THE quest for greater academic freedom for Malaysian university students has seen an eventful past six months. In October 2011, a landmark Court of Appeal decision declared section 15(5)(a) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) unconstitutional. The section prohibits students from expressing support for, or opposition against, any political party. In November […]
Columns
The price of free speech
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
IN his commentary on the National Union of Journalists’ proposed “fair reporting pledge”, former MySinchew editor Bob Teoh urged journalists to refrain from unethical reporting. He noted that fair reporting might come at a cost, whether in increased union dues or decreased chances of promotion. Teoh’s sentiments about both the possibility and the price of […]
Objecting to unsound developments
Ampersand by KW Mak
THERE is a proposal by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to redevelop the PJU1, PJU2, SS and PJS areas of Petaling Jaya (PJ). Details of these proposals are found in the Draft Special Area Plan and the council is invoking Section 16B of the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1976 for this exercise. […]
Hang Li Po dan Hang Tuah: Benar atau dongeng?
Asam Pedas oleh Norhayati Kaprawi
“HISTORY is written by the victors” atau “Sejarah ditulis oleh orang yang menang atau berkuasa”. Ungkapan yang begitu terkenal namun tiada orang yang tahu siapa yang pertama kali mengungkapkannya. Ada yang kata Winston Churchill tapi ramai yang meraguinya. Soalan yang menarik untuk kita adalah jika kita tidak tahu sejarah asal-usul ungkapan itu, dan tiada dokumentasi […]
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: What if Najib wins?
By Ding Jo-Ann
THE next general election will be Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s first election as head of the Barisan Nasional (BN). Najib will also be leading the BN into its first general election after its worst election performance in March 2008. The Nut Graph asks political scientist Dr Wong Chin Huat on how well Najib […]
Nasihat tentang kebebasan akademik
Secubit Garam oleh Shanon Shah
BARU-baru ini, saya banyak mendengar pendapat yang bertentangan tentang tindak-tanduk aktivis mahasiswa Adam Adli. Ada yang menuduh tindakannya bodoh dan biadap, tetapi ada juga yang mempertahankan haknya untuk bersuara. Walaupun tidak berkaitan secara langsung, saya rasa nasihat terbaru dari kolumnis pujaan ramai, Kak Nora, memberi perspektif yang penting. Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh Kak Nora, Kak, […]
Ethical fashion: Greening your wardrobe
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
HAVE you ever wondered what your clothes are made of? How materials such as cotton or polyester are produced, and by whom? And do fashion companies pay our farmers and factory workers fairly for their labour? I was oblivious to the environmental and social woes associated with conventional cotton farming until I read the book […]
National identity is not a race
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
NEW year, new you? Not if you’re national identity in Malaysia, it would seem. We ended last year with disputes over Article 153 provisions for bumiputera special privileges and began this one with discussions of a Race Relations Bill, hurtfully racialised statements, ethnocentric election strategising and accusations of religious subversion. Said Zahari’s 1969 poem comes […]
Passing the buck on disabled-friendly buildings
Ampersand by KW Mak
RECENTLY, I had the pleasure of participating in several workshops involving people with disabilities organised by Beautiful Gate Foundation. The speakers took the trouble to paint a world of constant struggle with many things that able-bodied persons take for granted, be it from traversing steps to visiting a public restroom. The challenges aren’t limited to […]
Who needs a Race Relations Act?
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
SO it would seem Malaysians can look forward to having yet another piece of legislation in their lives in the brand new year of 2012. This time around, the Barisan Nasional (BN) government has promised it will introduce a Race Relations Bill, to be tabled in Parliament in March. The Race Relations Bill, according to […]
