Search result for: "Heartland"

BANGKOK, Thailand-Since the Anwar administration came to power, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been extremely busy since the chief commissioner Azam Baki made a visit to Anwar’s office with a bunch of files, soon after Anwar was sworn in as PM.

BANGKOK, Thailand-Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim has found the first two months into the job, metaphorically like tip-toeing through a minefield, just to survive. Many within the public are beginning to lose patience in Anwar, due to the failure to deliver any meaningful reform. They see Anwar’s administration as just a continuation of governments that went before him.

BANGKOK, Thailand-The true winner of Malaysia’s general election in November was the Malaysian Islamic Party, the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia or PAS. PAS won 49 out of the 62 seats it contested in the 222 seats in national parliament. 

BANGKOK, Thailand--Prime minister Anwar Ibrahim recently made an impassioned plea for all muftis, religious leaders, teachers, and Ustaz to assist in the stability and harmony of the nation. Anwar is well aware of the clear and present danger religious zealotism poses to the stability of Malaysia’s democracy.

BANGKOK, Thailand--The recent imprisonment of former Prime Minister Najib Razak when his conviction was upheld by the Federal Court, and the subsequent conviction of his wife Rosmah Mansor on corruption charges has likely triggered a tipping point in Malaysian politics.

SACRAMENTO, U.S.--Arguably the only useful outcome of the 22-month Pakatan Harapan coalition that ruled Malaysia until February 2020, was court proceedings instituted against former Prime Minister Najib Razak and Zahid Hamidi, United Malays National Organization party president. 

BANGKOK, Thailand--The Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s declaration during the opening of The Johor State Parliament, declared Johor may choose to secede from Malaysia if the federal government fails to fulfil its rights as written within the Federation of Malaya Agreement.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--I have nothing against Ismail Sabri Yaakob globetrotting to promote the use of Bahasa Melayu - the Malay language - although I'm fearful that this is another jingoistic, vote-chasing "hangat-hangat tahi ayam" thing. And as if to thumb the nose at the Prime Minister's folly, the Sarawak Government is allowing English to be used in the state's administration.

BANGKOK, Thailand--There has been much discussion about the existence of a deep state within Malaysia. This essay looks at its components. The deep state is not a unified and coordinated mechanism. It is heterogeneous and diverse. It is probably only bound together by a common narrative, sometimes interpreted differently. At different points of time, different aspects of this deep state exercise more power over the others. Other times, there is even conflict between the various elements.

BANGKOK, Thailand--There is a clear danger the Federation of Malaya may one day secede from Malaysia. This is not as far-fetched as it seems. 

BANGKOK, Thailand--The coming Johor State Election to take place on 12th March will most probably redefine the Malaysian electoral landscape. 

HONG KONG, China--Indian politics has yet again embarked on the path of communal polarization, this time on the issue of the hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--Talk of a general election within this year has been picking up steam even as clashes occur at the state and federal level between the unlikely coalition that includes Bersatu, PAS and UMNO heat up.