SXI: Brother Charles Levin’s legacy

 Christianity, Malaysian history  1 Response »
Sep 302007
 

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SXI: Brother Charles Levin's legacy

From the corridor, I spotted a tall solitary figure strolling in the school courtyard in the evening light. For one moment, it felt as if I had been transported back in time. The setting looked familiar – though there seemed to be a lot more potted plants and greenery around. “Brother Charles!” I called out. He spun around to see who had called. We walked towards each other and I asked him the question that principals and teachers dread: “Do you remember me?” Then I mentioned my name to spare him the embarrassment of replying in the negative. “Yes, I know you,” he assured me. “I have seen you a a couple of times over the years.” Coincidentally, we were standing just outside my old Form Five classroom, next to the Brother Director’s office, in St Xavier’s Institution, Penang.

PGCC: There go the angsana trees

 Development issues, Environment, Malaysian finance/business, People's Park/PGCC  1 Response »
Sep 282007
 
PGCC: There go the angsana trees

My sources tell me that the PGCC developer’s consultants said yesterday they would avoid cutting down the trees along Scotland Road but admitted that some angsana trees would have to make way for the road widening/flyover work, especially near the Jalan Batu Gantong junction, to cope with the extra traffic anticipated. These trees are actually heritage trees. Some concerned Penangites pasted posters (see picture above) on the trees likely to be affected. One person who has seen the plan told me that perhaps a few dozen trees would have to be chopped down. By this morning, the posters had disappeared. The threat to the trees flies in the face of the assurance given by PGCC master-planner Nasrine Seraji, which was reported in the New Straits Times: Paris-based architect Nasrine Seraji also gave the assurance that the angsana trees along Jalan Scotland would not have to make way for the project. [Read more]

Lawyers’ march, Burma’s struggle, PGCC campaign all related

 Asean, Democracy, Environment, Human rights, Judiciary, Malaysian finance/business, People's Park/PGCC  4 Responses »
Sep 262007
 
Lawyers' march, Burma's struggle, PGCC campaign all related

This is a more realistic miniature model of what the PGCC will look like – Awful! What do the lawyers marching in Putrajaya, the ordinary people struggling for democracy in Burma and those campaigning against the Penang Global City Centre Project have in common? They are all part of the global justice movement, trying to create a real alternative to the decaying structures and oppressive forces in society. Trying to build a more just and sustainable world – a world where human dignity is respected and no one is oppressed. A world where the environment – God’s gift to humanity – is considered sacred. So congratulations to the 1,500 courageous Malaysians who marched in Putrajaya despite the obstacles in their path. Even though the police stopped the buses from entering Putrajaya, the lawyers got off and started walking. As lawyers committed to the cause of justice, you have given all [Read more]

Malaysians, Burmese march for democracy

 Asean, Democracy, Global justice movement, Human rights, Judiciary, Poverty  No Responses »
Sep 252007
 

Monks have been leading tens of thousands of people as protests rock Burma People are on the march in both Malaysia and Burma in their quest for justice and freedom. The Malaysian Bar Council is organising a march of lawyers from the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya to the Prime Minister’s Office on the morning of Wed, 26 Sept after the explosive revelations in a widely circulated videoclip. They are expected to be joined by activists and other concerned Malaysians. This is a piece I wrote for Asia Times Online: Malaysia’s judiciary on Candid Camera By Anil Netto PENANG, Malaysia – On May 27, 1988, then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, his party faced with a legal challenge from rivals that threatened his leadership, summoned Malaysia’s top judge, Salleh Abas, and gave him an ultimatum: resign or face a judicial tribunal. That secret private meeting led to suspension of Salleh and five [Read more]

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