Viewpoint

Forum on MPs in Conversation: Freedom of Information - Your Right to Know?

The coverage of the BERSIH 2.0 rally of 9 July 2011 demonstrates how reporting on the same event by the mainstream media on the one hand, and by the Internet and social media on the other, can be contradictory: Were there 5,000 or 50,000 protestors in the streets of Kuala Lumpur? Were the protestors violent? Were the security forces violent? Which is the truth, and do you have a right to know?

The banning of books. The censorship of news. Restricted access to public records. Control over what the media can print and air. Are these restrictions justified? Read more »

Viewpoint: Of Raja Nazrin, Real Stories & Regal Rhetoric - By Martin Jalleh

Your Royal Highness (YRH), Recently, during a talk themed: “The role of Malay rulers in nurturing unity” held in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam, YRH declared that “rulers should not be shielded from the truth and must be told the real story”.

May I, with due respect to YRH, tell you the truth that many of us (especially those who are sons and daughters of Perak) find it very hard to believe that you meant every word that you said during the talk. Some, in responding to the article highlighting your talk, have asked you to “walk the talk”! Read more »

Viewpoint: Jaundiced Justice! - By Martin Jalleh

In the midst of a packed courtroom of members and supporters of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) many of whom wore red T-shirts, the Kuala Lumpur High Court of Justice Su Geok Yiam turned “yellow” today.

Justice was compromised, as a cowed Court caved in and allowed the application by the Government, Police and Home Minister to adjourn hearing the habeas corpus applications of six PSM leaders who have been held under the Emergency Ordinance since 2 July. Read more »

Viewpoint: DAYAK AWAKENING: Accomplishing Big Dreams Together

This paper was prepared by Duwen Babat for the Forum  “Is it time for a Dayak Reawakening”  held in Kuala Lumpur on July 18, 2011. The paper is the exclusive views of the author.

1. Introduction

1.1 This opinion of mine is to briefly address specific subjects that could give significant impact to the rural population especially the Dayak community in Sarawak. Thus, issues pertaining to urban areas and matters of national implication are not discussed in this paper. Read more »

Viewpoint: Open Letter To His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI - By Martin Jalleh

Dear Holy Father, I am a Catholic, writing from my blessed and beloved country, Malaysia, a land of poignant diversity, pitiful contradictions, pathetic leadership and plentiful opportunity.

It is a nation which I am proud of, one where anything and everything is possible – from the most virtuous to the most vile and venal.

Very soon our Prime Minister (PM) Najib Tun Razak will be paying you an official visit at your summer residence Castel Gandolfo. Read more »

Viewpoint: Religion And Human Rights

On Tuesday, 28 April 2009, The Star published an article by Dr Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad under the column IKIM's Views on the question of religion and human rights in Malaysia.

We the undersigned wrote a rebuttal. The Star has chosen not to publish our rebuttal.

We would appreciate the opportunity of presenting a different perspective to that expressed by Wan Azhar in respect of religion and human rights in Malaysia. Read more »

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