DR Alwi Abdurrahman Shihab is a prime example of Indonesia’s political legacy post-President Abdurrahman Wahid: he is not only a politician, but an intellectual to boot. Abdurrahman was himself a leading scholar before being elected to lead Southeast Asia’s largest democracy, and the world’s largest Muslim country. Alwi is currently the President of Indonesia’s Envoy […]
Interviews
“Religion should make you affirm human rights”
By Shanon ShahBEFORE President Barack Obama, there was presidential candidate Rev Jesse L Jackson, Sr. Although the Baptist minister had previously worked for Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, many were sceptical of his chances when he wanted to run for US president in 1984. Observers — including from his Democratic Party — thought he would garner fringe […]
“Kalau you separuh babi pun I terima”
By Shanon ShahSULASTRI Ariffin has been around the world. Manager of the mak nyah (trans women) programme at PT Foundation, she has participated and spoken at conferences on HIV and sexuality in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Switzerland. She has even met Richard Gere — twice. But in her 15 […]
Obsessed with being Malaysian
By N Shashi KalaSHE’S a familiar face to Malaysian theatregoers, and is the force behind one of the most successful local theatre groups, the Instant Cafe Theatre Company. At 47, Jo Kukathas remains passionate about her beliefs that were honed by an upbringing that took her away from Malaysia for long periods of time. Though born in Kuala […]
The confidence of being Malaysian
By Jacqueline Ann SurinCHEE Sek Thim used to be based in Petaling Jaya, shuttling back to Penang on a monthly basis. But over the past one year, the reverse has been happening after he moved back to his family home. Chee, a theatre practitioner and art educator, is rediscovering his home state of Penang. The shift to Penang […]
Manikumar’s baptism by fire
By Shanon ShahS Manikumar S MANIKUMAR, 35, has many fires to fight. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election has to firstly compete against 14 other candidates for this state assembly seat. Secondly, there are the criticisms that he is too young, inexperienced and not media savvy. On top of this, despite strenuous […]
“Politicians are rascals”
By Shanon ShahDE facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz is one Barisan Nasional (BN) leader whose exact position on issues is difficult to pin down. On one hand, he trumpets the usual BN line by supporting the Internal Security Act and denying that there is discrimination against non-bumiputera Malaysians. His predecessor, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, also accused […]
“I don’t feel deculturalised”
By Zedeck SiewGURMIT Singh, 66-year-old environmental activist, says, “There’s never been any stage of my teen or adult life when I wasn’t part of some organisation.” A prominent student leader in the 1960s and 1970s, Gurmit is former secretary-general of the National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam). He got into environmental advocacy in 1974, long before […]
Malay dominance and rights
By Deborah LohIN five short years, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir has emerged from the sidelines in Umno to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Jerlun, and now a popular candidate in the Umno Youth chief race. Despite his soft-spoken demeanour, he has not shied away from controversy, no less because of his ties to his outspoken father, […]
The Viking Malaysian
By Shanon ShahVERNON Adrian Emuang has been a steady supporter of and practitioner in the Malaysian arts scene since the mid-1980s, notably in television and theatre. Together with former Malaysian Olympic swimmer Jeffrey Ong, Emuang hosted the weekly IT program Cyberwave on TV3 in the late 1990s. Emuang has since balanced careers as a marketing communications consultant, […]
