Click here for some theme music! (© Nick Choo) PATRIOTIC, public-service music has never gone out of vogue. Some people have favourites. Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim recently cited Budi Bahasa Budaya Kita as a shining example of the genre. I like to remember the IT song, because in the […]
Archives for May 2009
1BLACKMalaysia campaign for Perak
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2009: The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) has urged all Malaysians to wear black on 7 May to protest the “ongoing Perak coup” by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government. “It will be a peaceful but powerful message of civil disobedience: that we, the people, are the politicians’ bosses and […]
Suspected influenza A (H1N1) case in Sarawak
KUCHING, 5 May 2009: A 31-year-old man, who had been travelling to the United States in the last two weeks, was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital’s isolation ward last night after having symptoms similar to influenza A (H1N1). Health Deputy Director-General Dr Ramlee Rahmat said today the man, a local, returned to Sarawak on […]
Sabah deputy CM joins Gerakan (Updated)
Updated 2.44pm, 5 May 2009 KOTA KINABALU, 5 May 2009: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan will join Gerakan, after being without a party for almost nine months. Gerakan national chairperson Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon made the announcement minutes before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s arrival for the meet-the-people session at the […]
The rise of Muslim NGOs
By Shanon ShahIT was to be expected that the cabinet decision on unilateral conversion of minors to Islam by a Muslim-convert parent would be opposed. Indeed, less than a week after the cabinet decision, the coalition of Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) known as Pembela criticised the decision. Abim logo Pembela comprises more than 50 Muslim NGOs, and […]
Indira Gandhi’s search goes on
Translation by Sharmila Valli NarayananBETWEEN 27 April and 3 May 2009, the Tamil papers continued to devote space to M Indira Gandhi’s quest to get her daughter back from her estranged and Muslim-convert husband. The absence of Tamil-language classes in a local university, and land right issues involving the Catholic Church were also highlighted during the week. Hunt for […]
Swine flu hogs headlines
Translation by Zedeck SiewIN the week of 27 April to 3 May 2009, the Malay-language press was filled with musings on swine flu, PAS’s internal strife over the possibility of a unity government with arch-rivals Umno, the morality of art, and the growing problem of mat rempit. Following a week of global anxiety, religious commentators placed the blame […]
Najib needs to do more
Translation by Gan Pei LingFOR 27 April to 3 May, the Chinese media’s spotlight was on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s new reform policies, the A (H1N1) flu threat, and the Penanti by-election. From the liberalisation of the 27 services sub-sectors and financial sectors to the cabinet’s policy on conversion disputes, Najib’s new policies have become a topic […]
I did not lose confidence of majority: Nizar (Updated)
Updated 11.35pm, 4 May 2009 KUALA LUMPUR, 4 May 2009: Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin told the High Court that he did not request the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the Perak state legislative assembly because he had not lost the confidence of the majority. He said that when he had the audience with Sultan […]
Tun Abdullah appointed as MAS advisor
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 May 2009: Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been appointed as advisor for Malaysia Airlines effective 1 May. In a statement here today, Malaysia Airlines chairperson, Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid said the board welcomed Abdullah with his wide experience and extensive contacts to the non-executive appointment and looked forward […]