Will Gerakan leave BN?

 Democracy, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections  57 Responses »
Mar 272008
 

Over the years, Gerakan has tried to change or reform the Barisan “from within” – or so it likes to claim. Clearly, it has failed. Did the BN instead end up changing Gerakan? The question on many people’s minds is, now what for the party that had governed Penang for close to 40 years? In a personal comment piece for the New Sunday Times, the former state exco member for Penang, Toh Kin Woon, suggested several options for Gerakan after its disastrous performance in the general election: One is to stay in BN and have more of the same, with the party unable to abandon its racial character. This is the least desirable for it may lead to the party’s oblivion. The second is to stay and seek reforms from within. One major reform, and one which had been advocated earlier by the party’s Youth chief, is for all component [Read more]

1988 judicial crisis: Is an apology sufficient?

 Democracy, Judiciary, M'sian politics, Malaysian history  23 Responses »
Mar 262008
 

Former Lord President Salleh Abas has reacted positively to Zaid Ibrahim’s proposal that the government should apologise to him and the other top judges who were victimised and sacked in the 1988 judicial onslaught by the Mahathir administration. Of course, Karpal Singh has a point that when he says that it is not the present administration who should apologise but Mahathir himself. He said that the two tribunals that were convened in 1988 were initiated by Mahathir. While it is great that the government may acknowledge the terrible injustice that occurred in 1988, a mere apology without concrete measures won’t suffice. Those involved in the crisis must also be held accountable. I am thinking of the role played by people like Hamid Omar (who took over from Salleh Abas) and Haidar apart from Mahathir himself. Mahathir has a lot to answer for – and this time he should not be [Read more]

Penang school heads told not to invite State Govt leaders as VIPs

 Democracy, Malaysian elections, Politics  72 Responses »
Mar 252008
 

School heads in Penang have been instructed or “advised” not to invite State Government leaders and other elected representatives in Penang as VIPs and guests-of-honour. The message was conveyed during a briefing last Wednesday by a senior official from the Penang Education Department, which comes under the federal-level Education Ministry. The directive/”advice” to play on the safe-side was made verbally (and not in writing), according to a principal of a school in Penang and confirmed by another senior staff member from the same school. They were understandably indignant at the ruling. This just shows the kind of small-mindedness among certain Education Dept/Ministry officials. I believe even DAP-PKR state assembly members who are not holding exco posts may now not be invited as VIPs/guests-of-honour to schools. Take a look at this year’s Penang Schools Sports Council (MSSPP) meet, which is opening today in Batu Kawan and closing on Friday. The Penang [Read more]

Big Brother is watching – via CCTV

 Development issues, Marginalised groups, Poverty  6 Responses »
Mar 252008
 

I am not alone in expressing reservations about the proliferation of CCTV cameras as the solution to crime prevention. A couple of friends have just sent me a few links. UK is CCTV capital It is estimated that there are some 4.2 million Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in Britain, one for every 14 people. An individual might be captured by more than 300 separate cameras on an average day. Such all-pervasive video surveillance, combined with the ability to exploit the information contained in numerous government and private databases, enables the almost seamless monitoring of the population. The list of places monitored by CCTV is endless. Most of Britain’s urban centres are under surveillance, as are motorways, hospitals, schools, banks, museums, shopping malls, sports facilities and travel hubs such as railway stations and airports. CCTV cameras are operated by the police, the security services, various national and local government agencies [Read more]

Trengganu MB crisis: Follow the money trail

 Accountability, Civil society, Energy resources, Malaysian finance/business, Poverty  31 Responses »
Mar 242008
 

I spent a couple of years in Trengganu when I was a kid. I have fond memories of a tranquil and rustic state, wonderful childhood neighbours – whom I have recently been reacquainted with after all these years – and family picnics at Pantai Chendering. So the high stakes battle in Trengganu over the choice of Mentri Besar is of special interest to me. While much has been said about the constitutional position, there is more to it than just the letter and spirit of the law. There is more to it than that – and it is essential that we consider this dimension in any discussion of the political situation in Trengganu. Follow the money trail. One of the key issues, I believe, is how the Petronas oil royalties due to the state amounting to some RM1 billion annually should be spent – for the benefit of the people [Read more]

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