MP Ibrahim Ali lacks spirit of self- betterment

Twenty years ago, I used to witness Ibrahim Ali, at fairly close range, performing street sandiwara in the Parliament. Now , he still has not shown any sign of self-betterment. Time has changed but he has not. Indeed, as Socrates once put it: "unexamined life is not worth living".

No morally objectionable stuff in Wain's book

My learned friends in Indonesia who have read Barry Wain's Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times, further testify that there is no morally objectionable word or image in the new discourse. The world now certainly knows Malaysia much better than Malaysians.

Barry Wain's book still held up after 3 months

Google says it faces a "trade barrier" in China

Google has reportedly argued that regulations in China which prevent it from being competitive should be seen as a "trade barrier". Earlier, a Brizilian court reportedly imposed a fine on Google for not blocking pages of "dirty jokes" on its facebook-like social networking website.

Internet censorship row in Australia & Britain

Internet censorship row in Australia & Britain

The Internet filter plan Down Under has come under fire from service providers Google and Yahoo. Earlier, Google in the UK was reportedly "forced" to take down images of sensitive locations and installations.

More balanced perspective on ICT Revolution

Three perspectives on MCA's power struggles

Susan Loone, now back to malaysiakini, spoke to Ooi Kee Beng, Lim Teck Ghee and me recently on MCA's 'Romance of Three Kingdoms'. I am too lazy to write about MCA nowadays, although I still observe it.

My live interview at AiFM radio station today

Bird from Australia shares thoughts with M'sia

Australia's first and serving ambassador to ASEAN, Gillian Bird visited Kuala Lumpur last week. Today, she shares her perspectives on some aspects of her nation' s foreign relations with Southeast Asian region. The people-to-people relations and contacts between Malaysia on one hand and Australia on the other are not only wide but also fairly deep.

Trans-Pacific trade bargain starts in Australia

Capitalism with American characteristic now

The massive bailout of banks and other financial institutions in 2008 as well as the congressional passage of the healthcare reforms law in 2010 in the United States are apparently elements of 'capitalism with American characteristic '. While some groups may worry that it would pave the 'the road to serfdom', other could actually argue that it does not matter if a cat is black or white, it is a good cat as long as it can catch the mice. As Keynes once said: "in the long run, we're all dead".

Obama presidency under spotlight in Malaysia

(RIP) Nepali statesman G.P. Koirala dies at 86

I am saddened by the news that Nepal's former prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala has passed away at 86. We met in Kathmandu in 1993 and exchanged observations as well as reflections on social economy. May I express my sympathy to the family of Mr. Koirala as well as the People and Government of Nepal who are striving for a better future.

On postponement of Obama's Indonesian tour

Like it or hate it, the postponement of President Obama' s scheduled tour to Indonesia (and Australia!) does not give a good impression of America. But , given the partisan nature of the healthcare debates, I also personally think Obama' s not-so-nice decision is understandable.

Malaysian views on Obama's visit to Indonesia

Obama administration engages world directly

To engage the people of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia, the Obama administration has just launched two websites which welcome ordinary persons from all over the globe to express their frank views.

Exchanges on board American aircraft carrier

Malaysians' observations on Straits of Malacca

The question of security of the Straits of Malacca has been raised by Singapore again recently. UM' s Dr. Lee Poh Ping shares his thoughts. The email interview has been published in malaysiakini earlier today.

Malaysian views on Obama's visit to Indonesia

Trans-Pacific trade bargain starts in Australia

Multilateral negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership has started today in Australia, but, Malaysia seems to be still reluctant to join in. The bilateral US-Malaysia FTA talk has ended without any agreement.

Barry Wain's book still held up after 3 months

Australian journalist Barry Wain's book Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times, has been held up by the authorities in Malaysia for more than three months already without being declared banned. What is wrong with the censors ? Can't comprehend English ?
Many friends in Singapore who have read the book testify that there is no pornographic or vulgar expression, whether in words or images.

Malaysian views on Obama's visit to Indonesia

Professor Dr. Lee Poh Ping, now back to UM, shares his observations on US President Barack Obama's forthcoming visit to the Republic of Indonesia, the most populous Muslims-majority country in this world.

Observations on America' s SEA policy change

Congratulation on 15 th anniversary of IKMAS

UKM' s Institute of Malaysia & International Studies ( IKMAS ) is going to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its inauguration on 26 March. As a guest of some of IKMAS' scholarly seminars, allow me to extend my most sincere congratulation to the management and staff. Takniah !

Insightful reports on Southeast Asian Islamism

The Foreign Affairs (Nov/Dec 2009) article The Forgotten Front by US GOP Senator Christopher S. Bond and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lewis M. Simon does offer some very insightful perspectives and also useful observations on Islamist terrorism and insurgency in Southeast Asia. The more detailed and in-depth account of their field works has just been published in a book titled The Next Front: Southeast Asia & the Road to Global Peace with Islam. It is available in KL bookstores.

America & Holy See view M'sia with concerns

Exchanges on board American aircraft carrier

On the evening of 7th Febuary (Sun), I was invited to join a reception on board the world-famous American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), which then berthed at the West Port in Klang. I was really glad to have met many 'old' and new friends from Malaysia as well as America for free and also mutually respectful exchanges of views and opinions

USAF successfully stages Air Show in Malaysia