Category: Media Monitor

The history of Singapore as presented by the one-party state is now being subject to unprecedented querying and interrogation absolute power of the PAP.

Will Malaysia be a fulcrum connecting maritime and mainland parts of Southeast Asia or instead its fault line? Within and among Asean states, there are softly spoken concerns about Malaysia’s domestic contradictions in recognition of the possibilities of massive social and political dislocation and even disintegration of the fractured country.  

The Batang Kali massacre occurred because, in Britain’s Empire, principles – specifically the right to life and to its protection by laws to be enforced on an equal basis – were sometimes abandoned

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was being his usual disingenuous self when he told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in London on Oct 31 that the Federal Government over which he presides was “not racist at all”. Najib was speaking to CNN on the sidelines of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in the British capital.… Continue reading Federal Constitution sets the limit for ‘racism’ in Malaysia

Economists point to the huge government debts and deteriorating fiscal position, while NGOs say Malaysia’s widening gap between rich and poor, and ongoing ethno-exclusive pro-Malay policies must end. Malaysian lawyer and activist, Haris Ibrahim thinks 40 percent of Malaysians live below the poverty line. Mr Haris, who’s a member of the movement, Anything But UMNO,… Continue reading Anything but UMNO: Movement calls for change in Malaysia

  At a time not too far distant, Lee Kuan Yew, the font of all authority, legitimacy, orthodoxy and indeed fear in Singapore for over 50 years will no longer be with us. It is thus perhaps appropriate to begin discussing what the absence of Lee Kuan Yew will mean for the Singaporean republic. With… Continue reading Singapore after Lee Kuan Yew

Philippine – Our nongovernment organizations (NGOs) have been blooming for a long, long time.  Here is an assessment from a quarter-century ago: “Of all the ASEAN NGOs, the Filipino ones are the most numerous, radical and most innovative in terms of tactics and strategies—there are NGOs in almost every sphere of life, leading to a… Continue reading We top Asean in (genuine) NGOs

After the recent general election, Malaysian democrats have again been frustrated. Once more, the United Malay National Organization (“UMNO”) emerged victorious, though many believe this was the most fraudulent election in Malaysia’s political history. Now, democrats are redoubling their efforts to reveal such fraud and to seek electoral reform at least with an eye to… Continue reading Public interest litigation in Malaysia

The perennial affirmative action debate is flared up once again with Lee Kuan Yew’s stinging remarks in his latest book “One Man’s View of the World”. The gadfly claimed that race-based affirmative action policies espoused by the ethnocentric Barisan Nasional government are causing a talent haemorrhage. As expected, Umno leaders like Noh Omar defended the… Continue reading The moral responsibilities of affirmative action beneficiaries

Mahathir backs moves to punish minorities and reward pro-government voters, companies Last week, the Malaysian government announced its allocation of public university seats for the upcoming academic year. Only 19 percent of Chinese students got places, along with 4 percent of Indians despite the fact that the two together make up about 30 percent of… Continue reading Post-election payback time in Malaysia