SELANGOR’S No Plastic Bag Day campaign recently came under attack in a report on online news portal The Malaysian Insider. The 9 Nov 2010 report claimed that “hypermarkets and retail shops” in Selangor have suffered up to 30% decline in their businesses on Saturdays since the Selangor government implemented the campaign in January 2009. In […]
Gan Pei Ling
The design challenge
By Gan Pei Ling
WHAT does it take to stay ahead of the curve in design? How can a foundation, company, industry or country nurture and keep creative talent? What needs to be in place for a traditional craft to be transformed into contemporary and modern designs? These were some of the questions that were raised in the final […]
Zaid Ibrahim: Reformer or sore loser?
By Gan Pei LingFOR sure, Parti Keadilan Rakayt (PKR) has serious problems. But what to make of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim whose image as a principled politician is at odds with his apparent tendency to quit when expectations are not met?
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 many forms of vote-buying
By Gan Pei Ling
ARE transportation reimbursements, alms for the poor, land titles and welfare allocations given during a by-election just different forms of inducement? Even PAS is not exempt from the very thing it accuses the Barisan Nasional of. Perhaps the only difference is which party the Election Commission dismisses.
Chinese Malaysians in Galas
By Gan Pei Ling
ONE thing many were waiting to see from the recent Galas by-election was whether Chinese Malaysians would continue supporting Pakatan Rakyat (PR). After all, that has largely been the trend for this ethnic group in almost all by-elections since the 2008 general election. It was not to be. In fact, Chinese Malaysian support for Barisan […]
Winning Galas for BN: Can Ku Li do it?
By Gan Pei Ling
BARISAN Nasional is banking on Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah‘s star power to win the Galas by-election. The Kelantan prince, fondly known as Ku Li, was appointed to lead the BN’s campaign because of his popularity among Gua Musang constituents, and his much-respected authority. Indeed, Ku Li’s persona eclipses that of the two candidates themselves, […]
Poverty and politics: The Orang Asli vote in Galas
By Gan Pei Ling
ORANG Asli votes are seen together with the Chinese Malaysian votes as capable of determining the Galas by-election results on 4 Nov 2010. But unlike the Chinese, the Orang Asli are likely to pose a tough challenge to the PAS campaign. With close to 1,900 registered voters in the Galas constituency, they make up around […]
Creativity and innovation in business
By Gan Pei Ling
THE Nut Graph‘s fifth Found in Conversation forum focused on Creativity and Innovation in Business. The Body Shop Malaysia managing director Datin Mina Cheah-Foong, AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani and Red Communications founder Lina Tan shared their pioneering experience in their respective industries. The event was held at Leonardo’s Dining Room & Wine […]
Restricting indigenous rights
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
IN the upcoming Galas by-election, Umno is expected to harp on “Ladang Rakyat”, a PAS state government development project that has reportedly benefited a private company over the rights of settlers. While Umno is championing the land rights of Malay Malaysian settlers, however, the Orang Asli remain one of the most impoverished communities under the […]
