SHE is a law graduate and co-owns a clothes boutique. But Yunalis Zarai, who is more popularly recognised as just Yuna, is better known as the current darling of Malaysia’s independent music scene. The 24-year-old began writing her own songs when she was 14 and has not looked back since. After releasing her self-titled EP […]
peace
Islam’s special position
(Corrected at 12:35pm, 1 Feb 2010) THE Home Ministry’s ban on the use of “Allah” by the Catholic Herald publication has once again raised the issue of Islam’s position in Malaysia. “The special position of Islam is enshrined and protected under the constitution,” said senior federal counsel Mahamad Naser Disa during arguments in Herald’s suit […]
The voice of the Malay communists
Former CPM chairperson Abdullah CD arriving at the commemorative ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the peace accords THE issue of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) is definitely one that is framed according to the racial lines that divide us as a nation. For example, the prevailing myth is that the CPM was an […]
The multicultural question
Ien Ang Ever felt that Malaysians need to get out more and mix with people from other races and religions? And be open to dialogue with each other even if they hold different views? Cultural studies expert Professor Ien Ang would probably agree, as demonstrated in her recent public lecture on multiculturalism. Ang, who is […]
Lawless system breeds lawless culture: Raja Nazrin
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Feb 2009: To propagate a culture of peace, there is a need to uphold the rule of law and respect institutions established through and in accordance with the law, said Raja Dr Nazrin Shah. The Raja Muda Perak said the law governed our interactions with one another and with the state. “A […]
Representing Israelis and Palestinians
FEW believe that peace will break out in Gaza anytime soon, with Israel and Hamas adding demands to their hostage exchange negotiations. In the meantime, the dominant discourse on Israel in Malaysia is still that the Jews and the West are out to disempower and even destroy Islam and Muslims. But exactly what sorts of […]
The fundamentals of Christmas
(© Wong Mei Teng / sxc.hu)THERE were a couple of Christmases, as a teenager, when my family did not put up a Christmas tree. I’d like to claim that we were opting out of the crass commercialism of garish ornaments and plastic trees. The truth, however, stood a little more to the right of such […]
Defending customs, Malay unity and rights
FROM 15 to 21 Nov 2008, the Malay press highlighted Raja Dr Nazrin Shah’s speech on integration; Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim’s comments on the position of the Malays; and the threat of a naked protest against the Selangor government’s plan to raise the rent for a public housing programme. Raja Nazrin’s speech […]
