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 … Read more
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 … Read more
When the Minister of Education, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, launched the National Education Blueprint, he claimed that it would result in students with world-class knowledge and skills, strong moral values and capable of competing with their peers from other countries. This has now been revealed to be an empty boast and a lie. Worse, it … Read more
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. … Read more
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, … Read more
Nesrine Malik of The Guardian hit the nail on the head when she said the Allah ban “is less about religion than about putting the non-Malay minorities in their place . . .” It’s about Umno-Malays domination and their claim to the exclusive right to set the country’s agenda, riding roughshod over the concerns of … Read more
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 … Read more
Without much further ado, I will delve immediately into the subject proper of my paper in conjunction with the forthcoming national budget 2014 which will be unveiled by the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who is also the Finance Minister. Please bear with me. I will keep my address as brief as possible so that … Read more
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 … Read more
CPI introduction We are reproducing two newspaper articles which have appeared in response to the ruling by the Court of Appeal banning the use of the word ‘Allah’ in the Herald. The first article from the Borneo Insider provides a succinct analysis of the political underpinnings and ramifications of the COA decision and the costly … Read more