ALL eyes are now on the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to see whether a general election will be called following the Sarawak elections. But although BN retained its two-thirds majority in Sarawak, it suffered a decline in the popular vote. Meanwhile, political rivals DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) increased their seats from six and […]
Archives for April 2011
The Malaysian state of impunity (Updated)
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
(Updated 2:45pm, 1 May 2011) TWO things alarmed me about the arrest of Adrian Yeo, who is Selangor exco Elizabeth Wong’s aide, in Miri on 16 April 2011 after the Sarawak elections. One was the number of police officers who publicly assaulted him before he was taken away. The other was how none of the […]
In the speaker’s chair: The challenge of impartiality
By Deborah Loh
A PARLIAMENT unaccustomed to a larger and vibrant opposition bench has proven challenging for Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia. Often, he is the target of criticism alleging his bias towards the executive. In the first part of an interview with The Nut Graph at his office in Parliament on 6 April 2011, […]
When will Taib really go?
By Ding Jo-Ann
IN the lead-up to the Sarawak elections, the prime minister and his deputy went all out to convince voters that Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud would step down after the state election because he was “ready”. But what does “after” and “ready” really mean? Is it “someday” as the deputy prime minister has stated or in “two to three years” as Taib has claimed? Clearly, vague rhetoric is useful for politicians to keep their options open especially now that the Barisan Nasional has again secured its two-thirds majority in the state assembly.
Going solar and renewable
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
Have you ever wanted to install solar panels at your home, but couldn’t afford the capital cost? Once the Renewable Energy Act comes into force, this dream could become a reality. Passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 4 April 2011, the Act will allow individuals to sell electricity produced from renewable sources like solar photovoltaic […]
Building Malaysia in London
By Shanon Shah
IS the Federal Constitution secular or Islamic? Are the prime minister’s New Economic Model and Government Transformation Programme all they are cracked up to be? And what about corruption in Malaysia? Big questions, these, with discussions amongst politicians often ending up bitter, polemical and unyielding. Not to mention the name-calling, character assassinations and government muzzling […]
Sarawak elections and the politics of scaremongering
By Ding Jo-Ann
THE impending 16 Apr 2011 Sarawak elections have been dubbed by some media as the “hottest ever” polls in the state. The state elections will be the biggest test that the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have had to face since the 2008 general election. The BN will be looking for signs […]
Nasihat untuk Lady Mama
Secubit Garam oleh Shanon Shah
TERKEZUT saya apabila beberapa suratkhabar di London memuatkan berita tentang kontroversi lagu Lady Gaga di rangkaian radio Malaysia. Akan tetapi, setelah saya membaca kolum terbaru kolumnis tanahair yang tersohor, Kak Nora, saya mendapat tahu tentang lagi satu kontroversi, kali ini melibatkan artis Malaysia sendiri. Bacalah selanjutnya: Assalamualaikum Kak Nora, Sebelum apa-apa Kak, lets me introducing […]
Commercial developments on residential land
Ampersand by KW Mak
In the previous instalment of Ampersand, I touched on a resident’s right to object to a development project, even if they were not an owner of a neighbouring land as defined under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA). Basically, all developments are subject to the National Physical Plan and National Urbanisation Policy. These two […]
Reporting on GTP: Why all good news?
By Ding Jo-Ann
*Updated 4 April 2011 GOOD journalism involves asking the right questions. Asking who, what, when, where, why and how is part and parcel of any journalist’s toolkit. But how effectively did the traditional* print media apply these tools when reporting on the recent Government Transformation Programme (GTP) first year celebrations? Were there some questions, perhaps, […]
