After the nonsensical assembly sitting in Perak on Oct 28, Barisan Nasional should deeply reflect whether it is worthwhile to prolong its farcical rule in the Silver State. To say the least, the session was a complete washout. First, police control and intervention inside and outside the assembly was so heavy and so overpowering that… Continue reading Harassment every inch of the way at Perak sitting
Month: October 2009
New Chinese Leadership in Malaysia: The Contest for the MCA and Gerakan Presidency
In 2005, party elections were held for the malaysian Chinese association(mCA) and Gerakan Raykat malaysia (Gerakan, or malaysian People’smovement), the two main Chinese-based political parties in the rulingBarisan nasional (Bn). These elections were unusual as the challengersfor the presidency were strong candidates and the incumbents had toreally fight to retain their presidency. This article argues… Continue reading New Chinese Leadership in Malaysia: The Contest for the MCA and Gerakan Presidency
Tussle between MCA top two — Redux
The current friction between the Ong Tee Keat and Chua Soi Lek factions invokes a déjà vu recalling the challenge by Lim Ah Lek to Ling Liong Sik. History is repeating itself as the earlier fight similarly saw Umno imposing a peace formula upon Teams A and B, the emergence of a third force and… Continue reading Tussle between MCA top two — Redux
Rumusan dan syor bagi SPR
“We do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his own business; we say he has no business here at all.??? [Pericles; c.495-429 BC] Mengundi adalah hak terpenting yang dimiliki oleh warga sebuah negara bebas. Contohnya, warga African-American hanya mendapat hak penuh sebagai pemilih pada… Continue reading Rumusan dan syor bagi SPR
Unemployed graduates: Who prospers?
Commentary by Dr Lim Teck Ghee (Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives) Najib Razak’s 2010 Budget is called ‘1Malaysia, Together we prosper’. Before the advent of the Prime Minister’s multi-million ringgit public relations sloganeering, his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had already introduced the ‘Prosper’ theme. Abdullah in his Oct 30, 2005 budget speech announced ‘Prosper’ or… Continue reading Unemployed graduates: Who prospers?
Bajet gula-gula rosakkan kesihatan
Saban tahun pada September atau Oktober, setiap daripada kita akan tertumpu kepada Bajet – yang bermakna ‘belanjawan’ tetapi ditukar istilahnya (dialih bahasa dari perkataan Inggeris ‘budget) tanpa bangkangan dari Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. “Orang ramai menunggu-nunggu apakah ‘gula-gula’ yang akan disediakan oleh kerajaan; adakah cukai pendapatan kita akan dipotong? Adakah subsidi diteruskan? Adakah rebat cukai… Continue reading Bajet gula-gula rosakkan kesihatan
School computers that cost more than cars
Is the treasury paying for computers made from rare kryptonite? The Malaysian public is rightly aghast at the purchase of a laptop for RM42,320 by Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang. The college bought two units of the same brand for RM84,640, said the recently released Auditor-General’s Report. However, the cost cited above… Continue reading School computers that cost more than cars
Najib on NEP at Umno assembly misses the mark
The Malay seize mentality has only exacerbated the drop-out syndrome, resulting in members of the community succumbing to social ills. For long-term survival of race, continued dependency on the deceptive notion of government crutches is not tenable. This is an attempt to try to answer the recent question posed by Prime Minister Najib Razak as… Continue reading Najib on NEP at Umno assembly misses the mark
Social and spatial justice for slum and city dwellers
The urban poor are entitled to claim their rightful share of development benefits as citizens, and these include public transport and health care, as well as recreational facilities affordable for all. Neo-liberal politics in the last two decades has greatly accelerated disparity in investment among cities in favour of the financially competitive as well… Continue reading Social and spatial justice for slum and city dwellers
Conflict between Islam and modernity
Introduction by Dr Lim Teck Ghee Although the article ‘The Myth of a Moderate Malaysia’ cited below first appeared in Forbes in conjunction with Merdeka Day this year, it is unlikely to have been read by many Malaysians. We are reproducing it so that it reaches a wider audience and because of our belief… Continue reading Conflict between Islam and modernity