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]

Rumours prove unfounded as day passes peacefully in Penang

 Democracy, Islam, Malaysian elections  9 Responses »
Mar 202008
 
Rumours prove unfounded as day passes peacefully in Penang

Start of the Maulud Nabi procession outside Kapitan Keling Mosque Women and children in colourful attire participated Police didn’t expect any trouble but kept a watchful eye I thought I would head to George Town to see what was going on during the Maulud Nabi celebration today. Arrived near the Kapitan Keling mosque and saw a small crowd there. The usual colourful procession started at around 5.00pm. Delegations from various parts of Penang participated, each led by a standard bearer carrying a banner indicating the name of the group and its location. The rhythmic, thumping beat of a kompang group livened up the proceedings. Police had taken up positions. I saw four police jeeps with Light Strike Force personnel in addition to a couple of civil defence vans plus the usual traffic police. Plainclothes police were also around. They appeared relaxed, as if they were not expecting any problems – [Read more]

What now after NEP?

 Corporate agenda, Democracy, Development issues, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Marginalised groups, Neo-liberal economics, Poverty  11 Responses »
Mar 192008
 

If the NEP goes, what will replace it? The Malaysian Economic Agenda? Unlike the NEP, the MEA calls for providing assistance to all those who need it, irrespective of ethnicity. Fine, but PKR, DAP and Pas leaders must realise that the people voted for more subsidies and greater government social spending. This is what they were promised. They did not vote for “free market”, “business friendly” policies. Neither did they opt for neoliberal policies (privatisation, corporatisation and policies favouring the corporate elite), which have actually widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Voting for greater democracy does not mean support for “free-market” policies. Actually, what we often have in Malaysia is a situation, as economist Charles Santiago puts it, “where you had subsidies for the rich and a free market economy for the poor. While you subsidise the rich on one side, the debt of the country is [Read more]

The woman who masterminded Samy’s defeat

 M'sian politics, Malaysian elections  42 Responses »
Mar 192008
 
The woman who masterminded Samy's defeat

Kumar and Rani in Penang fresh after their triumph in Sg Siput While everyone knows Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj as the guy who finally toppled Samy Vellu in his Sg Siput bastion, few are aware that his victory owes a lot to his wife and campaign manager, Rani Rasiah, a PSM central committee member, who played an instrumental role in the campaign. Of course, they couldn’t have done it without the help of a multi-ethnic team of dedicated volunteers from all around the country. A tale of sheer grit and perseverance. It was an amazing campaign. Rani revealed that none of the volunteers who helped out in their campaign – many of them from grassroots communities – was paid a sen. It was entirely a people’s effort. In fact, their regular ceramah in Sg Siput did not feature any big names. Rather, it was the ordinary people – farmers, urban pioneers, [Read more]

Zaid Ibrahim, Shahrir IN; Rafidah, Tengku Adnan OUT

 M'sian politics, Malaysian elections  21 Responses »
Mar 182008
 

PM Abdullah Badawi has just announced his new cabinet which includes critic Zaid Ibrahim as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department serving as de facto law minister. Zaid is likely to be made a senator first before he can take up his new appointment. The independent-minded Shahrir Samad makes a surprise entry as Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister. The “world’s longest-serving trade minister”, Rafidah, has been dropped in a major shock. The “AP Queen” is replaced by Muhyiddin. Other big names dropped are Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Jamaluddin Jarjis, Tengku Adnan and Azmi Khalid. It is likely that the major setbacks suffered by the BN in the 8 March general election played a key role in their being dropped. But the new appointments are unlikely to placate Malaysians demanding real and far-reaching change. With Zam, Rafidah and Samy Vellu all out, we are now left with Nazri to “entertain” us. [Read more]

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