DATUK Nasir Safar‘s alleged racist remarks have sparked calls by Barisan Nasional component parties for Nasir to be charged with sedition and even detained without trial under the Internal Security Act. Buckling under such pressure, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced on 4 Feb 2010 that the now former special officer of the prime […]
legal
Kota Siputeh: Testing the courts
By Ding Jo-AnnEC chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof THE nationwide constitutional law tutorial continues with the latest Kota Siputeh case. The court has had to intervene once again to arbitrate between the speaker of a legislative assembly and the Election Commission (EC). This time, the 16 Nov 2009 High Court decision ruled that the EC […]
Understanding our rights
By Deborah LohMyConstitution campaign logo (© MyConstitution / Facebook)PERAK. Party-hopping. Frogs. Who by now doesn’t know about the Perak constitutional crisis. Awareness has also been stirred about the right to freedom of association and the rights of voters to choose based on a candidate’s party. Federal-state relations are receiving prominence now that the opposition controls at least […]
Torture by any other fashion
By Jacqueline Ann SurinIF we were to believe everything we read, one would think that torture or degrading behaviour, if done differently, would no longer constitute torture or degrading behaviour. Indeed, this is what Pahang’s Mufti Department would want Muslims and non-Muslims to believe. Scan of New Straits Times report on syariah caning On 26 Oct 2009, the […]
The role of intra-faith dialogue
By Shanon ShahWe need more intra-faith dialogue (© arte_ram / sxc.hu) DISCUSSIONS on religious issues, or a lack thereof, are increasingly defining public policy and society in Malaysia. A few key words are enough to jog memories — the cow-head protest, the whipping sentence on Muslims for drinking alcohol, Christians and the word “Allah”, concert banning, and […]
“Islamic focus on punishment misguided”
By Shanon ShahPERTH, 2 Nov 2009: The focus on punishment of personal sins in Islam is misguided, a professor of Islamic Studies said. SaeedProfessor Abdullah Saeed was partly referring to calls from certain Muslim groups to uphold the caning sentence on Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno in Malaysia for consuming alcohol. Saeed is currently the Sultan of Oman […]
Why the EAIC is unconstitutional
By Andrew KhooTHE Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) Bill 2009, passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 1 July and now on its way to the Dewan Negara, appears to be unconstitutional. The EAIC sets out to oversee the integrity of 21 law enforcement agencies, including the National Anti-Drugs Agency, Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela), the Road Transport […]
Blind loyalty?
By Dr Farish A NoorAS if it was not bad enough that Malaysia has been overrun by an outbreak of frogs — like a scene from some Biblical catastrophe — we now have to stomach the spectacle of humbug heroes and demagogues as well. One is deeply distressed to read reports of conservative politicians and their followers crying […]
Better access to information
By Shanon ShahPETALING JAYA, 22 Jan 2009: The March 2008 general elections have increased prospects for greater freedom of information, with Pakatan Rakyat governments taking the lead. Cover for the annual review by CIJ“The Selangor and Penang state governments have made public announcements to introduce freedom of information (FOI) laws in their states within the year,” Centre […]
Ruumz for more?
By Cindy ThamScreenshot of The Nut Graph‘s status update option in Facebook FOR many internet users, there’s a daily ritual that has to be attended to. Every morning, if these internet users are in Malaysia, they probably log on to Friendster, MySpace or Facebook. They update their status, basically whinging or declaring aloud a profound or whimsical […]
