“(Umno’s reform) means getting rid of the power and control mindset…It means empowering the rakyat and not feeling scared that this empowerment will come back and haunt you because if you govern well, the rakyat will not punish you.” Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno Youth chief aspirant and Rembau Member of Parliament. He talked about the need […]
Zedeck Siew
Justifying defections, PR-style
By Zedeck Siew“God willing, we will be there. If not next month, the following month, if not June or July, on Merdeka (Aug 31) or Malaysia Day. I think we should not exceed beyond that.” PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, talking about the Pakatan Rakyat’s plans to take over the federal government by […]
Treason, Malay-ness and Allah
Translation by Zedeck SiewTHE collapse of the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government was the most visible issue in the Malay language papers from 2 to 8 Feb 2009. In examining the event, the press focused on questions of treason and Malay-ness, and attempted to pinpoint causes and effects. Treason Karpal Singh (Source: karpalsingh.net) After the palace-approved Barisan Nasional (BN) […]
Emotions run high in Perak
By Deborah Loh and Zedeck Siew
EMOTIONS were played out on the street outside the Perak Menteri Besar’s official residence on the night of 5 Feb 2009 where close to 10,000 had gathered to protest Barisan Nasional’s takeover of the state legislative assembly. Protestors flanked both sides of the one-way Jalan Sultan Idris Shah for about a hundred metres from the […]
Corrupting influence
By Zedeck Siew“Corruption disrupts the entire governmental process, underminds morality and erodes ethical behaviour.” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in an address at the 5th Developing Eight (D8) Summit, on 13 May 2006. The call was aimed at Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member states (Source: PM: Muslim nations must check corruption, Star, 14 […]
Anguish in Perak
By Deborah Loh and Zedeck Siew
ANGER. Shock. Sadness. Defiance. These were the emotions that permeated the atmosphere of the 8,000 to 10,000-strong gathering of Pakatan Rakyat supporters inside and outside the official residence of the Perak Menteri Besar in Ipoh on the night of 5 Feb 2009. The public started trickling in through the gates of the residence as early […]
Nasarudin’s hip hop
By Zedeck Siew“I am very confident in the leadership of PKR that has the will and strong idealism to fight for the rights and interest of the multiracial public in this country.” Bota state assemblyperson, Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, in a press statement explaining his 25 Jan 2009 defection from Umno to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). He said […]
Will Perak snap?
By Shanon Shah and Zedeck SiewTarnished silver (© Chris Deraud / sxc.hu) THE silver state is in crisis, with the Pakatan Raykat-led state government having lost its majority in the legislative assembly with four assemblypersons leaving its fold. Now, with the Perak government in limbo, experts tell The Nut Graph that the best option for the formation of a state […]
Religion, crime and politics
Translation by Zedeck SiewUSE of the word “Allah”, A Kugan’s death in custody, and political party-hopping were some of the concerns the Malay-language press was engrossed in between 28 Jan to 2 Feb 2009. “Don’t challenge Islam” The headline for Mingguan Malaysia‘s 1 Feb edition was Jangan cabar Islam, and the lead read: “Don’t challenge the sanctity of […]
Dirty Malay phrasebook!
By Zedeck SiewTHIS gem was spotted on the blog of one Anthony Monteiro, the sadly underappreciated Malaysian art critic. He wrote it in November 2008, but recent events have made the subject more topical than ever, so he has consented to my reproducing his work here: (Source: Wikipedia) You probably know the British sextet Monty Python, whether […]
