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.
Our cover story focuses on Khairy Jamaluddin, a man of many ‘talents’. But who is the real Khairy? Were he not the premier’s son-in-law, would he have much in common with Abdullah Badawi, wonders Khoo Boo Teik.
While Khairy hogs the headlines, A J Patrick pays tribute to a towering Malaysian, the late Tan Sri B C Sekhar, who not only advanced research into natural rubber but was also extremely concerned about plantation workers.
Our cover story focuses on the slide in ethnic relations in Malaysia. Johan Abdullah senses a rise in the number of worrying incidents that have affected ethnic relations. He goes on to review how the character of ethnic relations may have changed over the years and provides a new context for understanding ethnic relations.
To better manage ethnic relations, we need to be aware of our own prejudices and to stretch the borders of the self. Reflecting on the controversial university ethnic relations course guidebooks, Wong Soak Koon argues that the course should instead stimulate critical thinking while examining the legacies of history.
In our cover story, Khoo Boo Teik explores the “tiff” between Mahathir and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and looks at the undercurrents that led to the former premier outbursts. It’s all a far cry from the euphoria that greeted Abdullah’s ascension to the premier’s post. The dreams of that period have now been deflated, observes Angeline Loh.
Mahathir himself has complained that his views have been marginalised in the mainstream media. He probably chooses not to remember how the media were effectively muzzled during his tenure. But are the media any freer under Abdullah as some say?
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