a result […]
Takeovers and killings
Translation by Sharmila Valli NarayananFOR 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 […]
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) […]
Uncertainty increases in Perak political tussle
By BFM 89.9THE political tussle for Perak took a dramatic twist today. Bota assemblyperson Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim rejoined Umno after defecting to Parti Keadilan Rakyat on 25 Jan 2009. Three other assemblypersons — Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang), Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering), and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) — left the Pakatan Rakyat to be “friendly” independents […]
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 […]
