IN 2005, as part of my postgraduate thesis, I decided to put on a musical, not realising the amount of work a production actually needs. With my vision of making it a large-scale song-and-dance spectacle the likes of a Great White Way or London West End production, it was an exercise in overambition. Still, it […]
religion
PAS’s balancing act
By Lainie YeohLainie Yeoh is a graphic designer. She drinks alcohol, goes for rock concerts, and had to choose between PAS, Umno, or spoiling the vote during the last elections. The Nut Graph needs your support
Making minorities count
By Shanon Shah(source: drsitimariah.blogspot.com) “PAS for all” was an enchanting slogan indeed during the March 2008 general election. It was a sentiment that allowed for a warm partnership to develop between PAS and its eventual Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP. It was also what convinced Malaysians of all races to vote for […]
A day with the “deviants”
By Shanon ShahCorrected at 4:30pm, 30 Sept 2009 “FROM what we see, Islam [in Malaysia] appears like a one-way religion. But in the Quran, it’s not like this. Even if someone apostates, it’s not another human being’s right to persecute them,” Ainul Yakin Muhd Zin, 41, tells The Nut Graph. Perhaps this is why the sect that […]
The furore over Hindu temples
By Deborah LohTHE cow head protest over the relocation of the Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu temple from Section 19 to Section 23 in Shah Alam shows, on one hand, the existence of racial and religious bigotry. But it also points to a deeper, more systemic neglect by town planners to adequately provide land for non-Muslim places of […]
Upholding what is sacred in Islam
By Hadil El-KhoulyA real dialogue (All pics courtesy of Mas Hamzah) AS a Muslim foreigner coming to Malaysia from the Arab world, I was filled with curiosity and excitement at the chance to witness Islam in a country like Malaysia which we look up to as a developed, thriving Muslim country rich in cultural and religious diversity. […]
My ideal politician
By Dr Farish A NoorTHE historian’s lament is that he or she is often witness to mistakes of the past, and yet is unable to prevent them from recurring. In the end, the historian is cursed with the Cassandra complex and accused of being a tiresome doomsayer. At the risk of being black-balled from dinner parties, I would like […]
What’s the matter with SIS?
By Jacqueline Ann SurinWHAT do you know? Politicians from across the divide are actually united on an issue. The issue? The threat that Sisters in Islam (SIS) poses as a Muslim women’s rights organisation that may be deviating from the faith. The latest spotlighting on SIS — just one of many through the 20 years of the non-governmental […]
Educating Americans about Muslim voices
By Vishakha N Desai, Karen Brooks Hopkins and Mustapha TliliA panoramic view of Cairo (© JasmineElias / Wiki Commons) PRESIDENT Barack Obama has extended an open hand of friendship in his landmark Cairo speech to the Muslim world — seeking to engage Muslims with a commitment of mutual respect. No one can doubt his sincerity. From his first days in office, he has emphasised […]
AI highlights racial discrimination in M’sia
By Gan Pei LingPETALING JAYA, 28 May 2009: For the first time in its annual human rights report for Malaysia, Amnesty International (AI) has highlighted racial discrimination as one of several human rights violations in the country. The 2009 report said that racial discrimination was institutionalised in Malaysia, particularly in government-backed affirmative action policies for bumiputeras such as […]
