Malaysians can learn a lot from what's happening in India. For one thing, religions do not clash; it is vested interests that do. In fact, the ruling classes often use caste and communal issues to divert attention from problems, observes Asghar Ali Engineer.
Mary Magdalen reminds us of the plight of our Orang Asal. She proposes that we move quickly to develop a special curriculum to cater to their special education needs.
Khoo Boo Teik comments on how Umno got lost on the way to 2020. If the goal is 100 per cent national unity, the Umno of 2006 has taken us 30 per cent forward, 70 per cent backward. As we prepare to celebrate 50 Years of Merdeka, we must look elsewhere for a better, kinder and fairer idea of progress.
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The silent majority must wake up and take a stand against opportunistic politicians who are using race and religion to stir the cauldron, says P Ramakrishnan.
The Freedom Film Fest, held for the first time in Penang, brought a breath of fresh air into the humdrum of everyday living on the island. Aliran Monthly writers watched some of the movies and led some of the post-movie discussions. Here we carry their movie reviews.
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The impending merger of several major plantation firms raises a host of corporate governance issues, says Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
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Farish A Noor looks at how the keris, a universal symbol, has been transformed into a tool of racial politics.
The kris-kissing, self-proclaimed champions of the Malay race were not there to protect the homes of the villagers when the bulldozers rumbled in, observes Rani Rasiah.
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In the lead story, Khoo Boo Teik comments on how Umno got lost on the way to 2020. If the goal is 100 per cent national unity, the Umno of 2006 has taken us 30 per cent forward, 70 per cent backward. As we prepare to celebrate 50 years of Merdeka, we must look elsewhere for a better, kinder and fairer idea of progress.
In this regard, P Ramakrishnan speaks to all Malaysians in the back cover story. As ethnic relations worsen, he calls upon the silent majority to wake up.