The recent announcement by the Prime Minister Najib Razak of pending political reforms is an important step in the right direction for the country. These reforms are needed to complement the earlier economic ones. The Prime Minister’s boldness in enacting these reforms has been applauded by all quarters, except for Malay supremacist groups such as… Continue reading Can the separation of power in Malaysia become reality?
Month: September 2011
Forget ISA abolition, zero-in on electoral reform
Umno is now facing unprecedented challenge to its political survival. Are we to believe that it will give up this potent weapon at this most vulnerable moment of its existence?
Acknowledge the left’s role in Independence struggle
The LLG Cultural Development Centre urges the federal government to take cognizance of an important message to have come out of the recent debate on Mohamad Indera’s role as a patriotic fighter for our country’s freedom, which is that the left and progressive forces have contributed immensely to the struggle for Malaysia’s independence. In this… Continue reading Acknowledge the left’s role in Independence struggle
Freeing the Malays and Muslims from religious mind control
There appears to be a Malay-Islamic Inquisition in Malaysia. It does not involve burnings at the stake. It comes as ostracism at school, the workplace and in the community for failing to comply with rigid parameters. Not wearing a headscarf is frowned upon. Transgenders are institutional pariahs. Religious arrogance and zealotry are norms. Muslim leaders… Continue reading Freeing the Malays and Muslims from religious mind control
Samplings of Malay reactions to the Emergency in 1948
This paper is a preliminary report of an ongoing research on the reactions of the Malays in Malaya to the coming of the Cold War to the region, with particular reference to the importance of the year 1948. For the majority of the Malays, the Cold War was most popularly associated with the Emergency, which… Continue reading Samplings of Malay reactions to the Emergency in 1948
Forum: Perjuangan Kemerdekaan Malaya: peranan golongan kiri
Baru-baru ini Peristiwa Bukit Kepong sekali lagi menjadi topik perbahasan yang hangat dalam masyarakat kita. Peristiwa serangan balai polis Bukit Kepong pada Februari 1950 oleh segolongan komunis telah diketahui umum melalui coretan dan catatan dalam Sejarah Malaysia. Dari semasa ke semasa, sebuah filem tentang peristiwa Bukit Kepong ditanyang di rangkaian-rangkaian media awam terutamanya menjelang Hari… Continue reading Forum: Perjuangan Kemerdekaan Malaya: peranan golongan kiri
The case of CPM (1948-1960) – a Special Branch perspective
The origins of the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) have been debated over the years in both the academic world and in the intelligence community. This paper incorporates the contemporaneous views of the Malayan Special Branch that have not been recorded previously. It also examines the role of Lawrence (Lance) Sharkey, the acting Secretary-General of the… Continue reading The case of CPM (1948-1960) – a Special Branch perspective
Re-examining the 1948 revolt of the MCP in Malaya
Yesterday’s introduction to this article by CPI and Richard Mason of UKM’s Institute of Occidental Studies can be read here. This paper brings forward the idea of Malayan Communist Party’s (MCP) plan for the revolt by examining various MCP documents at that time and oral history records of several important senior MCP cadres in order… Continue reading Re-examining the 1948 revolt of the MCP in Malaya
Scholars’ views on nationalists and their struggle for Merdeka
Introduction by Dr Lim Teck Ghee In an earlier commentary titled Media lynching and academic collaborators, I asked the question: “So what is the verdict of professional historians on the communist insurgency and its contribution to the movement for independence from which a real debate and the historical truth can have its starting point?”… Continue reading Scholars’ views on nationalists and their struggle for Merdeka
Umno, pray tell how Mat Sabu was supposed to have erred
If you do not believe that Umno has already passed its expiry date as a potent political party, all you need to do is to watch how its entire leadership as well as propaganda machinery have been fully engaged in an orgy of attack against Mohamad Sabu – the PAS deputy president. It’s okay if… Continue reading Umno, pray tell how Mat Sabu was supposed to have erred