DR Harvin Kaur, 25, attended the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) pre-employment induction course in October 2008. A recent medical graduate who started her house officer year in Malaysia, Harvin has since resigned to follow her husband to Australia. With the ongoing controversy regarding the government-run BTN, Harvin agreed to an exclusive e-mail interview, from India […]
racism
Ahmad Ismail = Guan Eng & Anwar?
By Ding Jo-Ann“I don’t see anything wrong in allowing Ahmad to come back and serve the party. “Even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng have served jail sentences before returning to contest and being elected as member of parliament and chief minister respectively. “Ahmad has been penalised and the party felt that his suspension should […]
Malaysia, the faithless lover
By Ding Jo-AnnWHEN it comes to international human rights obligations, the Malaysian government has behaved like a faithless lover: making promises to the world it never intended to keep. The banning of Sisters in Islam (SIS)’s book Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism, which is now being judicially reviewed in court, is a demonstration of […]
Umno, not racist?
By Ding Jo-AnnDATUK Seri Najib Razak‘s assertion over the weekend that only “one or two Umno leaders” have made racist comments and that they do not represent the party’s views belies belief. Umno’s top leaders have in fact publicly and repeatedly championed the Malay agenda over the legitimate interests of other Malaysians. In some instances, intimidation […]
“Difference in Islam is healthy”
By Zedeck SiewSusan Carland “IF you publish this, and I get kicked out of the country, I know who to thank,” says Susan Carland towards to the end of our interview. There is a reason for Australian Carland, who was recently in Malaysia, to be cautious. Speaking up as an outsider about Islam in Malaysia has its […]
The hybrid-Malay Malaysian dilemma
By Shanon ShahDR Farish Noor is a prolific academic. The founder of The Other Malaysia project writes on the politics of Malaysia, Indonesia, Islamism, and old Malay hikayats with gusto and insight. He has been published everywhere. Well, nearly. It makes one wonder what he does to de-stress. “I repair old batik, I knit and I stitch,” […]
Govt must act now to end racism
By Gan Pei LingKUALA LUMPUR, 17 April 2009: Race-based policies and political parties have been undermining Malaysia’s commitment to an international declaration the country adopted eight years ago against racial discrimination. In light of this, 44 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called on the government to fulfill its international obligations to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). […]
Buat apa boikot Israel?
Oleh Shanon ShahBOIKOT semua barangan buatan syarikat Yahudi. Itulah intipati kempen terbaru oleh Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) untuk menangani pencerobohan Israel di Gaza, Palestin. Kempen PPIM ini sekaligus cuba menyatukan umat Islam untuk menentang puak Yahudi dan kerajaan mahupun syarikat sekutunya. Boikot ada banyak jenis. Ada aktivis anti-kapitalis yang memboikot syarikat tertentu seperti McDonald’s, Nike atau […]
Ahmad Ismail, my brother
By Wong Chin HuatAhmad Ismail (source: Oriental Daily), against a map of Malaya (public domain. Source: wikipedia.org) IMAGINE this. It’s 2013. The Pakatan Rakyat is in government and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is Malaysia’s 7th prime minister. In Kedah, Datuk Ahmad Ismail passionately repeats his 2008 message that Chinese and Indian Malaysians are squatters, and that Malay Malaysians […]
Foreigners threaten our country!
By Zedeck SiewSINCE February, I have been on the mailing list for Malaysia Untuk Malaysia (MUM), an anti-immigration and community safety non-governmental organisation. From their email exchanges, however, you’d think they were more of a social club. Not surprising, since their membership base is largely Klang Valley-centered, and seems comprised of white-collar professionals with families. As the […]