Opinion editorials and news articles on the happenings in Malaysian political, social and cultural scenes
Malaysian Affairs
The controversial guidelines proposed by the government through the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) on Muslims’ participation in non-Muslim events and festivities have been rejected by the government following backlash from various quarters. The news of its scrapping is a welcoming one. Yet, the fact that the guidelines even
Malaysian Affairs
Nearly three years after being trounced in the 2023 state elections, Muda appears to be subdued - particularly in Penang. The party fielded 19 candidates in the election (three of them in Penang), and all of them lost to the point of forfeiting their election deposits. The party had previously
Malaysian Affairs
DAP has expressed its openness for Pakatan Harapan to work with Barisan Nasional for the next general election (GE16) which is expected to take place in November 2027 - three years from now. Back in January, the party’s secretary-general Anthony Loke expressed hope that the partnership between both parties
Malaysian Affairs
Amanah has been stirring the pot in recent months, causing needless headaches for Pakatan Harapan. Earlier in August, the party’s Kluang division demanded that the Johor chapter of Barisan Nasional give it the chance to contest the Mahkota state constituency seat, less than a week after its former assemblyman
Malaysian Affairs
PAS is trying to win over the minds and hearts of non-Malays and non-Muslims. The Islamist party, in its 70th Annual Muktamar (convention) held last week, passed a motion that would amend its constitution to allow non-Muslims to become associate members, except atheists. (Seriously, why would atheists want to join
Malaysian Affairs
The government recently organised a Palestinian Liberation Rally at the Axiata Area in Bukit Jalil on August 3, with 12,000 people thronging the indoor arena to show their solidarity for the Palestinians who are being subject to a relentless genocide campaign by Israel. This is the second rally organised
Malaysian Affairs
It has been a rough couple of weeks for Gerakan. Party president Dominic Lau defended Chinese vernacular schools that received donations from alcohol breweries after PAS triggered a controversy over a deputy minister who accepted a RM3 million mock cheque displaying a Tiger Beer logo at a fundraiser for a
Malaysian Affairs
MCA and MIC are unhappy about being sidelined in the Madani government, and their leaders have been making their grouses known to the press, based on recent news reports. One of those reports, which was published by Free Malaysia Today on July 25, reported that both parties are feeling sidelined
Malaysian Affairs
UMNO folks have done it again - they voted for Perikatan Nasional, this time around in the Sungai Bakap by-election on July 6. PAS' Abidin Ismail retained the Penang state seat with 4, 267 majority votes, nearly threefold than the majority gained by the late assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff
Malaysian Affairs
NIBONG TEBAL: It is not an offence for ministers to organise programmes or announce allocations in constituencies that are having by-elections, says deputy works minister Ahmad Maslan. Ahmad said such matters had been brought to the court by the opposition parties in the past, but decisions have never sided with
Malaysian Affairs
NIBONG TEBAL: Former teacher Haji Joohari Ariffin has been announced as the Pakatan Harapan’s candidate from PKR for the Sungai Bakap by-election that will be taking place on July 6. Joohari was born in Permatang Pasir but lived and worked in Sungai Bakap for most of his life. He
Malaysian Affairs
Bersatu has sacked its six MPs and a Selangor assemblyman who betrayed the party by declaring support for the federal and Selangor unity governments. They are MPs Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar