KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia: HAPPY 60th Independence Day to the people and the government of Sarawak.
BANGKOK, Thailand--The train of events that put Malaysia’s most influential political figure behind bars for 12 years – although the disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been wriggling mightily at finding ways to get out – has raised profound questions about race-based politics, the political equation that has governed the country since its independence.
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia--Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), the wholly-owned unit trust company of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), has declared an income distribution of RM882.49mil for Amanah Saham Malaysia 2 - Wawasan (ASM 2 Wawasan) for the financial year ended Aug 31, 2022.
BANGKOK, Thailand--Society has changed more over the last couple of years, than it has over the last fifty years. Similar events are occurring today, which are very similar to the seventies, but for different reasons. The Vietnam war was ideologically based, the libertarian and social justice movement believed in equality of opportunity for all, the nature of the oil crisis today is self-inflicted, and the world is seeing rapidly rising inflation due to the monetary and fiscal choices governments made over the last two years during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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--The Tourism Malaysian highlights Malaysia’s ethnic diversity as a unique strength. The website proudly espouses Malaysia as the only “one place where all the colours, flavours and sights of Asia come together.”
NEW YORK, U.S.--In his lightning trip to Beijing on February 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a "Strategic Partnership" treaty with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The event coincided with the 20th anniversary of another "Strategic Partnership" deal that he had signed in 2002, with then US President George W Bush.
BANGKOK, Thailand--The term robber baron was originally made aware to me by educator and writer Dr Azly Rahman. Robber baron is a derogative US term to describe how the powerful 19th Century American industrialists and financiers made fortunes by monopolizing industries through engaging in unethical business practices, exploiting workers, and paying little heed to the law.
BANGKOK, Thailand--With the United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO back in political power with a firm and dominating position to the other Malay-centric political parties, kleptocratic practises are on the rise once again.
BANGKOK, Thailand--Malaysia was once a harmonious society, where the different ethnic groups coexisted with a sense of community, and each ethnic group once openly celebrated festivals together. All the ethnic groups were free to express their cultures, and practice their religions without interference. Malaysia had a strong and stable government with a working multi-racial coalition. All of the nation’s citizens were once proud to be Malaysian.
After nearly 75 years in public life, the political career of Mahathir Mohamed appears to be drawing to a close at age 96. As he becomes less relevant amid the country’s current fevered political manoeuvring, it is time to look at what the last four years, with 20 months as prime minister once again, did for his legacy.