Category: Malaysia In The News

The winds of changeMay 1, 2008 From The Economist print edition Could the opposition take power after 51 years? AS MALAYSIA’S new parliament opened this week, a mood of change was in the air not felt since the country’s independence from Britain in 1957. The governing coalition, led since then by the United Malays National… Continue reading The winds of change

Malaysia’s PM pays high price to stay in powerBy Michael Backman, The AgeMarch 26, 2008 MALAYSIA’S hapless Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi got something right last week: he announced a radical reshuffle of his cabinet, which included dropping several ministers who had seemed untouchable. But what Abdullah got wrong was the timing. The reshuffle is about… Continue reading Malaysia’s PM pays high price to stay in power

Malaysian voters open the door for Anwar Ibrahimby Michael BackmanThe AgeMarch 12, 2008 MALAYSIA Boleh! (Malaysia Can!) is Malaysia’s national slogan but after last Saturday’s elections, the real slogan should be Malaysians Boleh! for ordinary Malaysians are to be congratulated. The humiliation they handed their government at the federal and state elections demonstrates how politically… Continue reading Malaysian voters open the door for Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia needs a strong Oppositionby Michael BackmanThe AgeFebruary 27, 2008 SHOULD Malaysians bother to vote? The corollary of this question is: does the Malaysian Government deserve to be re-elected? The answer to the second question is no. In the past few years, the Malaysian Government has presided over an extraordinary number of scandals that are… Continue reading Malaysia needs a strong Opposition

Truth and justice are no longer Malaysian way By Michael BackmanThe AgeNovember 21, 2007 THE Government of Australia will probably change hands this weekend. There will be no arrests, no tear gas and no water cannons. The Government of John Howard will leave office, the Opposition will form a government and everyone will accept the… Continue reading Truth and justice are no longer Malaysian way

Malaysia’s PM seems to be failing his people at every chanceby Michael BackmanThe AgeOtcober 24, 2007 ON OCTOBER 31, Abdullah Badawi, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, will have been in office for four years. Abdullah came to office promising to fight corruption and to be a breath of fresh air. He has failed on both counts. But… Continue reading Malaysia’s PM seems to be failing his people at every chance

With this cash I thee wed: here comes the bribeBy Michael BackmanThe AgeJune 20, 2007 A NEW term has emerged in Malaysian political debate and it arose from a column I wrote at the end of last year. In the column, I said that Malaysian government waste wasn’t “Malaysia boleh” (the national slogan that means… Continue reading With this cash I thee wed: here comes the bribe

Malaysia bites back and industriously trades the insults by Michael BackmanThe AgeNovember 29, 2006 MY LAST column on wasteful government spending in Malaysia (Business, 15/11) generated a furore. I received more than 600 emails from readers, mostly Malaysians (both expatriate and in Malaysia) and nearly all supportive. The column was the most emailed item on… Continue reading Malaysia bites back and industriously trades the insults

While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dryBy Michael BackmanThe AgeNovember 15, 2006 MALAYSIA’S been at it again, arguing about what proportion of the economy each of its two main races — the Malays and the Chinese — owns. It’s an argument that’s been running for 40 years. That wealth and race are not synonymous… Continue reading While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry