Amalan kahwin bawah umur tidak hanya lagi berlaku di Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia dan Pakistan tetapi sedihnya, di negara kita, Malaysia sendiri. Baru-baru ini budak 12 yang dakwa dirogol dikahwini dengan perogolnya sebagai isteri kedua. Bukankah tiba masa untuk Malaysia tidak lagi terima kes-kes seperti ini dan pelaku salah dijatuhkan hukuman di bawah undang-undang?
The Star
Not enough reforms for GE13
TO what extent have Bersih 2.0’s demands for a clean, free and fair election been met? What new measures have been introduced thus far as Malaysia heads to the polls on 5 May 2013 and are they good enough?
Manipulating the news: A public disservice
DING Jo-Ann highlights how the traditional media has manipulated the facts in two instances in the current general election. Such distortions harm public discourse and deeper understanding of issues, so crucial to us in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society.
Covering the elections fairly
It’s rare to see Malaysia’s traditional press give the federal opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, a fair hearing. Ding Jo-Ann imagines what it would be like if our media produced fair and honest coverage of the political parties and their candidates during the next general election.
Badu’s tattoo taboo (Updated 9 March 2012)
(Updated 11pm, 9 March 2012) ON 27 Feb 2012, an apology appeared in The Star regarding a photograph of US R&B singer Erykah Badu used on that day. The photograph showed Badu with body art, including the word “Allah” in Arabic script on her shoulders. Badu was due to perform in Malaysia on 29 Feb […]
Muslims serving alcohol: Ban or no ban?
THE Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ)’s recent ruling disallowing businesses that serve alcohol from hiring Muslims has raised many questions. Is it a law? A guideline? Just advice? Has it been rescinded? Who enacted the law that the ruling is based on? Why wasn’t it enforced before? And why the furore now?
Has Nazri always been “civil to the opposition”?
DATUK Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz is being hailed as a hero in some quarters for his “Malaysian first, Malay second” remarks in an open letter responding to Utusan Malaysia’s Awang Selamat. The minister in the prime minister’s department also said that “being civil to the opposition is the right thing to do in a democracy” as they are also elected by the people. But has Nazri always been civil to the opposition?
Seditious Malaysia
KARPAL Singh. Lim Guan Eng. Raja Petra Kamaruddin. Wong Chin Huat. These individuals have all been arrested or charged under Malaysia’s draconian Sedition Act. The Act was passed in 1948, at the height of the British colonial government’s struggle against the communists. But more than 60 years later, the wide-ranging and subjective law is still being used, whenever it’s convenient, to silence political opponents.
Peddling fear and distrust, Harussani-style
HOW reliable is the recent claim by Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria that a political party was drafting a new constitution threatening the special position of Malay Malaysians? In 2006, he had also spread unfounded allegations that Muslims had been converted and were to be baptised.
Putting a stop to baby dumping
THE most logical and obvious solution to addressing pregnancies out of wedlock – sex education – still seems to escape our decision-makers and politicians, whose suggestions have not just become increasingly ridiculous but also highly punitive.
