Reaffirmation of dignity of labour on May Day

International May Day is the day to re-affirm the dignity of labour as labour is the real foundation of all civilisations in this world on earth. It is also a day to pay heartfelt tribute to martyrs and forerunners of the labour movement in all forms, irrespective of race or nationality.

Reading Nikolai Ostrovsky' s novel once again

Right move to build society with self-respect

Fairly self- evidently, PM Najib' s fulfillment of the electoral pledge to SJK (C) Rasa in Hulu Selangor is praiseworthy. Honouring contracts or treaties as well as pledges is essential for a society with self -respect and the acceleration of the historic process of national reconciliation.

British journalist Fisk on Batang Kali Massacre

In his NST column today on the Palestinian plights in the Middle East, Kamrul Idris cited Britain's journalist Robert Fisk as an authoritative source. Fisk also visited Kuala Lumpur recently and wrote a piece on the killings in Batang Kali for The Independent newspaper in London.

Historical background of Batang Kali Massacre

UMNO elements as cause of MCA' s misfortune

Arguably, MCA's legitimacy and credibility has been undermined more by extreme elements linked, directly and indirectly, to UMNO than its own malaises resulting from in-fighting and DAP/PKR/PAS challenges. If the situation is unchanged, it can be expected that more and more ordinary MCA members would vote for candidates of PKR or even PAS in their electoral contests against those of UMNO in coming elections.

MCA clearly fails in Hulu Selangor by-election

MCA clearly fails in Hulu Selangor by-election

A critical factor which has contributed to the clear and serious lack of Chinese backing for BN in the Hulu Selangor by - election must be the MCA's very negative image and its organisational discords, caused by the prolonged power struggle which has just ended with the return of the politically embarrassing Dr. Chua Soi Lek as the party's president. Many MCA grassroots in Hulu Selangor also cast their ballots for Zaid.

Three perspectives on MCA's power struggles

In anticipation of Dr. Mahathir's own memoirs

The debate and asessment on Dr. Mahathir' s legacy would most likely to climax only after the publication of his very own memoirs where he defends himself and hits at the 'enemies' , both internal and external.

Book on Dr. Mahathir "cleared" for circulation

Book on Dr. Mahathir "cleared" for circulation

Just as I have finished reading Mr. Wain's book Malaysian Maverick : Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times, the government has cleared it for public circulation. I really hope the ensuing public debate on Dr. Mahathir's legacy, both negative and positive, would not degenerate into infantile or Manichean demonisation of one man and blaming all the Malaysian woes on him alone. The book doesn' t turun dari langit.

More controversial books appear in M'sia now

Dr. Mahathir watching PM Najib on visit to US

Those who have been observing fairly closely whether PM Najib Razak kowtows to America includes, among others, ex-PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and his friends or fans, who are still in the BN government. Clearly, there are differences even within the establishment over the nature and degree of engagement with the United States of America.

Shifting Muslim perception of Iran in Malaysia

Shifting Muslim perception of Iran in Malaysia

Twenty years ago, many of my Muslim friends really felt uneasy about Iran's revolutionary fervour, republicanism and the Shiite beliefs yang songsang. However, like it or otherwise , most of them are nowadays quite sympathetic and even supportive of the Islamic republic as "the last bulwark against Western imperialism and Zionism". Our personal friendships are, of course, not affected at all as we still bersembang-sembang on international affairs with agreements and disageements.

M'sian government "clarifies" position on Iran

M'sian government "clarifies" position on Iran

Both PM Najib and Malaysia' s state-owned energy firm Petronas have reportedly " clarified" the issue of Malaysia ceasing to supply gasoline to Iran as the US -led sanctions loom. Whether the clarification would be accepted on the ground is yet to be observed but what is certain is that how PM Najib' s administration calibrate a finer balance between America and Iran would be closely monitored in the Malaysian society. Meanwhile, there is surely nothing wrong for PM Najib to invite more businessmen, academics, students and tourists from U.S to Malaysia to upgrade or strengthen the Malaysian - American bilateral relations. The civil societies in both countries should also enhance interactions.

Anti-Iran foreign policy under fire in Malaysia

Anti-Iran foreign policy under fire in Malaysia

Love it or hate it, even moderate and respectable Muslims like Tunku Aziz holds fairly critical opinion against PM Najib Razak's government "toeing submissively the American/Israeli policy against Iran" and the issue has also reportedly become ' hot ' in the Ulu Selangor by-election campaign. Such democratic debate is healthy as long as no ethnic and faith groups in Malaysia and the world is malaciously characterised as Biro Tata Negara (BTN) used to do officially in the past several years.

M'sia officially declares hostility towards Iran

M'sia officially declares hostility towards Iran

PM Najib Razak has reportedly confirmed the news that Petronas has stopped supplying gasoline to Iran. Like it or otherwise, Malaysia has officially expressed its hostility towards the powerful Islamic republic. How would Iran react to Malaysia's declared hostility ? What would be Malaysia's position if and when Iran is attacked by the Israeli or/and American forces for its alleged nuclear 'threats' and 'dangerousness' ? Malaysians must debate this very radical shift of Malaysia' s position seriously as well as rationally with our own national interest in mind.

M' sia said to have cut gasoline supply to Iran

M' sia said to have cut gasoline supply to Iran

Malaysia' s state -owned energy firm Petronas has reportedly stopped supplying gasoline to Iran. The service contract of Malaysia' s former ambassador to Vienna Mohd Arshad Hussain has also lapsed after he cast a vote in favour of Iran late last year, at a board meeting of the inter -governmental International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Like it or hate it, there is now an influential school of thought in Malaysia that Najib's government has "sold out" the Islamic Republic of Iran, a Muslim-majority country in the Third World, under Western pressure. A stronger opinion argues that Malaysia has "surrendered" to the U.S. Iran is nowadays felt and perceived by Muslim masses in the world to be a country which defends Palestinians against Zionists ' oppression.

M' sia committed to nuclear non-proliferation

M' sia committed to nuclear non-proliferation

PM Najib has reportedly assured that Malaysia "would strictly enforce a new law to curb trafficking of nuclear weapon components" after it was linked to illegal supply of sensitive technology to Iran and Libya . Malaysia's parliament recently passed the Strategic Trade Bill (2010). Malaysia aims to use nuclear power as an alternative energy by 2025.

Committment to peaceful use of nuke energy

More controversial books appear in M'sia now

To be fair, many respectably controversial books are now available in Malaysia. One good example is American atheist Sam Harris' thought-provoking The End of Faith: Religion, Terror & the Future of Reason. God is Back : How the Global Revival of Faith is Changing the World, penned by two well -known British journalists, John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, can also be found in many bookshops in Malaysia.

M'sian government still 'studying' Wain's book

Committment to peaceful use of nuke energy

Assuming the governmental committment to peaceful use of nuclear energy is always upheld, there is also the important question of how to safeguard its facilities , materials and personnel. The availability of C4 explosive to the murderers of Altantuya and 'disappearance' of engines of jet fighters in Malaysia are certainly a cause for concern. Of course, there is actually a record of treaty being openly breached.

More perspectives on Malaysia' s nuclear plan

Chew Mei Fun deserves credit where it's due

I never share Chew Mei Fun' s ideology or choice of party. However , I think that we must sincerely give credit where credit is due to her on the very specific issue of her recent resignations as a matter of vital principles. Mei Fun has indeed shamed many anak-anak jantan in our country. To be sure, if and when Mei Fun violates her committments, then our sincere respect for her would automatically expire and lapse.

Mei Fun quits all posts as matter of principles

M'sian government still 'studying' Wain's book

Australian journalist Barry Wain's book Malaysian Maverick : Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times (London, Routledge, 2009) is reportedly still being "reviewed " by the Government. The book's index is useful.

No morally objectionable stuff in Wain's book

Mei Fun quits all posts as matter of principles

My acquaintance and senator Chew Mei Fun has decided to give up all her party and governmental posts in protest against Dr. Chua Soi Lek becoming the MCA president. Mei Fun has earned my sincere respect.

Three perspectives on MCA's power struggles

Historical background of Batang Kali Massacre

The Batang Kali Massacre in 1948 occurred within a historical context as narrated in Where Monsoons Meet : A People' s History of Malaya , that has now been re-issued in Malay, Chinese and English languages.

Batang Kali Massacre witness Tham Yong dies

Batang Kali Massacre witness Tham Yong dies

The last witness of the Batang Kali Massacre in 1948 , Tham Yong has passed away yesterday at 78. Her husband Chong Hong , who was the sole survivor of the atrocity committed by colonial forces , died at 84 in April 2008. Slaughter & Deception At Batang Kali , an investigative account of the event co -authored by Australians Ian Ward and Norma Miraflor, has been available in Chinese language since early this year.

Batang Kali Massacre book positively assessed

M' sian lawmaker uses foul word in Al Jazerra

Thanks to malaysiakini, I now know that the censored word repeated three times by Ibrahim Ali in his recent Al Jazerra interview is s*** ! . As Jesus once said: " Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man ; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man ".

MP Ibrahim Ali lacks spirit of self-betterment