The circulation of nude and intimate photos of Pakatan Rakyat’s state executive councillor, Ms Elizabeth Wong, is a gross and indecent violation of an individual’s privacy, say Wong Soak Koon.
Feb 172009
2009 Web Specials
Feb 162009
Defending the private lives and private spaces of our politicians is part and parcel of the process to regain and defend the private domain of all Malaysians, where we may live, love, pray, hope and strive for the betterment of ourselves and the fulfilment of our destinies in peace. It is that fundamental right that entitles us to be what we are, says Farish A Noor. No human being should be denied that privacy for the loss of that privacy entails the loss of something greater: the loss of the right simply to be what we are. The entire democratic process and democratic endeavour rests on that.
Feb 132009
Kita kendalikan pilihanraya untuk menguji setinggi mana sebenarnya sokongan rakyat diberi kepada seorang bakal pemimpin. Soalan ini akan dijawab semasa pilihanraya yang ditadbir dengan peraturan dan kekhilafan yang dipersetujui terlebih dahulu. Sekiranya pilihanraya tidak diadakan, atau terdapat keraguan yang ianya bersih lagi adil, jadi kepimpinan yang sah tidak dapat ditentukan, ulas Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
We conduct elections to test how much support a candidate for leadership has among the people. The question is posed in elections governed by rules and oversight agreed ahead of time. If those elections are not held, or if there is some doubt that they are free and fair, then the question of legitimate leadership is not determined, says Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Feb 132009
The pressing need at the moment is for Malaysians to reclaim the value and meaning of patriotism again, and not let it be defined solely by those who equate patriotism with love of themselves, their party or their political interests, says Farish A Noor.
Feb 122009
The Malays “in the old days” and today are far more intelligent and independent minded than some of our politicians give them credit for. Having insulted their intelligence today, try not to insult their past and history too, for heaven’s sake, says Farish Noor.
Feb 122009
Among Burma’s ethnic minorities, the Rohingya, a stateless population, stand out for their particularly harsh treatment by Burmese authorities and their invisibility as a persecuted minority. Despite decades of severe repression, there has been minimal international response to the needs of this extremely vulnerable population compared to other Burmese refugees, observe Sean Garcia and Camilla Olson of Refugees International.
Feb 122009
The NGO section during the inaugural review in Geneva
The inaugural annual review of Malaysia’s human rights performance, held in Geneva, was extremely disappointing, say Malaysian activists. While acknowledging the efforts of some countries in raising genuine concerns and addressing the critical human rights issues in Malaysia, the congratulatory-styled interventions in praise of Malaysia were a farcical element of the review, which went totally against the intended spirit of the review.
Feb 112009
The BN’s takeover of Perak without resort to elections would cement the enmity of the very people it should be trying to win back at the next elections. Come next general election, voters are likely to reject both the BN’s state and parliamentary candidates with greater vehemence, and not just in Perak, warns Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Feb 112009
India Should Offer Chin Refugees Protection
(Bangkok, January 28, 2009) – Burma’s military government should end human rights abuses against the ethnic Chin population in Burma’s western Chin state, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch also called on the Indian government and newly elected Mizoram state government to extend protection to Chin who have fled to neighboring India to escape ongoing abuses and severe repression in Burma.
Jan 222009
There is no guarantee that Obama will be able to undo the damage that has been done to America ’s image thanks to the violent militaristic unilateralism of previous administrations; and not even any guarantee that he can bring about a reversal in the slide of the US economy. But if he can at least re-inject some degree of moral credibility and consistency in the ethical conduct of international politics and compel the allies of the USA to live up to the standards of ethical governance he wishes to provide to his fellow Americans, that would be good enough, writes Farish A Noor.