Days after the Pardons Board decision on Najib was announced, a neighbour sent me a message that reeked of frustration:
“Top Members of Suaram, Bersih, LFL, Aliran etc, should form a 3rd Force party for next GE. Still have 4 years & there must be at least 200+ genuinely good people in the country.”
The news about the reduction in Najib Razak’s sentence has ingnited reactions in social media and messaging apps. Aliran released the following statement this morning:
Aliran is appalled and deeply disappointed by the Pardon’s Board’s decision to recommend a halving of corruption convict Najib Razak’s prison term from 12 years to six years and a reduction of his fine from RM210m to RM50m.
Sharing with you a reflection by Br Anthony Rogers:
I have recently been facing moments of mixed emotions to see many of my very, very dear friends “go away,” but they have all strangely come closer to me.
Is this water disruption in Penang (for up to four days from 10 January) for justified? Check out this article by Chuah Chong Lai in Aliran: Why cut water for up to four days in Penang?
The outcome of the 2022 general election held the promise of a new era for Malaysia.
A quarter of a century of Reformasi struggle culminated in the Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan Harapan winning power in alliance with, surprise, surprise, the Umno-led Barisan Nasional and coalitions in Sarawak and Sabah.
It is hard to celebrate Christmas with the usual festive cheer this year when this is happening. Has the universal church done enough to call out the genocide that is taking place in Gaza? End the genocide in Gaza!
A stirring movie can be a powerful instrument to raise awareness of social issues that we are not usually attuned to. Here are two commendable Malaysian efforts – Abang Adik, a low-budget film focusing on the plight of the stateless, and Pendatang, a crowdfunded film touching on ethnic relations. Try and watch both if you can over Christmas and the New Year.
Members attending Aliran’s 47th hybrid annual general meeting [on 25 November] unanimously passed a resolution urging for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank to allow humanitarian aid to enter.
They also called for the release of all hostages and prisoners illegally or unjustly held captive on both sides and for the immediate withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
My take on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s first year in office. What do you think of his performance over the last year?
One year after Anwar Ibrahim took over as Prime Minister, expectations have fallen.
Perhaps we have to be thankful his “unity government” has not collapsed to send the country into political turmoil again.