malaysiakini

Real and serious public academic discourse in Malaysia is almost zero, with some exceptions like in the malaysiakini. As a result, those in academe sometimes start believing that such a discourse can only be conducted within \’the hallowed halls of their purview\’ and that non- academics should stay out of the fray of their \’knowledge-power corridors\’. That […]

Ever since I can remember, my father always flew the flag on Merdeka day. After all, he was the one who read the Independence Day speech on behalf of the Sultan of Kedah at the Ibrahim Secondary School in Sungai Petani. He had very many reasons to fly the flag. He sat on the Malay […]

God gave man two eyes, two ears, and one mouth. Why? He wants us to seek and see truth; hear and understand truth; and therefore seek and speak the truth; without fear or favor. Our seeing and hearing must also be stronger than our speaking. And, in that context too, we should only really fear […]

As a Malaysian of non-Malay origin and a student of the Malaysian system of parliamentary governance, I personally took offence to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak\’s \”inappropriate instruction\” to Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon to \”demonstrate that he is also the Chief Minister of all Malaysians.\” This statement was followed by yet another […]

I went to California in June to attend my son\’s college graduation and therefore missed PJ\’s City Day. But, I did learn about one set of criterion that makes good cities: a very good public transportation system. On the way to San Francisco, I took occasion to visit an American Seminary in Los Angeles to […]

Mr Lee Kuan Yew recently created a furor. I first ignored the matter and left it as, \’the senile one speaks again!\’ My last memory of such poor content was when he had said \’non-graduate ladies in Singapore should not have children or something silly like that\’. But, this weekend after I read Paddy Bowie\’s […]

On Sept 25, The Star\’s Metro section carried a story entitled \’S\’gor merry-go-round\’ and subtitled \’Ad-hoc transfers not the solution\’. It raised this question: \”Is there really a dearth of capable senior officers, leading to the officers having been shuffled around like someone performing a juggling act?\” As a former Administrative and Diplomatic Services officer and member […]

The Sun reported and quoted Dr Toh Kim Woon, state executive councilor and Gerakan member that \”the government has rejected the Asli study and its findings.\” Really? I do not think so, as the leader of Gerakan Dr Lim Keng Yaik has now requested the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to reveal the basis of its figures, and […]

Recently, I have been very bothered by the lack of respect for the system of rule of law enshrined in the Rukunegara and premised on principles of nationhood or Merdeka, as agreed in the 1957 social contract. The Rukunegara frames and undergirds one core set of principles in our system of constitutional governance. But, of late, the \’close one-eye\’ […]

This week can be considered Integrity Week in Malaysia. I am aware that a number of activities, both global and local related to integrity are being launched this week. The highlight will be the National Integrity Day being commemorated by the Institute of Integrity Malaysia on Nov 5, 2006. In recognition of this major agenda […]