With the continuous news coming out of Johor on how their rivers are being polluted due to the dense industrial zones, as well as Selangor's water treatment plants being closed down due to a diesel spill, river pollution is on the rise. The things that the government needs to fix are: to tighten the regulations … Continue reading Taking care of rivers means a policy shift
Selling off PLUS needs answers
Selling off PLUS needs answers By Hafidz Baharom It comes as quite a surprise that the government is considering to sell off their stake in the North South Expressway toll concessionaire PLUS to Maju Holdings. Though to be fair, it was even more surprising that Utusan Malaysia is in support of the deal. That is … Continue reading Selling off PLUS needs answers
Some questions on the palm oil issue
If you've been paying attention to the palm oil industry recently, you would note that the minister in charge Teresa Kok has been adamantly screeching at Norway for stopping the imports of biofuel. Apparently France is also going about doing the same thing as well. But at the same time, why the noise? Personally I … Continue reading Some questions on the palm oil issue
Why merit isn’t about merit
I had a discussion recently regarding the topic of meritocracy and affirmative action, and how the two can go hand in hand or end up all balls up wrong. After multiple shots of coffee and even a few sessions 3-metres away, this question comes up from one of my friends. "So, if we go by … Continue reading Why merit isn’t about merit
Malaysia and Sedition
It was a running joke a few years back that anything bad said about Najib Razak and his entire cabinet could lead to a Sedition Act charge. With the so-called election of a "New Malaysia" government, the calls are already out regarding the disappointment for this law still existing. With 4 cases now under the … Continue reading Malaysia and Sedition
Why Khalid Samad is right about closing nightspots on time
If you haven't read or heard, Federal Territory Minister Khalid Samad has been pushing for nightspots to close according to their licensed closing hours in Kuala Lumpur. This was earlier met by brickbats by certain activists and even the industry. But honestly, if you bought a license that allows you to operate only up to … Continue reading Why Khalid Samad is right about closing nightspots on time
By hook or by crook politics of patronage
Patronage politics is not new. It has been going on for some time, particularly if we look at rural areas of the predominantly Malay diaspora. You can even draw the scene to be similar to that seen in "The Art of Killing" - an Indonesian documentary regarding those who carried out the anti-communist purge in … Continue reading By hook or by crook politics of patronage
What is up, Shah Alam?
One can only wonder what the heck is going on in my hometown when a waiter gets slapped for asking people to stop smoking right after the open air eatery smoking ban came into force on Jan 1, 2019. Couple that with the murder of a PKR Youth candidate in Section 7, and it gets … Continue reading What is up, Shah Alam?
How do you “public transport” a place like Penang?
Gosh. What a loaded question. If you've been reading the news (read: Free Malaysia Today), you would notice that there has been a lot of back and forth between those who want the Penang LRT and those who believe the focus should be on existing public transport. Both have good points - Penang Island has … Continue reading How do you “public transport” a place like Penang?
Things Malaysia gets wrong about the smoking ban
A family dinner last weekend coined a new phrase - "heading three metres out" - a term now used for going out for a smoke. For those not in the know, Malaysia has now banned smoking at all eateries altogether, open air or indoors, even roadside stalls. The distance highlighted in the regulations now pulled … Continue reading Things Malaysia gets wrong about the smoking ban
