One of the exhortations to Malay Malaysian voters as the general election looms is to vote the party that will ensure Malay and Muslim unity. When politicians, academics and royalty start to promote Malay and Muslim unity, are they peddling an ideal for the nation or a dangerous myth for the masses?
Found in Malaysia
Promoting Malaysian mediocrity
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
What really is all the fuss over the theme, logo and song lyrics of our upcoming Merdeka celebrations? Is it really a case of political manoeuvrings by the Barisan Nasional (BN)? Or poor judgement by the government of the day? Or both? Or does it say something more about what the current federal leadership promotes?
Ramon Navaratnam: “Malaysia first”
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
AT 77, there are many things Tan Sri Ramon V Navaratnam is thankful for. Topmost is the fact that all three of his sons and their families, including his four grandchildren, remain in Malaysia. “Thank God! I think there are not many left of my age [whose] children are all here. I think I did […]
Bayu Utomo: “Racism is like sin”
By Koh Lay Chin
Bayu Utomo Radjikin has won various accolades and awards for his abstract and cultural works. He is known for his evocative works dealing with local and international social commentary as well as the “Malay warrior” identity.
“All-very-rojak” Liyana Fizi
By Koh Lay Chin
In this Found in Malaysia interview, singer-songwriter and solo artiste Liyana Fizi talks about her rojak heritage, Malay privilege, a Raya tree and a woman’s midriff.
May 2012
We had originally reported that Joanne de Rozario co-hosted ntv7’s The Breakfast Show with Aishah Sinclair. There are actually two other hosts for the show, Nazrudin Rahman and Hansen Lee, that we were not informed about at the point of fact and quote checking.
We were also erroneous in saying that she is still the TV station’s head of production for the news and current affairs department.
Joanne de Rozario: “Why is race important?”
By Koh Lay Chin
TV personality and producer Joanne de Rozario has fond memories of the Malaysia she grew up in, and big hopes for the country she thinks it could be. She often wishes she could mark “human” when asked to tick her race in official forms.
Believing in Malaysia
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
AWARD-winning journalist Zainon Ahmad is a story-teller. He has many stories because he has been reporting from the frontlines for more than 30 years. He joined the New Straits Times in 1978 and rose through the ranks to become the paper’s assistant group editor in 1997. From the mid- to late 1980s, he was made […]
Saifuddin Abdullah: Creating space in Malaysia
By Deborah Loh
DATUK Saifuddin Abdullah says he’s a reluctant politician who got into politics because he wanted to affect change. The Umno supreme council member and first-time MP is seen as being a minority voice of reform within his party and wishes his party was more “progressive”. In this interview, Saifuddin traces his family lineage and student activism, explains the dynamics within Umno, and wishes there was more space at the Malaysian table for space and ideas.
Zaid Ibrahim: “It will get better”
By Shanon Shah
LAWYER-turned-politician Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, 60, knows that politics can be a dirty game. He joined Umno and won the Kota Baru parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election. The party did not field him for the 2008 elections, however. After winning with a severely reduced majority, the ruling coalition under Prime Minister Tun Abdullah […]
