Category: Contributors

  Since the early 1980s, the ‘indiscretions’ of elected officials and those in the civil service have become the hallmark of all things Malaysian. This is to the extent that the people now accept corruption, greed and furthering vested interests as colouring all government transactions. How did this scheme of things come about? The turning… Continue reading Mahathir’s grand contribution to decline in political morality

A number of political commentators have criticised Bersih 2.0 in the news media and blogs. Among these critics are Chandra Muzaffar, Anas Zubedy, Ahirudin Attan (Rocky’s Bru) and Mahathir Mohamad. Their comments would have been welcome if they were honest and holistic assessments of Bersih 2.0. It would have been nice to see the use… Continue reading Debunking the Bersih 2.0 critics

M’sia’s electoral system: Govt of the people? (3) By Tey Tsun Hang (Parts 2 & 3 of this article appeared on July 2-3. Summary: The major issues constraining the Malaysian electoral system include mal-apportionment where disproportionately-sized constituencies foils the one-vote-one-value principle, gerrymandering as well as manipulation of the electoral rolls. Much has to be done… Continue reading M’sia’s electoral system: Govt of the people? (3)

M’sia’s electoral system: Govt of the people? (2) By Tey Tsun Hang (Part 1 of this article appeared yesterday. Summary: The growth of the dominant political elite has had direct implications for the development of Malaysia’s electoral regime and arrangements for the holding of democratic elections. The perceived inefficiency of the Election Commission in administering… Continue reading M’sia’s electoral system: Govt of the people? (2)

Foreword by CPI The upcoming Bersih 2.0 rally is being closely followed not only in the country but also all over the region. As the official case relating to the need for abandonment or cancellation of the march is aggressively pursued in the print media, it is even more important for the public to have… Continue reading M’sia’s electoral system: Govt of the people?

  My widowed mother was a rubber tapper who took care of me when I was growing up. My younger sister and I used to sleep on the grounds of the rubber plantation in the dark because we helped our mother to tap rubber at dawn. After finishing the work, we headed to school. Neither… Continue reading Hannah’s baby vs. an ‘East Indies’ Chinese

  One betrays the cause of the Indian poor when he pretends that for every Indian poor there is a Chinese poor just as badly off. And that a Malay or a Muslim poor is under ‘equal’ duress as the Indian poor. How can they be when for the bumiputera poor the sky is the… Continue reading Politicians playing to the majoritarian gallery

  I remember once as a young medical officer, I was boycotted by operating theatre staff when I wanted stern action taken against a staff nurse who went for a kenduri when she was supposed to scrub for a surgery. An assistant nurse had to cover up for her delinquent senior. Both the nurses –… Continue reading Isn’t a one-race civil service a form of apartheid?

Perwakilan PAS telah memilih ahli-ahli jawatankuasa kerja PAS pusat yang baru untuk penggal 2011-2013. Majoriti pasukan ini terdiri daripada golongan profesional (jurutera, doktor dan sebagainya). Mereka merupakan ahli-ahli PAS yang bukan berkelulusan agama atau berpangkatkan ulama. Ekoran ini, sesetengah pihak mendakwa bahawa parti PAS sudah menggadaikan agama Islam. Mereka kononnya kecewa bahawa PAS telah mengkhianati… Continue reading PAS tolak negara Islam atau tidak?

  I went to Malaysian schools. I grew up in the Science and Technology era. I recall the excitement in our small town when a billboard went up at a major crossroad. It had a picture of the Prime Minister. He said the future was in science and technology. We were told we should aim… Continue reading What they don’t teach in History