The Malay Mail column by Shafiqah Othman Hamzah entitled ‘The hypocrisy of Malay Muslims’ may have been very truth-seeking and truth-speaking but I suspect it will create severe emotional reactions against the writer. Not her fault but this is the the kind and quality of Islam preached and moderated by the Malaysian Islamic Development Agency (Jakim) […]
The SUN declared a quote from the prime minister of Malaysia which urged foreign governments not to interfere in the affairs of the Malaysian democracy. It said, “Internal affairs of the nation should be determined by the people.” Implied is the notion Malaysia is a true blue democracy, with all the proper checks and balances. My […]
The title is one new focus of my columns. Every so often I come across an issue or concern, and then choose to write about that issue to seek clarification and policy guidance from powers that be. MyQ issue for the first of the series is entitled ‘The Taxi Grab’. Of late, there has been […]
What is the meaning of democracy, if not local governance of the people, by the people and for the people? Now, at which point does this same meaning lose its appeal as a maxim just because we elect some to represent us? Just because PKR and DAP cannot agree whether that locality must have a […]
I have just returned from a 10-day visit and stay in Sarawak. I was there to help a friend as a polling and counting agent or Paca. That was the easiest and most satisfactory part of my stay; the voting was conducted with satisfaction at my polling station. I was only an objective observer that […]
Umno turned 70 recently and celebrated its anniversary with a president who requested that the party return to its founding spirit. They face two by-elections; which they seek to buy again. The purchase price in Sarawak was easier and cheaper, since their countryside did not yet know the real meaning of so-called development and progress. […]
I believe personal health is great wealth. My father lived to be almost 97; just short one month. He lived well and died well. Therefore, I have taken the view that good health is more valuable than great wealth; so that I, too, get to try and finish well like him. Nonetheless, now that we […]
American democratic form of politics often introduces concepts, ideas, and ideals that the popular world may not be familiar with, and especially in non-mature democracies. With president Ronald Reagan they developed ‘the selling of the president’. ‘The Selling of the President’ 1968 is a non-fiction book written by American author Joe McGinniss and published by […]
I am a Malaysian citizen with two forms of citizenship certificates. Therefore, I am no ‘pendatang’ and no second class citizen, by any definition. I have all the human rights and courtesies agreed to and approved by the UN Declaration of Human Rights. That right is not just universal but also supreme in Malaysia as […]
In my last column, I argued that Hadi’s hadd bill is problematic because of maliciousness and the deceptive way it was tabled/not tabled yet. Even Marina Mahathir’s column on the subject was rejected by The Star. The federal government’s executive authority, namely the cabinet of ministers, allowed the tabling the Hadd Bill without due process and […]
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