Dr Hamidah Marican SISTERS in Islam (SIS) has a new executive director, Dr Hamidah Marican, who took over the helm from Zainah Anwar on 6 July 2009. Over the past 21 years, the outspoken organisation which promotes justice and fairness in the name of Islam, has often been targeted for attacks by those who deem […]
Malay
Hasan Ali — PR member?
By Ding Jo-AnnOn Selcat “Our aim is to restore confidence among the public and there is a need for an independent committee to probe into the misused state allocations. But there is an oversight in the formation of Selcat, as it is simply not seen as independent, all because the seven panel members are politicians.” Selangor PAS […]
Sharing a common thread
By Nick ChooSINGER-songwriter Azmyl Yunor started out as a busker Down Under in Perth back in 1997. Since his return to Malaysia in 2000, he has tirelessly supported and developed the local independent music scene, and has gigged on a regular basis. Azmyl has also organised events such as the singer-songwriter showcase KL Sing-Song, which is back […]
Islamic vs liberal values
By Zedeck Siew“MALAYSIAN society is faced with a collision of values,” says new Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) president Muhamad Razak Idris. “There are two elements in this conflict. First, the rise of commitment to living according to Islamic religious values. Second, the increasing influence of liberal ideas, due to globalisation.” Razak, a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan […]
Merdeka and the Malay rulers
By Clive KesslerMap of Malaya (Source: britishempire.co.uk) LOOKING forward, at the conclusion of the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka’s recent Prof Syed Hussein Alatas Memorial Seminar, to Merdeka Day, the Raja Muda of Perak recalled another anniversary. On the threshold of independence on 5 Aug 1957, the Malay rulers issued a declaration, their last political testament before the […]
Checking George Washington’s nose
By Claire BrownellAS a child, Animah Kosai used to tell strangers she was from Siberia. They would pat her on the head, call her cute and ask her where she was from because of the light skin she inherited from her English mother. “I’d talk about this wonderful story about how my father was in Japan, and […]
Unity needs empathy
By Deborah LohRACE and 1Malaysia have occupied my thoughts in the last few weeks. It can’t be helped, given the articles I’ve had to write on both subjects of late. I’ve almost reached saturation point listening to people debate the meaning of 1Malaysia. Last Friday, 24 July, I attended a forum where a small group of academics, […]
Dr M’s questionable priorities
By Dr Toh Kin WoonI REFER to the latest posting in (Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad‘s blog, in which he criticised non-Malay [Malaysians] for asking for more concessions from state policies. In response to these demands, the current prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) has liberalised rules pertaining to equity ownership in some service sub-sectors and promised to set up […]
Umno Youth lauds PAS Youth’s “courage” (Updated)
By Shanon ShahUpdated 6.25pm on 1 July 2009 KUALA LUMPUR, 1 July 2009: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today lauded what he called PAS Youth’s “courage” in inviting Umno Youth to an “intellectual discourse”. “PAS Youth has shown that they are brave enough to defy, if you like, the decision of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leadership which […]
Young Malay M’sians not ready for non-Malay / Muslim or woman PM
By Shanon ShahThe prime minister’s office in Putrajaya (Public domain; source: Wiki commons) PETALING JAYA, 30 June 2009: Malay Malaysians are the group least ready to accept a non-male, non-Malay or non-Muslim as prime minister, a Merdeka Center for Opinion Research survey has found. Of the 2,518 randomly selected Malaysian youths aged between 20 and 35 polled […]