GROWING up watching a variety of films, it never occurred to Saw Teong Hin that it might be strange for a Chinese Malaysian like himself to direct Malay films. “I never really thought about it until people started asking me again and again: ‘Why’s a Chinese [Malaysian] like you doing Malay films?’ But why not?” […]
Penang
Guan Eng vs Nik Ali: A chronology
WHAT exactly is the fight between Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and the state development officer Nik Ali Mat Yunos all about? Is it about public accountability or just a schoolyard fight between big boys?
The plastic menace
PENANG was the first to launch the No Plastic Bag Day campaign in July 2009. Selangor launched its own campaign after that. Subsequently, the Miri and Sibu municipal councils in Sarawak, as well as Kota Kinabalu city hall and six other districts in Sabah announced similar campaigns.
How effective are these campaigns? Can they really help save the planet? And what can be done to make these campaigns more popular?
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Who makes a better opposition?
THE last general election birthed a situation that was not common before 2008: the Barisan Nasional (BN) functioning as an opposition. Although the BN has been the opposition in Kelantan for many years, it was a completely new experience for them in Selangor, Penang, Perak and Kedah. Indeed, the blanket term “opposition” previously used to […]
A non-Malay PM: How possible?
IN envisioning federal power, one of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s trickiest points is where to place the DAP (read, a Chinese Malaysian) in the executive line up. As prime minister? God forbid, not in this Malay-Muslim majority country. As deputy prime minister? But what about PAS?
Class vs ethnic politics
IT would be a mistake to think that Datuk Ibrahim Ali is a true champion of the Malay Malaysian poor. But it would be equally silly to think that the Malay Malaysian poor do not support or sympathise with his call. After all, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s failure to increase support in Malay Malaysian rural […]
Third vote conundrum
THE Penang government has started removing hurdles in the way of restoring local council elections, and its next stop could be the Federal Court. Lawyers consulted by the state assert that local polls are possible because: • The federal law which governs the polls was never abolished. This law is the Local Government Elections Act […]
Culture shock in KL
Updated 12.30pm on 11 July 2011 (All pics below courtesy of Elaine Pedley) DANCER/choreographer/actor Elaine Pedley has been performing professionally since she was 15. A performing arts graduate from Universiti Malaya, Pedley has since appeared in award-winning theatre and dance productions, including Curfew!, Spilt Gravy on Rice, Bunga Manggar Bunga Raya, and Cuckoo Birds. She […]
Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff (Balik Pulau)
Updated at 4:25pm, 7 April 2010 BALIK Pulau Member of Parliament (MP) Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions. (Source: parlimen.gov.my)Name: Mohd Yusmadi Mohd YusoffConstituency: Balik Pulau Party: PKR (Opposition) Years as MP: Since 2008 Government position: None Party position: PKR Youth International Bureau chairperson PKR Youth executive […]
Local council elections possible
SUARAM Penang is disappointed with the Election Commission (EC)’s decision regarding local elections. We urge the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to amend the law to allow nationwide local government elections as soon as possible. Local elections are a cornerstone of democracy and good governance, and the BN would be showing its commitment to this by […]
