Beyond a symbol
As we fly the Jalur Gemilang in unity this National Month, we should also remember to celebrate the contribution of the everyday Malaysians.
Stay the course, Mr Prime Minister
After a couple of state elections, many are pushing for a general election. But the unity government, formed to provide stability, needs to stay in charge at least until its reforms bear fruit.
The misquote epidemic
Politicians always want to have the last word, even if their words are wrong. They never admit their errors but use excuses like 'wrong translation' and 'out of context' to mask their mistakes.
Dreaming in extra time
Some Malaysian leaders are talking about hosting the World Cup. It may sound dreamy, but for a nation grappling with harsh economic realities, it's an unrealistic fantasy.
Campaign season: The never-ending national sport
We seem to be having election after election, with politicians constantly on the campaign trail with little time to do what they were really voted in for: administer the nation.
The malaise of race politics
Democracy should be about choosing the best candidates to run the country, competent people with integrity. It should not be about narrow ethnic prejudices.
Confessions of a durian season sinner
The king of fruits has arrived in abundance, and with it comes temptations. And if you are diabetic, it's also a time to lie, even to yourself.
The waiter, the QR code and me
The simple act of ordering food has become a chore in some restaurants. First, machines demand to know your intimate details, then you have to pick up your own utensils and hot water – and still pay a service charge.
Growing anger, no answers
Malaysia's Rohingya issue is one on which politicians thrived in the past without any thought for the future. Now, the problem has come home to roost.
After seven exes, what next for PAS?
PAS' ideological stand and its refusal to be flexible in dealing with secular parties means that it can never work in a coalition with anyone else. That accounts for the many breakdowns.
Johor polls – birth of a new order?
Johor has often reflected broader political trends before they become apparent elsewhere. State polls there could herald the start of fragmented politics in Malaysia.
Between a rock-et and a hard place
DAP is caught in a major dilemma. It has to convince frustrated voters to stay loyal, while trying to evade the "anti-Malay" brand that has been slapped on it.
