THE Pakatan Rakyat (PR) manifesto professes to improve Malaysians’ standard of living by raising household incomes and the minimum wage, and creating new jobs. But does it say enough about developing sustainably as a nation? What more needs to be included for the PR to truly be a viable and comprehensive alternative to the Barisan Nasional?
Barisan Nasional
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Lahad Datu — How might Malaysians vote in the GE?
By Ding Jo-Ann
THE Sulu militants who invaded Sabah on 9 February 2013 now appear to be on the run after being attacked by Malaysian armed forces. But why did it take three weeks for the Malaysian government to take decisive action to deal with the invasion? And what impact will this episode and the government’s response have on the coming general election?
Batu Caves condo cancelled: Who suffers?
Ampersand by KW Mak
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised to scrap the controversial Dolomite Park Avenue condominiums near Batu Caves if BN takes over Selangor at the next elections. Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim just announced that the Selangor government will cancel the project. But can such promises be kept? What will the ramifications be for the condominium’s buyers?
“Allah” issue: The battle over Bahasa
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
The “Allah” issue is likely to spark partisan jockeying and deep division until we build consensus on a fundamental question. Is our national language of Bahasa Melayu – or is it Bahasa Malaysia – the language of all Malaysians or does it just belong to those who profess Islam and practice Malay customs?
New year resolutions for the BN
Uncommon Sense by Wong Chin Huat
IT’S a new year and the countdown to the next general election has begun, expected within the next 100 days. What new year resolutions should political parties be making to perform well at the impending elections?
Batu Caves condo: What they’re not telling you
Ampersand by KW Mak
A lot of accusations and allegations have been made in the recent case of a condominium development near Batu Caves. Who is telling the truth: BN or PR? And what else aren’t they telling us?
Looking beyond the Chua-Lim debate
Work in Progress by Hwa Yue-Yi
MUCH has been said about the 8 July debate between DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. The debate, titled “Whose policies benefit the country more?”, drew conflicting responses. For example, theSun reported that “Lim went on the offensive”, while Malaysiakini said it was Chua who took […]
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?
Who says the EC is independent?
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
FRANKLY, I wasn’t surprised at all when it was reported in late April that both the Election Commission (EC) chairperson and deputy chairperson were Umno members. Even without evidence of party membership and despite the EC deputy chairperson’s subsequent U-turn and denial, it would not be a stretch to imagine both the chairperson and his […]
The print media’s failures in Bersih 3.0
By Ding Jo-Ann
IT’S been all about Bersih 3.0 this past week. Stories, tweets, photographs and videos have been shared. And numerous reports have been published by the national press. And yet, anybody reading just the national print media would be left with an incomplete picture of one of the most historic moments in Malaysia’s political development. Ding Jo-Ann shows how the press in Malaysia failed readers in their coverage of Bersih 3.0.
