HOW have Malaysians been discussing the recent controversy over the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programmes? Let us count the ways. There are those who defend the BTN courses, such as Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. Then there are the critics. Some, like de facto Law Minister […]
Shanon Shah
Confessions of a “Melayu celup”
By Shanon ShahDATUK Zahim Albakri, 47, has had a brilliant end to 2009. He co-directed Cuci the Musical, which played from 23 Oct to 8 Nov at Istana Budaya, to much critical and commercial acclaim. Zahim also executive produced Jit Murad’s successful One Load of Bull Jit show at PJ Live Arts Theatre from 24 to 29 […]
“Why are Chinese [Malaysians] dangerous?”
By Shanon ShahARIF Johny Abdullah, 34, attended his Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programme back in the 1990s when he was in secondary school. He has blogged about his experiences at the camp, including an escape from camp grounds to find replacements for participants who had broken their eggs. Arif is a Sino-Kadazan from Sabah and officially converted […]
BTN’s stolen Malaysians
By Shanon ShahI NEVER attended a Biro Tata Negara (BTN) programme. But I, too, sat in a darkened room while the facilitator taught the song Warisan, which ended with the line Melayu kan gagah di Nusantara and some participants crying. I, too, was made to carry an egg and then reprimanded for letting a mischievous trainer defile […]
Do subsidies work?
By Shanon ShahPetrol prices are going up in MalaysiaON 4 June 2008, the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government announced a 40.6% petrol price increase effective at midnight. Pump price went from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre. Barely a week later, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) federal opposition launched its Protes campaign. Then PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa promised […]
Anwar Ibrahim, Jewish agent?
By Shanon ShahLOH Jia Liang, 23, attended his Biro Tata Negara (BTN) course in April 2008. It was during the end of his second year at a Malaysian public university and after the historic March 2008 general election which reduced the Barisan Nasional’s power. Now in his fourth year, Loh is an avid graphic novel fan. After […]
PAS tetap konsisten
Oleh Shanon ShahPAS memang konsisten. Malah, baru-baru ini nampaknya Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat bukan saja konsisten tentang isu di Malaysia, tetapi juga isu di negara lain seperti UK dan Iran. Dalam kenyataan media pada 9 Dis 2009, Pemuda PAS “mengutuk keras tindakan Liga Pertahanan Inggeris (EDL) yang membangkitkan sentimen perkauman dan anti-Islam di kalangan rakyat Britain”. Pada […]
Syariah law galore
By Shanon ShahKartika WHEN the Kuantan Syariah High Court sentenced Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno to six lashes of the cane and a fine of RM5,000 for drinking alcohol, some Malaysians were shocked. But many others were not, simply because Malaysians know that there is a separate law for Muslims in Malaysia — syariah law. The syariah legal […]
Perempuan-perempuan pandai
Oleh Shanon ShahAlexis Bledel yang berwatak Rory Gilmore dari siri Gilmore Girls (© Ed Schipul / Flickr) BILA saya demam, saya suka tengok siri Gilmore Girls. Baru minggu lepas saya demam teruk sampai menggigil-gigil. Jadi saya pun terbongkanglah depan televisyen, menonton DVD Gilmore Girls dua hari berturut-turut. Untuk mereka yang tidak tahu, Gilmore Girls mengikuti perjalanan hidup […]
Karaoke: Stories behind the songs
Compiled by Nick Choo
Updated 3:35pm, 25 Nov 2009 MALAYSIAN filmmaker Chris Chong Chan Fui‘s critically acclaimed feature Karaoke will debut in Malaysia when it screens for a limited one-week run at GSC Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur from 26 Nov to 2 Dec 2009. The winner of the first Maverick award at the 10th annual Calgary International Film […]
