The New Mandala, a regional online publication, recently featured a series of sharp commentaries in a continuing series that explores the idea of ‘regime change’ in the country. Its various contributors shared thoughtful perspectives with the main objective of getting Malaysians and the political leaders to think seriously about the imminent 13th general election, its… Continue reading Perspectives on regime change in Malaysia
Month: March 2012
Where are the Malays headed?
Translation by CPI A. Ghani Ismail’s most recent piece of writing titled ‘Ke Arah Mana Melayu?’ (Where are the Malays headed?) is prefaced with the dire remark, “Ngilai setan menyeram semula di Tanah Melayu” or syaitan’s shrill laughter spooks Malaya again. Words full of foreboding indeed. Ghani, a seasoned journalist, begins his March 24… Continue reading Where are the Malays headed?
SMSL & Malaysian NGOs Statement against LYNAS
Dear Mr Prime Minister, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) together with the undersigned civil society organisations of Malaysia, would like to strongly implore you as the Malaysian Prime Minister and to immediately suspend the licence issued to Lynas and to stop any shipment of rare earth ore concentrate into Malaysia. The Lynas Advanced Materials Plant… Continue reading SMSL & Malaysian NGOs Statement against LYNAS
Allow opposition fair access to national media
See Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaking to the electorate on Myanmar’s national television. When will Barisan Nasional begin to feel a sense of shame that it has doggedly refused to allow the opposition even five minutes of TV time? Myanmar, a supposedly notorious laggard in democracy, has made us we feel like… Continue reading Allow opposition fair access to national media
Penganut agama Islam hari ini
BismillahirRahmanirRahim. “Dengan nama Allah, Yang Maha Pemurah, lagi Maha Mengasihani”, begitulah makna kalimah yang sudah sebati dengan setiap penganut agama Islam. Melihat keadaan sekelilling dan tindakan umat Islam hari ini, tertanya-tanya pula adakah kalimah ini yang diucap sebelum melakukan sesuatu, sudah benar-benar menjadi darah daging setiap Muslim. Perkataan Islam bermaksud ‘penyerahan’, atau penyerahan diri sepenuhnya… Continue reading Penganut agama Islam hari ini
A bleak house divided against itself
Introduction by CPI Far from being a prolific writer, A. Ghani Ismail is instead more akin to a mystic in the mountains, and thus one who blogs only very rarely. Nonetheless whenever the veteran journalist’s provocative writings do appear in his blog ‘Liberty’, they are worth paying close attention to. His most recent piece published… Continue reading A bleak house divided against itself
450,000 stateless Indians in Malaysia, fact or fiction?
Today it is generally taken for granted that there are good things that people are entitled to have and bad things that they can expect or hope to avoid. A wide, and ever-widening, range of such entitlements and immunities are supposed to belong to everyone, everywhere and at all times, purely as a consequence of… Continue reading 450,000 stateless Indians in Malaysia, fact or fiction?
Untuk melonjak keluar dari perangkap pendapatan sederhana
Kenyataan Profesor Richard H.K. Vietor dari Universiti Harvard baru-baru ini bahawa Malaysia mesti membuat keputusan sama ada mahu menjadi intang atau kekal seperti sekarang patut mendapat perhatian ramai. Dia menyatakan bahawa kegagalan membuat keputusan akan bermakna negara ini terus berada di dalam kumpulan yang berpendapatan sederhana untuk 10 ke 20 tahun akan datang dan mungkin… Continue reading Untuk melonjak keluar dari perangkap pendapatan sederhana
Malaysia needs to maintain tools for capital controls
Proposed measures in the new Trans-Pacific trade pact that the Malaysian government is negotiating this week could restrict Pacific nations from preventing and mitigating financial crises. Beginning March 1, the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP)–a proposed treaty by the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam—is being negotiated in Australia.… Continue reading Malaysia needs to maintain tools for capital controls
Something from the blogs
Introduction by CPI We are excerpting here a frank appraisal by one young individual on some of the contradictions between Islamic principles and their actual practice in Malaysia. In his ‘About Me’ page, Azeem Ambalam – whose blog is called The Rantings of a Bolehlander – states that “The whole idea behind this blog is… Continue reading Something from the blogs