Recently, two editors resigned and two newspapers were \’closed down\’ by the government albeit for a week or two. One editor was forced to resign by circumstances of \’inaccurate reporting\’ and took full responsibility, the other appeared not to have had much choice, although his paper reported that he resigned voluntarily. A third newspaper seemed …
Journalistic risks: Living within contradictions – Part 1 Read More »
The recent media controversies in Malaysia began with the \’nude squats\’ incident and moved into the infamous and imported international controversy over carricatures of the Prophet Muhammad by Danish cartoonists. That issue has now become the subject of an international debate over the right to expression versus bad faith in insulting Islam. As stated earlier , I …
Psychology defines that every human being needs a \’personal space\’ which one guards very specifically and only allows trusted people and systems to violate. Within this internal private personal space are the domains of personal conscience and personal belief, or faith which help define and refine the nature of human dignity and destiny. While the …
The Rukunegara establishes the Rule of Law as one of the five principles for Malaysia. Recently, though, I have had reason to seriously doubt whether the Executive – especially the cabinet -understands, appreciates and practises the concept of rule of law. While the party elected to power by the majority rules for five years, there …
The New Straits Times (April 16, 2006) ran an interview on public space morality with two national personalities – Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chairperson Abu Talib Othman, and the outspoken Jerai MP Badrudin Amiruldin who has made a mark for \’noise\’ more than substance in Parliament. But his off-the-cuff views may reflect much of the thinking and …
Public space morality: Living within contradictions – Part III Read More »
In typical Malaysian style, there is a wayang kulit (shadow play) in process as a Minister in the Prime Minister\’s Department takes on the role of \’plot-maker\’ in the issue of the Ombudsman, the proposed police watchdog body and the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB). One day, the Royal Police Commission Report is good enough for the King, …
When Pak Lah paid respects to Parliament in his first week as prime minister, he prescribed that the august House of Representatives had to reinstate her dignity and honour as the most important institution of democracy in this country. That was at the level of intention of the prime minister. But, one of the real …
This is my third \’worldview analysis\’ article regarding the implicit assumptions that \’public officials\’ make regarding the nature of man in their policy statements about issues of national interest. The focus of this article relates to the Sunday Times interview with Minister in the Prime Minister\’s Department and defacto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz. The minister …
We often accuse the West of moral relativism, but today it is obviously also very much embedded in our culture and way of life. There is currently a profound confusion in our culture regarding ethics and morals. Historically, ethics has been defined and upheld by all cultures and civilisations. Ethics is a normative science concerned …
The headlines of two newspapers recently decried \’Shahrir\’s Shocker\’. That two separate and independent newspaper editors can choose the exact same words is in itself an unlikely probability unless, of course, they are declaring what is a commonly perceived truth. Truth is the fact that Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad has resigned. My question …
