The Nut Graph gives out the Merdeka Awards annually in conjunction with Peninsular Malaysia’s independence and the anniversary of our publication. This year, we honour 14 exemplary Malaysian individuals and groups. Find out who they are.
Features
Could hudud be a reality?
By Ding Jo-AnnThe BN attacks on PAS’s hudud agenda involve scaremongering of the worst kind. BN’s alarmist politics aside, can hudud law actually become a reality for Malaysians? And how likely is it that it will be implemented in the near future?
The contest for Selangor
By Gan Pei Ling
Both the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have claimed they are confident of winning back Selangor but which coalition actually has the upper hand?
Reforms needed for campaign financing
By Tricia Yeoh
To have a democratic election, all parties should be able to contest in a level playing field. When either side has unequal access to a gross amount of funds, this puts the other players at a severe disadvantage. How are elections funded in Malaysia? What reforms are needed to ensure greater transparency and accountability?
Galvanising the overseas vote
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
IT is likely that this is the first general election since Malaya’s independence, otherwise known as GE13, that overseas Malaysians have consciously organised themselves to return home to vote. Just who are these Malaysians? What sacrifices are they making in order to vote? And what is motivating them?
Doubtful votes — can they change an election outcome?
By Deborah Loh
Are Malaysians sufficiently educated on how to vote? It is widely assumed that marking “X” next to a candidate’s name is the only legitimate way to vote. It is not. Civil society groups now train volunteers to be election monitors, booth agents and polling and counting agents. They also cover training on doubtful votes, due to concerns that dubiously marked ballots could end up influencing an election outcome. Can this really happen?
The making of good design
By Deborah Loh
WE’VE all cringed at the sight of certain public structures. At one time, some government buildings were a sickly shade of pink guava. Or take the incongruity of some public structures with their surroundings such as the sculpted pitcher plant water fountain across the Kuala Lumpur (KL) City Hall Building near Dataran Merdeka. And in […]
Galas: The old story of development politics
By Gan Pei Ling
BARISAN Nasional (BN) won big in both the Batu Sapi and Galas by-elections on 4 Nov 2010. In Galas, BN beat PAS with a 1,190-vote majority and won 12 out of the 13 polling districts. PAS only managed to retain its stronghold in Sungai Terah with a reduced majority of 258 compared to 510 in […]
Winning Galas for BN: Can Ku Li do it?
By Gan Pei Ling
BARISAN Nasional is banking on Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah‘s star power to win the Galas by-election. The Kelantan prince, fondly known as Ku Li, was appointed to lead the BN’s campaign because of his popularity among Gua Musang constituents, and his much-respected authority. Indeed, Ku Li’s persona eclipses that of the two candidates themselves, […]
“Crazy” business ideas
By Ding Jo-Ann
CRAZY IDEAS. Instinct. Gut feeling. It’s all part of what it takes to start a business. This was discussed during The Nut Graph’s fifth Found in Conversation event on 24 Oct 2010 on creativity and innovation in business. AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani, The Body Shop managing director Datin Mina Cheah-Foong and Red […]
