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 … Read more
While the history of political cartooning makes for a good read on a lazy afternoon over the weekend, it is easy to understand why books like ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’ and other books of political caricature by Malaysia’s contemporary Malaysiakini cartoonist, Zunar – full name, Zulkiflee Anwar Hague – are banned. One man’s humour may be another politician’s … Read more
What is most telling about the Royal Commission report on Teoh Beng Hock is its total neglect of the two major structural factors accounting for the tragedy – the Umno and MACC agenda convergence, and the racist character of the civil service. These ingredients together created a scenario where it is difficult to escape … Read more
Introduction by CPI On June 30, 2010 the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the government and police to pay RM1.4 million to Suzana Mohamad Aris, whose husband, Mohamad Anuar Sharip, allegedly was beaten to death while in police custody in 1999. – Human rights report, US State Dept Suzana was represented by P. Uthayakumar who … Read more
Corruption is not only about embezzlement of public funds but the destruction of the public institutions and undermining of the rule of law. Their dysfunctional effects are pervasive and perfidious, even occasionally murderous. The wise learn from history’s dark past and avoid its mistakes but the foolish tread its crooked path, suffer the ignominious … Read more
The Home Ministry had cited the more than 3,000 police reports lodged mainly by Umno operatives, Perkasa followers as well as their proxies against Bersih 2.0 as the basis for the authorities taking action against the July 9 rally organizers. However, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is now turning the tables and asking the public to … Read more
It was quite a day. Last Saturday Kuala Lumpur saw two foolish men destroy not only themselves, the government that they lead and their remaining reputation for political sagacity and moderation. They also ended what was left of the indispensable myth of a benign Malaysia. Unhappily for Malaysia, its fate and future these last two … Read more
In the world’s most isolated city the same cry for clean and fair elections resounded. Last Saturday on a cold afternoon, I counted more than 300 Malaysians and their Australian friends gathered outside the Malaysian consulate in Perth to show solidarity with Bersih. As Perth lies in the same time zone as Kuala Lumpur, … Read more
What started off as a noble and modest rally in defence of fair and free elections has now been transformed into a larger movement for good governance and the defence of democratic freedoms and basic political rights. It is a transformation not brought about by a scheming group of political actors coming from the opposition … Read more
The cry for free and fair elections resounds throughout the country and around the globe and will not cease until the integrity of the electoral process is achieved. Former Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has recently lamented the country’s regressive ways and calling for people to reclaim their rights. In the light of current events … Read more