CAN someone please send Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for image consulting? Or for some prepping on the art of answering reporters’ questions? Maybe the deputy prime minister ought to have a daily practice session with aides who should throw him trick questions on race and religion. He should learn to either deflect difficult questions skilfully, […]
Sideways
The real pribumi of Malaysia
By Deborah LohOrang Asal at a September 2008 gathering in Kuala Lumpur IN an interview with The Nut Graph, Pribumi Perkasa Negara (Perkasa) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali was careful to mention that Perkasa wants affirmative action for all races. He was also careful to mention “native rights” in the same breath as Malay Malaysians. But despite the […]
Who speaks for Islam?
By Deborah LohCAN non-Muslims speak about Islam? For that matter, can faithful, practising but non-scholarly Muslims, or Muslim women, or Muslim human rights activists, speak about Islam? As long as the fundamentals of Islam are given due respect, can’t there be room for comment or to express concern about aspects in the implementation of Islamic law, which, […]
Disability, sensitivity, and equality
By Deborah LohKarpal SinghTHERE was one awkward moment when I interviewed DAP national chairman Karpal Singh on 20 Jan 2010. He had not printed out the list of questions I had sent in advance, and wanted to see my list on a paper in front of me. He asked me to slide the paper across the table […]
Stay or go?
By Deborah Loh(Pic by dljt / sxc.hu)THERE seems little to look forward to, having just come out of 2009, which ended with religious tension that’s spilling over into the New Year. All over what to call God. The dispute over “Allah” dates back to the 1980s. But last year, it was just one event in a string […]
A letter to readers
By Deborah LohDear reader… (© Cierpki / sxc.hu) Dear reader, The year is drawing to a close and it is giving me cause to reflect on our relationship. Thank you for your support as well as your criticism. There were times when it stung, but in the larger scheme of things, I hope it has made me […]
Ministry responds to Tracking Rais
Information, Communications and Culture MinistryNote from The Nut Graph Surprise! The government has actually responded to a column published in The Nut Graph. The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry responded today to Tracking Rais, which took a critical view of some of minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim’s public statements. The article, written by Deborah Loh in her column, […]
Dining with the DAP
By Deborah LohFOR dinner one day last week, I decided to visit the DAP’s Rocket United Café which opened a month ago. Choosing to eat there felt a wee bit odd, as if one were making a political statement by deciding to patronise the outlet. And considering too, that there are numerous other food outlets and a […]
The furore over Al Islam
By Deborah Loh(Pic by Mateusz Stachowski / sxc.hu) NOW and then, journalists should engage in a little navel-gazing. Caught in the tide of chasing news deadlines, we forget to take time to question the methods we employ in news gathering, writing and presentation. What is at stake when we don’t question our own practices is our public […]
