Exclusive

Publication

Byline

The guided democracy of our national parties

Kuala Lampur, Sept. 11 -- Bersatu means united. When Muhyiddin Yassin and Mahathir Mohamad proceeded to form a splinter party in 2016, they had less illusions about a united front but were rather fixa... Read More


Free now, freer two weeks later: Merdeka or Malaysia tug of war

Kuala Lampur, Sept. 4 -- The fortnight quandary the West, that dominant third of the federation, experiences every year. Merdeka on August 31, and 15 days lapse for Malaysia Day on September 16. It'... Read More


By its river, a nation dreams of 2050

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 1 -- The River of Life is more than 10 kilometres long but its epicentre is just behind Dataran Merdeka and by the arches of Masjid Jamek, where Kuala Lumpur's veins converge. A s... Read More


So who gets into the Merdeka Award 2025 shortlist?

Kuala Lampur, Aug. 28 -- August is when we get all worked up and annoyed about owning Malaysia, or in most cases, not owning it enough. How about how Malaysia feels? Who should tanah airku, tanah tum... Read More


Flag of our fathers

Kuala Lampur, Aug. 21 -- We lived in a squatter unit. Two rooms, kitchen and living area under zinc roofing. Four equal quadrant units, two shared outhouses behind. In the 1970s, six occupants inside... Read More


The 'who next' challenge that washed out a rally

Kuala Lampur, July 31 -- A curious rally over the weekend, a wee fire doused by a single question, who replaces Anwar? Which was, all sentimentalities and tribal pangs aside, right on the nose. "Tur... Read More


The Malaysian Protest Museum

Kuala Lampur, July 24 -- On June 22, 2013, people descended on Padang Merbok. More than a month after a general election, Pakatan Harapan folks dreamt seven weeks of nationwide protest rallies since ... Read More


Four councils and a parking conundrum

Kuala Lampur, July 17 -- The staff scream over the kopitiam's boisterous lunch crowd, "Parking, bayar parking." Patrons speed-punch their apps to avoid a fine, 50 sen an hour. But they would rather n... Read More


SST goldmine ignored as Bersatu hides backstage till GE kicks off

Kuala Lampur, July 3 -- Remember Margaret Thatcher. She beat the unions, Argentinians and male chauvinists in her party to leave her imprint on British politics far beyond her 11 years in office. How... Read More


Search for the protest gene, love the protest gene

Kuala Lampur, June 26 -- Your protests, better than mine? The students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, maligned for their pyrotechnic antics in Kota Kinabalu over the weekend, tossed back the questio... Read More