Category: Commentary

  Introduction by CPI As Umno, PAS and other stake players push the country’s Muslim communities down the slippery road of narrow-minded Sunni religious correctness, it is increasingly difficult to remain optimistic for the open­mindedness and tolerance which has characterized Islam for much of the country’s history. Yet remain hopeful we must. Not just because… Continue reading Where will mandating strict Sunni religious correctness lead Malaysia?

The case of prominent Utusan Malaysia columnist, Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, who has been accused of plagiarism should be of public concern for several reasons. Firstly, within academia, there are few worst sins than plagiarism. The term “sin” may appear to be too strong but Ridhuan Tee who, regularly from his Utusan Malaysia pulpit, dishes out… Continue reading Plagiarism: Much more than storm in Tee cup

CPI introduction We are reproducing below the letter of P. Uthayakumar addressed to the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, and Home Minister, Zahid Hamidi, describing the horrific conditions of his imprisonment in Kajang Prison. No prisoner in our country – or indeed any other civilized country – deserves such brutal and abusive treatment. It is clear… Continue reading Prisoner of conscience Uthaya paying dearly for defying the government

The judgment of the Court of Appeal on the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Herald (the Catholic weekly) Bahasa Malaysia edition raises a very fundamental question affecting the Malaysian justice system. The question is whether our courts, particularly the Appellate Courts, namely the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court where the majority… Continue reading Dilemma of our justice system where overwhelming majority of judges are Muslims

 Thursday 10 Oct 2013, marks 300 days of the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, one of Lao PDR’s most prominent activists. Sombath is a long-time and good friend. In the late 1970s, he and I were part of a small group of human rights activists and social critics from the Southeast Asian region who met regularly… Continue reading Where is Sombath Somphone?

  The passing of Chin Peng in Bangkok on 16 September 2013 brings to an end one of the longest of Asian political biographies. Chin Peng became the Secretary General and effective leader of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), the country’s oldest political party, in 1947 when he was only 22.  He retained that position… Continue reading Chin Peng, an obituary

In the last few weeks, with the chorus of chest-beating messages on the need for greater entrenchment of Malay rights and privileges growing stronger ahead of the coming Umno general assembly, there have emerged two Malay leaders who are willing to go against the chauvinistic tide to provide a different analysis of what is wrong… Continue reading Alternative messages to the Malay heartland: Will they be heard?

CPI Introduction During the last few weeks the attention of the world has been riveted on the possible use of chemical weapons by the Assad government in Syria. Although this charge has not been proven – some analysts argue that it is without foundation – it is understandable why there is so much odium against… Continue reading Biological and chemical warfare – lessons of history on whose hands are clean

Sebuah lagi sekolah telah gagal, sekiranya laporan tentang murid sekolah di SK Seri Pristana di Sungai Buloh itu benar. Kanak-kanak sekolah dikehendaki menggunakan bilik persalinan di sebelah tandas sebagai kantin sementara kerana kantin sebenar telah ditutup dalam bulan puasa ini. Seperti yang dijangkakan, TPM telah mengarahkan siasatan dijalankan dan kemungkinan menteri pendidikan yang seorang lagi… Continue reading Bilakah kebaikan akan mengatasi segala-galanya?

As soon as one academic government yes-man appears to retire from the public scene, another all too quickly rushes to fill the vacancy. The latest academic political wannabe is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof. Teo Kok Seong who has said that the course would benefit the Chinese, and that Chinese leaders should support its introduction. Offering… Continue reading Clueless or opportunistic defenders of TITAS