PETALING JAYA, 17 April 2009: Even though the focus has been on the Internal Security Act (ISA), civil society groups and a think tank say there are two other laws that also allow the state to detain someone without trial. Suaram coordinator Nalini Elumalai said the two other laws were the Emergency (Public Order and […]
Zedeck Siew
Beyond a shadow of doubt
By Zedeck SiewTHE Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s plan to set up special panels to “shadow” each of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s cabinet ministries has stirred up debate over whether such a move would serve a real purpose. This arrangement appears superficially similar to the idea of an opposition shadow government that certain quarters have been clamouring for the […]
Barring the media
By Zedeck Siew“If we are truly to build a democracy that is responsive to the needs of all the people, we need a media – both old and new – that is empowered to responsibly report what they see, without fear of consequence, and to hold governments and public officials accountable for the results they achieve or […]
Flap over Quranic verses
Translation by Zedeck SiewBETWEEN 6 and 12 April 2009, the Malay-language media focused on three main topics: Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming’s use of Quranic verses during the Bukit Gantang by-election; the results of the three by-elections; and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s newly minted cabinet. On 9 April, Utusan Malaysia ran the word Shameful! in […]
Censoring with sub judice
By Zedeck SiewWHEN the police banned any mention of Altantuya Shaariibuu or the Barisan Nasional takeover of Perak from by-election ceramah recently, sub judice was used to justify the order. “Both cases are still in court. As such, talking about them or bringing them up in crowds can be sub judice or contempt of court,” declared then […]
Mahathir’s dilemma
By Zedeck Siew“You cannot topple a menteri besar or a prime minister without a no-confidence vote in the assembly. There is no other provision.” FORMER Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, speaking out against the takeover of the Perak government by the Barisan Nasional (BN). Calling the coalition “too careless”, Mahathir said the BN should have done […]
Najib takes action
Translation by Zedeck SiewIN the week of 30 March to 5 April 2009, the Malay-language print media focused on Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appointment as sixth prime minister of Malaysia, what his first actions as premier mean for the on-going by-elections, and the fate of teenage star Diana Danielle as she undertakes her stint in national service. In […]
Random political slogan generator!
By Zedeck SiewWITH all the political tumult of the past year, it was perhaps inevitable that some tech-savvy individual cobbled together a little click-it-yourself instant-humour machine: the Malaysian Election Slogan Generator. It’s a Flash widget, clearly a riff off curiosities like the Hipster Tee Shirt Generator. It randomly picks from three different categories — background colour, monochrome […]
Politics and economics under Najib
By Zedeck Siew(Najib image source: cidb.gov.my) WHILE there was some effort to stall the inevitable, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has resigned, and Datuk Seri Najib Razak is now prime minister. His ascension coincides with troubled times. Najib appears to be viewing the challenges he will face in office as an opportunity. Malaysia’s sixth prime minister encourages […]
King urged to delay Najib appointment (Updated)
By Zedeck Siew(Updated 6:36pm, 2 April 2009) PETALING JAYA, 2 April 2009: Eighty-one Opposition members of parliament (MPs) have signed a petition urging the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to delay the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister until his reputation has been cleared by an independent commission. “The office of Prime Minister is the highest […]
