(Pic by mirofoto / sxc.hu) WITH the recent attack on churches, a Catholic school and a Sikh gurdwara, migration is likely to be on the minds of some Malaysians. Despite government assurances that “everything is under control“, diminishing respect for rights as demonstrated by the “Allah” issue has naturally caused consternation among educated Malaysians. At […]
Najib Razak
Najib’s options with Allah
By Wong Chin Huat(Corrected at 7:25pm, 15 Jan 2010) How will Najib put out the fires? (Fire pic by straymuse / sxc.hu) COMMENTATOR Manjit Bhathia is right to say that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak “is starting to look every bit as useless as his predecessor, (Tun) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.” After the divisive rule of Tun Dr […]
“Allah” issue: Who started it?
By Jacqueline Ann SurinLEST we forget, the source of the Allah controversy that resulted in churches, and a Catholic school, being torched and threatened did not begin on the streets. It did not begin with narrow-minded and ignorant Muslim pressure groups threatening to spill blood to assert their sole right to use “Allah”. Lest we forget, it began […]
The madness of 2009
By Deborah LohTHE year 2009 has been a breathless one of political upheaval. But as we sift through the year’s events, we ask, which were the ones that really mattered? Which events indicate if democracy and political maturity are improving? Which tell us things are becoming worse? The Nut Graph offers its take on 10 highlights of […]
Peace treaty with CPM commemorated without M’sia
By Deborah LohDESPITE being a signatory to the 1989 tripartite Haadyai Peace Agreement, no official representative from Malaysia attended the 20th anniversary commemorative ceremony held on 30 Nov 2009 in Haadyai, Thailand. The two other signatories to the accords, the Thai government and the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), were respectively represented by Thai Deputy Interior Minister […]
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 […]
Lingam tape: Who’s being protected?
By Ding Jo-AnnSOMETHING feels horribly amiss in the government’s recent declaration that lawyer VK Lingam won’t be charged for his role in brokering the appointment of top judges. The government’s focus on whether to charge Lingam or not feels like a red herring. After all, the Royal Commission of Inquiry clearly found ethical and criminal misbehaviour by […]
Umno’s glee
By Deborah Loh“Isu kita ialah isu dua tiga kerat pemimpin bermasalah… “Begitu juga dengan isu-isu disekitar Hassan Ali atau Mustafa Ali yang tak habis-habis dengan nak bekerjasama PAS dengan Umno ke arah kerajaan perpaduan atau UG (unity government). “Untuk kali ini, saya dengan kuat merasakan bahawa perlu ada perubahan dalam pemain-pemain penting yang menduduki kerusi kepimpinan PAS diperingkat pusat. Kalau […]
Tee Keat’s art of war
By Deborah Loh“The outcome would be clear, the writing would be on the wall. If that happens, then my democratic principle is the whole lot [of us] will have to go, the entire presidential council.” “Once a simple majority is obtained, I will be left with no choice but to step down. Anyone who argues that I […]
RM3.7bil to enhance security
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Oct 2009: A total of RM3.7 billion will be provided to increase the efficiency of the security force, including by providing modern and sophisticated equipment. Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said RM1 billion would be provided to further improve the services of the police next year to achieve […]