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Sedition Act 1948 should have been repealed a long time ago. But why?

THE Sedition Act 1948 is a legislative measure that was enacted in Malaysia during the colonial era, designed to curb any form of speech or expression that was deemed to be seditious in nature with the aim of maintaining public order and security. The Sedition Act has been subject to much debate and criticism, with some arguing that it is a violation of freedom of speech and expression. Despite this, the Act remains in force in Malaysia to this day, albeit with some amendments made over the years. Although I concur with the abolition of this Act, it is imperative that a comparable new legislation be enacted to address the escalating prevalence of racially and religiously bigoted remarks that have been unsettling our distinctive multicultural and multi-religious society as of late. An instance that exemplifies the prudent decision-making of the governing body is the substitution of the Internal Security Act of 1960 with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA). This rep
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Terrorism in Africa

According to state.gov, ISIS was defeated a few years ago. However, the organization's presence and existence remain conspicuous in Africa. Ongoing conflicts in Somalia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso demonstrate that ISIS has shifted its focus away from Iraq and Syria. Although ISIS lacks a clear hierarchy like Al-Qaeda, its followers and supporters wholeheartedly believe in its strong ideology. In 2014, the United States led the formation of a broad international coalition known as 'The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS' to combat the organization during the height of the Syrian and Iraqi conflict. The primary objectives of this 83-member coalition are to degrade and defeat ISIS, which poses a threat to international peace and security. ISIS has brought thousands of foreign fighters from around the world to combat zones like Syria and Iraq, and it has used technology to promote its violent extremist ideology and instigate terrorist attacks. For example, t
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Data leak: Independent probe needed; don’t downplay it, expert says

  WITH several ministers attempting to underplay expose over revelation that millions of personal data may have been compromised, an expert urged Putrajaya to stop trivialising such matters and act on the matter.    “We need an independent investigation to get to the bottom of the matter. The team must include former top-ranking police officers and ex-officials from the National Registration Department (NRD).    “The findings must be made public and those responsible must be arrested,” Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd principal consultant R Paneir Selvam told  FocusM.    Last week, tech website Lowyat.net reported that NRD dataset containing details of Malaysia’s population with birth years between 1940 and 2004 – roughly about 22.5 million people – was on sale for nearly RM44,000 at a database marketplace forum.   The seller claimed the personal data included full names, identity card numbers, addresses and photographs. Data from the Election Commission (EC) website is al
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Malaysia on course to becoming a perfect nanny state

  THE proposed plan by the Health Ministry (MOH) to ban the sales of cigarettes and vaping products to those born after 2005 will set a dangerous precedence that will impact the national economy and jobs – if this law is passed. The so-called poll conducted by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) recently should be enough to set off a red flag against a bill of this nature. The poll by PPIM was carried out in response to the Government’s intention to outlaw smoking and vaping for future generations. It found that most respondents agreed that the ban should include other industries like alcohol, gambling, bars, nightclubs, karaoke places and sugary beverages. Clearly, this generation end game creates a slippery slope for other similar forms of legislation that may curtail the operations of legitimate and tax-paying industries. The Government is currently starting with cigarettes and vaping products. Where does it stop? From a legal perspective, when it comes to enacting n
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Nonsensical policies, pressure forcing teachers into early retirement; expert says

ON April 18, the National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) raised alarm over soaring numbers of teachers opting for early retirement.   Its secretary general Wang Heng Suan said that about 10,000 teachers apply for early retirement yearly, which is shockingly equivalent to the number who are falling under mandatory retirement.  “We have requested the Education Ministry to give us the exact details. From our survey, most who are seeking early retirement are either still young or in their mid-50s.   “The trend is worrying because we are losing experienced teachers,”  Free Malaysia Today  reported him as saying.   Asked on the situation, Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd principal consultant R Paneir Selvam queried said the problem was multi-layered and needed MOE’s immediate intervention.   “If I were to sum up the problem, it arose due to MOE’s flip-flop in their policies, which is forcing teachers away from teaching and turning them into administrative clerks,”
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“Regain public trust, Pakatan…and election win will come naturally” (Part 2)

TOUCHING a little on the UK history, because of the “Winter of Discontent” between 1978–1979, when the UK had a series of massive strikes organised by trade unions, the UK Labour Party was deposed in 1979 by the Conservative Party led by Margaret Thatcher.   Following the defeat, the Labour Party experienced internal upheaval, which damaged the party’s position among the public.   However, Neil Kinnock, took over as party leader in 1983 and he immediately initiated the moderation process. Kinnock’s successors as party leaders, John Smith and Tony Blair, carried on with this process.   In the 1997 general election, “armed” with the “New Labour” agenda, along with highly professionalised political marketing and a majority of youthful and female candidates, the Labour Party enjoyed a landslide victory.   Tony Blair was then appointed prime minister at the age of 43, after the Labour Party being out of power for 18 years.  Some of the reforms promised in their manifesto were impl
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“UMNO digging a grave for Pakatan…with the latter providing shovels” (Part 1)

IN the last general election, Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan) received strong public support. The Sheraton Move, however, eroded public morale on the coalition after Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) betrayed its coalition members and formed Perikatan Nasional with UMNO and PAS.   Political instability followed and coupled with COVID-19, the public have seemingly lost faith in their elected leaders in the past two years. Making matters worse, Pakatan’s series of gaffes following their ouster from Putrajaya eroded public trust on them as well.   Pakatan’s attempts to reclaim power were thwarted after UMNO employed several “correct” strategies. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Government and Pakatan have indeed brought some level of political stability to the country but it had backfired tremendously on the Opposition’s credibility.   BN vs Pakatan    Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri announced that he will accept UMNO supreme council’s de
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