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 […]
by-elections
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 […]
Who supports Perkasa?
By Deborah Loh“It is necessary for the government to delay any allocation and approval of projects for the community. They show no appreciation to BN government’s efforts, even though the BN government had to hurt the feelings of the Malay [Malaysian] and the natives.” “All their demands are fulfilled by the government but they do not know […]
Reporting on Sibu
By Ding Jo-AnnInvestigating frontpage stories after the Sibu by-election… (© clarita | morguefile.com) (Corrected at 5.55pm, 18 May 2010) THE day after Sibu fell to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in a closely-watched and fought by-election, what kind of frontpage stories greeted Malaysians in the press? With some newspapers relegating the news of the week to a second […]
Why freedom of expression?
By Jacqueline Ann Surin(pic courtesy of theSun) WHEN Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak first came into office, he declared that under his administration, there would be greater freedom of expression and the press. Regrettably, “little concrete action has followed” his promise, according to an annual review of freedom of expression in Malaysia in 2009. Indeed, according to […]
Bread and butter in Bagan Pinang
By Shanon ShahBread and butter issues (© Bruno Neves / sxc.hu) “IN Malaysia, we must vote for Barisan Nasional (BN); we have been voting for them for a long time,” says T Muniandy. “We help them by voting for them, and then they help us.” It is 6 Oct 2009, the fourth day of the Bagan Pinang […]
Signs of the times
By Zedeck Siew
MALAYSIA’S 52nd anniversary of independence is upon us. 2009 has thus far already been tumultuous for our nation, with political infighting, rising criminality, mysterious deaths in custody, delayed whippings, and by-elections galore. We’ve also seen crowds running in the face of teargas canisters. State assemblypersons under a tree, in full regalia. Clandestine camera phone stills […]
PAS delegates want more Islam
By Zedeck SiewWearing black headbands that say “Bubar DUN”, delegates chant “Allahuakhbar!” as they vow to campaign for a dissolution of the Perak state assembly SHAH ALAM, 6 June 2009: Debates on the second day of the 55th PAS Muktamar saw support for party’s place in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition, but also anxiety over the party […]
Ulama leadership needed for Islam’s sake
By Deborah LohKUALA LUMPUR, 4 June 2009: Debates at the PAS Youth muktamar today were heavily tinged with a pro-ulama flavour. However, there were no strident calls for the PAS deputy president’s post to be given to a cleric at the main party elections tomorrow. Speakers today, however, upheld the concept of leadership by ulama with some […]
Ex-PKR leaders attack
By Shanon Shah“They said if I win the contest, I could rejoin the party and I would be given the Deputy Chief Minister 1 post.” INDEPENDENT candidate Aminah Abdullah, on part of the alleged bribe offered to her on 13 May 2009 by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) supreme council member Cheah Kah Peng and Lim Eng Nam, […]
