This paper distinguishes Bahasa Malaysia (Malaysian language) and Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) according to type and function and summarizes their development as the national languages of Malaya, Singapore, and Indonesia. It presents a short, historical account of the spread, through religious and educational activities, of the English language in Malaya and Singapore and the Dutch … Read more
The article examines the impact of regional disparities on Malaysia’s national economic growth. These disparities are visibly predominant in the agricultural sector, followed by the manufacturing and service industries. In recognition of the inequalities, the Malaysian government has adopted balanced regional development as the main objective of its development program. In an attempt to attain … Read more
By Haris Ibrahim December 2, 2008 There was an anti-ISA forum at the Bar Council auditorium last night. As the forum proceeded, pro-ISA Malay Muslims gathered outside the Bar Council secretariat. Amongst others, RPK spoke at the forum. A video recording of what he had to say is linked below. Malaysiakini took the opportunity to … Read more
By Deborah Loh, The Nut Graph December 2, 2008 IN the first parliamentary sitting in 2008 this May, Subang Member of Parliament (MP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president R Sivarasa tried to table a private member’s bill on freedom of information (FOI). Although it appeared in the order paper, the House never reached … Read more
This article gives a statistical picture of the central problems of inequality, employment and earnings in Malaysia. Cultural characteristics of Malaysia; Ethnic and geographical structure of the population; Religion. [Download]
By Ahirudin Attan aka rockybru Wednesday, December 03, 2008 “I feel fine”. It was just in March that Pak Lah appointed Zaid Ibrahim a senator so that he could assume the post of de facto Law Minister in his Cabinet. Tonight, the outgoing Prime Minister chaired an Umno supreme council meeting that decided to … Read more
By Robin BrantBBC News, Kuala Lumpur Millions of people in Malaysia have been banned from doing yoga because of ears it could corrupt Muslims. The Islamic authorities have issued a ruling, known as a fatwa, instructing he country’s Muslims to avoid yoga because of its Hindu roots. To most people yoga is simply a sport … Read more
By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press Writer Tuesday, November 25 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Before banning Muslims from performing yoga, Malaysia’s top Islamic body should have first consulted the country’s nine hereditary sultans who are considered upholders of Islam here, one sultan said Monday. The unprecedented comment bordering on rebuke by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah … Read more
The article summarizes both the past foreign investment policies and the characteristics of the resulting foreign investment patterns in the following ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. It shows that many of the negative features of direct foreign investment patterns are at least partially explained by the foreign investment policies of the … Read more
Focuses on the impact of government policies on the diverse media in Malaysia. Patterns of mass media; History of postwar crises contributed to increasing official controls and restraints on a culturally pluralistic system of mass communication; Race riots between Malays and non-Malays. [Download]