A LESSER-KNOWN fact about Malaysian film director and television series creator Bernard Chauly is that he spends much of the year outside Malaysia. “Not many people realise that I’m not here the whole time,” Chauly says. “Thank God for the internet!” While his work — including the futsal-and-romance Gol & Gincu, coming-of-age Goodbye Boys, and […]
Zedeck Siew
Chin Huat’s arrest condemned (Updated 4.15pm)
By Zedeck SiewUpdated 4.15pm on 6 May 2009 PETALING JAYA, 6 May 2009: Several groups, think tanks and political parties have condemned the arrest of political scientist Wong Chin Huat for alleged sedition. “The arrest of Wong does not augur well for (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak)’s promise of openness and respect for the people,” said […]
Patriotic songs!
By Zedeck SiewClick here for some theme music! (© Nick Choo) PATRIOTIC, public-service music has never gone out of vogue. Some people have favourites. Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim recently cited Budi Bahasa Budaya Kita as a shining example of the genre. I like to remember the IT song, because in the […]
Haram-ing of spaces
By Zedeck SiewTHE celebrated theatre practitioner Anne James is a perennial learner. “I can be a student forever,” she says. In 1983, after a long tussle with the Ministry of Education to secure leave (James was a schoolteacher), she went to Northwestern University to work on a Masters in Performing Arts for three years. James remembers that […]
Fairus contradictions
By Zedeck Siew“Of course we are busy, but we have to spend time to meet the electorate because they will understand if we are busy, but they cannot accept it if we don’t get down on the ground.” PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reprimanding then Penang Deputy Chief Minister (DCM)1 and Penanti assemblyperson […]
Defending Fairus
By Zedeck Siew“Fairus was upset. I won’t blame him because they (detractors) are (PKR) insiders who breached the party disciplinary code in not using proper internal channels to air their grievances.” PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He described Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as a “gentleman” for gracefully relinquishing his positions as Penanti state assemblyperson […]
Group to appeal to Council of Rulers over conversions
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 22 April 2009: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) will appeal to the Council of Rulers to help resolve the unilateral conversions of minors to Islam. The non-Muslim multi-faith group also wants measures to be put in place to prevent the syariah courts from deciding on non-Muslims […]
Zed Libs!
By Zedeck SiewCover of a Mad Libs book (© Penguin Group USA) ONE of my favourite party past-times — theoretically, as I’ve never actually played it — is Mad Libs: a phrase-template word game typically published in book form. It is a collection of short stories, or situations, with many of the words blanked out. Beneath each […]
Bangkitlah orang Melayu
Translation by Zedeck SiewBETWEEN 13 and 19 April 2009, the Malay language press wrung its hands over the welfare of the Malay race, the inevitable Penanti by-election, and the vagaries of history lessons. Capati (Source: wilka.ru) The headlines for Utusan Malaysia‘s 15 April edition was Bangkitlah Melayu, a clarion call that was not softened by the front-page photograph […]
Friend of the forest
By Zedeck SiewWHEN we think about the logging industry, it’s not usually in a flattering light. Logging, especially in East Malaysia, has a reputation for being fraught with unethical practices: corruption, unsustainable destruction of ecosystems, and disregard for the land rights of indigenous peoples. Last year, allegations of sexual abuse of Penan women and schoolgirls in Baram […]
