The case for vernacular schools

The National Education Blueprint believes diversity of cultures and peoples to be fundamental to Malaysian identity, and that young students learn best when taught in their mother tongue.

Tweaked crime statistics: Who should respond

Below we are reproducing views from several CPI columnists and regular contributors on the whistleblower’s letter detailing the way in which crime statistics have been processed to provide the misleading conclusion that crime is on the decline in the country. We await with interest the official response – whether from Hishamuddin Hussein, the Home Minister… Continue reading Tweaked crime statistics: Who should respond

A response to Chandra Muzaffar’s lambasting of Bersih

Friends have asked me what prompted the extraordinary hatchet job that Dr Chandra Muzaffar attempted on the Bersih 3.0 movement and its leaders in his recent article misleadingly titled ‘Bersih and the Quest for Human Rights’ published in various media. What was in the article that could be of academic or scholarly value to warrant… Continue reading A response to Chandra Muzaffar’s lambasting of Bersih

Peaceful transition of power: Open letter to all political parties

With the general election imminent, one key question remains yet unanswered: Will the Barisan Nasional respect the outcome of the polls and ensure a peaceful transition of power? This is the sixty four thousand dollar sensitive question – unasked in our repressed mass media, largely unexplored by political analysts, never-to-be-publicly wondered but lurking in the… Continue reading Peaceful transition of power: Open letter to all political parties

Taking a stand against institutionalized racism

The Hindraf-Civil Rights Committee KLSCAH forum on ‘Institutionalized racism in Malaysia’ on 17 January 2012 brought into sharper focus the ways in which a system of inequality based on race has taken shape and come to dominate practically every sphere of life in the country. Three speakers N. Ganesan, Dr Kua Kia Soong and Dr Azmi… Continue reading Taking a stand against institutionalized racism

Academic consensus on unfair elections: Reinforcing the case for Bersih’s march

  Many Malaysians may be unaware of the considerable research work by social scientists – both local and foreign – that have unequivocally concluded that the country’s record on free and fair elections has been abysmal. Analysis of this remarkable record of trickery, manipulation and gerrymandering by first the Alliance, followed by Barisan Nasional (BN), goes… Continue reading Academic consensus on unfair elections: Reinforcing the case for Bersih’s march

Can bloggers be in solidarity with the media?

  In Malaysia, bloggers have been engaged in a battle to correct the spinning and political bias which has become part of the normal business and deep culture of the media. Since Independence, the majority of the media has been a willing partner in the Barisan Nasional’s one overriding pursuit:  that of self-promotion, self aggrandizement… Continue reading Can bloggers be in solidarity with the media?