YET again, in the tussle over “Allah” and Malay-language Bibles, the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government shows how unclear it is about what it means to respect the religious rights of non-Muslims.
Barisan Nasional
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: The return of BN?
By Ding Jo-Ann
THE Barisan Nasional (BN) has recently emerged triumphant from two by-election victories in Kerdau and Merlimau, its fourth and fifth consecutive victories so far. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said the wins showed the people’s growing support for the BN. Can these BN achievements be interpreted as such? And what does this mean […]
The EC’s folly
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
WHAT will it take for the Election Commission (EC) of Malaysia to be independent? Or at the very least, to be seen as trying to be independent even if it can’t really be so, according to the EC’s own explanation? At a Bersih 2.0 public forum on 21 Feb 2011 in Petaling Jaya, what was […]
Pluralism and public policy
Sideways by Deborah Loh
WHAT’S wrong with a Muslim saying that religious pluralism is harmful to Muslims? Or for a believer of any faith to say that his or her religion is the true one? Or even for an atheist to be adamant that there is no God? Nothing. As personal statements of belief, most persons of faith would […]
Azan issue: A missed opportunity for BN
Sideways by Deborah Loh
THE recent azan controversy was a missed opportunity for the Barisan Nasional (BN) to show how it can be a government for all Malaysians. It could have been a chance for the BN to lead instead of react, by fostering dialogue, understanding and respect among different ethnic groups and religions. But the government and some […]
January 2011
TO the question about which story about his ancestry was accurate, Datuk Seri Nazir Razak replied that he thought it was the “later” one, not “latter” one which was originally published.
Uncommon Sense with Wong Chin Huat: Khusrin’s appointment – a larger issue of federalism
By Ding Jo-Ann
DATUK Mohd Khusrin Munawi’s appointment as Selangor’s state secretary has ruffled a lot of feathers in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government. Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said he was bypassed in the appointment process and has excluded Khusrin from executive council meetings. Allegations have arisen that Khusrin’s appointment is politically motivated and is a […]
Seditious Malaysia: More to come
By Ding Jo-AnnHARDLY a month goes by in Malaysia without someone being accused of sedition. And now, the government wants to introduce new sedition guidelines for the internet even though the Sedition Act already clearly undermines freedom of expression. Just what is the government up to?
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 […]
The importance of Bersih
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
IT feels like only yesterday but it’s been three years this week since the historic Bersih rally of 10 Nov 2007 that demanded for free and fair elections. For certain, that 40,000 strong rally, together with the subsequent Hindraf demonstration in Kuala Lumpur, was partly responsible for the political tsunami of the 2008 general election. […]
