MASS hypocrisy season comes and goes in Malaysia with the regularity of the monsoon or the haze. While we entertain the polite fiction of being a semi-civilised nation with a few shopping malls, we conveniently forget that ours is a political culture mired in the mores and norms of hypocrisy. The public display of normative […]
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar’s appeal dismissed
PUTRAJAYA, 2 July 2009: The Court of Appeal today dismissed an appeal by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to have his sodomy trial sent back to the Sessions Court from the High Court. In a unanimous decision, it ruled that no member of the Executive, not even the prime minister, could interfere or fetter with the […]
Guan Eng: Kedah situation “desperate”
By Deborah LohKUALA LUMPUR, 2 July 2009: While other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders today glossed over Kedah DAP’s pullout of the state government, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had a different view. Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister, said the situation in Kedah was “desperate” enough that the party’s top leadership would be meeting to decide […]
Court to decide on Anwar’s sodomy trial dispute tomorrow
PUTRAJAYA, 1 July 2009: The Court of Appeal will decide tomorrow on the appeal on the right forum to hear the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial. Justice Datuk Abdull Hamid Embong, who sat with justices Datuk Abu Samah Nordin and Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha, said he would give the oral decision on Anwar’s […]
Anwar: Liberalisation measures not “comprehensive”
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 June 2009: Measures to liberalise the economy that were announced today are positive, but do not address issues of governance or affirmative action, said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “These measures, supposedly to attract foreign investors, are good but not [comprehensive],” Anwar told a press conference in Parliament today. “They must […]
“We cannot afford another Anwar prosecution” (Updated)
By Datuk Ambiga SreenevasanUpdated 3.20pm on 30 June 2009 The following is an excerpt of a public lecture by Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan titled Democracy, Law and Human Rights in an Era of Globalisation that was delivered on 23 June 2009 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Chevening Scholarship Programme THE Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim prosecution is seen […]
Why only briefing for Muslim MPs?
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 29 June 2009: The government has been criticised for organising a briefing on three laws related to conversion and religion for Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs) only. Anwar (File pic) “These are very important pieces of legislation. It must be well understood and debated by Muslim and non-Muslim MPs,” Opposition Leader Datuk Seri […]
Anwar’s sodomy appeal postponed to tomorrow
PUTRAJAYA, 29 June 2009: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal against the High Court’s order that his sodomy case be tried at the High Court was postponed to tomorrow to enable him to attend the Dewan Rakyat sitting today. The Court of Appeal, comprising justices Datuk Abdul Hamid Embong, Datuk Abu Samah Nordin and […]
Govt nearly defeated in Parliament
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 22 June 2009: History was almost made when a government motion on the DNA Identification Bill was one vote short of being defeated in Parliament today. A provisional amendment to Sections 2 and 3 of the Bill, proposed by the government, was passed by a sliver-thin one-vote majority. Forty-eight Members of Parliament (MPs) voted […]
PR rejects unity govt with BN
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 22 June 2009: The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Council of Leaders has unanimously rejected the idea of a unity government with Barisan Nasional (BN). “All the component parties of PR reiterate their commitment to each other and to strengthen the coalition in order to help form the future federal government,” Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar […]
