SINCE the watershed March 2008 elections, intra-party spats and power struggles have become the norm in Malaysia. These problems seem to be an equal opportunity malaise, affecting both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Do our political parties take and share power democratically? (© sanja gjenero | sxc.hu)It could just be that these […]
Barisan Nasional
Reaching the middle Malay Malaysian
By Deborah Loh(See-saw image by scusi/Dreamstime) THE DAP’s unveiling of “Middle Malaysia” couldn’t have been at a better time. But with the ongoing “Allah” debate and the defiance by Parti Keadlian Rakyat (PKR)’s Zulkifli Noordin, an apt question is, just who are Middle Malaysians? From party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng‘s description, Middle Malaysia indicates a state of […]
When BN signs the cheques
By Shanon Shah“…[I]f we pay to the state government, we do not know how the money will be spent. If it is paid through the state government, I am not confident that it will be transparent as (proven in other assistance previously) they give it only to their (PAS) people” DEPUTY Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek […]
BN-style resolution to “Allah” issue
By Jacqueline Ann SurinWORD is, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is mightily concerned about the “Allah” issue and wants the matter resolved. Forgive me, but it’s hard to believe this, based on the public statements the government has been making. Honestly, how can we believe that the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) government under Najib’s leadership is sincere […]
Bonuses in peril
By Wong Chin HuatDESPITE all the madness in 2009, it was a year in which Malaysians saw positive changes on two important fronts: ethnic relations and good governance. A good example, notwithstanding the initial flip-flopping, is the federal government’s decision to revamp the racist and fascist content of the Biro Tata Negara courses after being forced to by […]
Anwar Ibrahim, Jewish agent?
By Shanon ShahLOH Jia Liang, 23, attended his Biro Tata Negara (BTN) course in April 2008. It was during the end of his second year at a Malaysian public university and after the historic March 2008 general election which reduced the Barisan Nasional’s power. Now in his fourth year, Loh is an avid graphic novel fan. After […]
Pakatan Rakyat vs local elections
By Wong Chin HuatIT is funny to hear my friends in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) complaining that civil society is pressuring only the opposition coalition to revive local elections and not the Barisan Nasional (BN). It becomes more hilarious now that the PR has reportedly reduced its commitment to merely “strengthening local democracy.” One unnamed leader defends it […]
The truth about secrets
By Jacqueline Ann Surin(Pic by Kriss Szkurlatowski / sxc.hu) TWO weeks ago, I could not help feeling that there was little difference between the Catholic Church and the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led federal government. Both these powerful institutions have one thing in common — both have cultivated a long-standing culture of secrets. With the church, the damage has been […]
Keeping citizens loyal
By Deborah LohTO Umno veteran Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat, loyalty is a lost virtue in politics. In his recently published memoir, Umno: Akhir Sebuah Impian, Mohamed laments Umno’s other disease besides money politics: the culture of backstabbing to further self-interests. Mohamed was information minister from 1987 to 1999. He served under no one less formidable than former […]
Divorce, PAS style
By Shanon Shah“It is a verbal oath. Under the oath, a candidate promises not to sell out the party or hop to another party. If the candidate does it, he will have to divorce his wife.” SHAH Alam PAS Member of Parliament (MP) Khalid Samad, explaining a loyalty oath imposed on PAS legislators. Under the oath, PAS’s […]
