We reproduce the foreword to the Fajar Generation book, penned by Lim Kean Chye, who describes the fascinating political backdrop of that period.
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From left: Poh Soo Kai, Lim Kean Chye and Tan Kim Hong The launch of a book, The Fajar Generation, about a group of idealistic university students in the tumultuous setting of Singapore in the 1950s. Public intellectuals must raise the voice of reason and take a public stand on this issue even risking their own reputations or careers, says Asghar Ali Engineer. Our light-hearted Thinking Allowed column looks at cohabitation, the feudal mentality and the shrinking roti canai. There has been no shortage of court jesters in the all-year-round judicial circus, observes Martin Jalleh. Put up tent cannot, gather cannot, wear black cannot, hold candles cannot, drink teh tarik also cannot. No wonder the cops have come under intense scrutiny, observes Martin Jalleh. Yeoh Seng Guan pays tribute to an inspiration for many activists, James Arunasalam (1939-2010), the “saint” of Sentul, who passed away recently. James had courageously dedicated much of his life to fighting for the rights of settlers who were facing eviction. That’s the question Martin Jalleh ponders over as he looks back over the last year. It has been a period of fanciful slogans and failed institutions with the BN having little to show for it. Umno is rotten to the core; it is rotten from its lowest level to the highest, observes Martin Jalleh, echoing the sentiments of many Malaysians. The public has increasingly perceived the fledging PR to be a “fragile”, “feuding”, “fraying” and “faltering” coalition – one that was “not on a firm footing”, observes Martin Jalleh. |
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Readers’ comments
22 February 2012 (4:35) Waging a jihad for 'Malay interests'? Words of wisdom, Dr Mustafa, that unfortunately, I feel are totally lost on the person addressed. But then again, he is nothing but a sad reflection of the standard of the Perak government in particular, and the Federal Government, in general. Und...