What is the big deal about Anwar’s stand on homosexuality? Sure, he speaks out against racism, detention without trial and corruption, but is he inconsistent for insisting that homosexuality remain criminalised? Does it matter that Anwar’s stand on homosexuality is no different from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s?
Seksualiti Merdeka
Why should we trust you, Prime Minister?
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
IT’s hard to trust the prime minister, no matter if public approval for him has risen following a slew of government handouts. It’s not just because the seasoned journalist in me has seen more than my fair share of untrustworthy politicians. Trust, as we often hear and know to be true, has to be earned. Prime […]
Seksualiti Merdeka: Threat to national security?
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
ON 1 March 2012, the High Court dismissed Seksualiti Merdeka‘s leave application to judicially review a police ban on their annual festival. The November 2011 festival was banned under section 27A(1)(c) of the Police Act. The section (since superseded by the Peaceful Assembly Act) allowed the police to stop any activity on private premises “likely […]
Remembering Raja Aziz Addruse
By Ding Jo-Ann
EVERYTHING I know that’s worth knowing about human rights, I learnt from Raja Aziz Addruse. As the world commemorated International Human Rights Day on 10 Dec, I found myself remembering this amazing man, all he taught me, and all he left behind after his passing five months ago. Raja Aziz was, and still is, a […]
Mahu dukung demokrasi atau diskriminasi?
SUDAH banyak yang diperkata, diperdebat dan didemokan tentang Seksualiti Merdeka. Banyak juga yang menuduh bukan-bukan. Pesta seks bebas lah, mengajar orang supaya jadi gay lah, dan macam-macam tuduhan yang kreatif. Sayangnya, ramai orang termasuk wartawan, lebih suka menuduh dan mensensasikan isu dari cuba memahami dan memberi maklumat berguna pada orang ramai. Seperti biasa, ramai yang […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Lessons from the Seksualiti Merdeka controversy
By Shanon Shah
Open-ended vs. close-ended democracy?
Nasihat tentang golongan songsang
Secubit Garam oleh Shanon Shah
PENING kepala saya baru-baru ini bila tercetus huru-hara tentang “pesta seks bebas” yang kononnya diadakan di Kuala Lumpur. Mula-mula saya rasa mustahil ada orang berani berbuat demikian di tengah-tengah bandaraya KL, tapi hari demi hari ada saja berita tentang golongan “songsang” dan “luar tabii” yang mengangjurkan pesta ini. Lalu saya pun cuba mengetahui dengan lebih […]
Different takes on Merdeka
By Cindy ThamTHE long weekend was a good opportunity to catch up with friends over a meal or drinks. Over breakfast on the eve of Merdeka Day, some friends chatted about the constitution the nation never had: the People’s Constitution, which was drafted 10 years before Malaya gained independence from British rule on 31 Aug 1957. (Pic […]
Signs of the times
By Zedeck Siew
MALAYSIA’S 52nd anniversary of independence is upon us. 2009 has thus far already been tumultuous for our nation, with political infighting, rising criminality, mysterious deaths in custody, delayed whippings, and by-elections galore. We’ve also seen crowds running in the face of teargas canisters. State assemblypersons under a tree, in full regalia. Clandestine camera phone stills […]
The Nut Graph‘s Merdeka Awards
By The Nut Graph teamIT’S Ramadan, yet another by-election has passed, and we are now on the eve of the 52nd anniversary of the declaration of Independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman. For The Nut Graph, this moment is tender and special, because the Merdeka month this year also marks the first anniversary of our publication. And so, we have […]
