anilnetto.comanilnetto.comThe journalism and other writings of Anil Netto - featuring real journalism in the cause of justice, freedom and solidarity Articles
Malaysia?s leading public intellectual Rustam Sani passes on
2008-04-23 03:13:00 This morning, at around 2.30am, Rustam Sani, social critic, political analyst, author of books on Malay and Malaysia n nationalism, former lecturer and politician, newspaper columnist and fellow blogger, passed away. He had been unwell for some time. Rustam Sani, an Aliran member, was famously described by Jomo as “arguably Malaysia’s leading public intellectual”. It was only ... More About: Public , Democracy , Intellectual , Leading
Independent ACA: Oh, really?
2008-04-22 08:29:00 I hate to pour cold water on the euphoria over the announcement of an independent ACA. But what else can you think when you read between the lines of the following NST/Bernama report? Notice that what will be independent is the Advisory Board to the ACA. So the board can only advise the ACA, but presumably ... More About: Accountability , Independent
Watch out! They are still talking about monorail and Porr
2008-04-21 12:20:00 Let’s face it. An underground rail system would be too expensive for Penang and, with 700,000 people on the island, it is doubtful if Penang has the passenger loads to justify such a heavy investment. They say a subway system would cost many times what a monorail would. But even a 35-km monorail network would cost ... More About: Watch , Public Transport , Talking
An impassioned plea to save the environment
2008-04-20 08:51:00 Food for reflection from a 12-year-old this Sunday: Who is she? According to Wikipedia: Severn Cullis-Suzuki (born 1979) is an environmental activist, speaker, television host and author. Born to writer Tara Elizabeth Cullis and Canadian geneticist and environmental activist David Suzuki, Cullis-Suzuki received a B.Sc. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University in 2002. She has ... More About: Environment , Poverty , Save , The Environment
5 state govts back call for ISA detainees? release, Guan Eng tells Makkal S
2008-04-19 17:55:00 No letting up: Some 2,000 Makkal Sakthi and Hindraf supporters call for release of ISA detainees For one moment, it looked as if the general election campaign was not yet over. The orange shirts were back in numbers. A similar crowd had packed the Penang Chinese Town Hall in the run-up to the general election. Makkal Sakthi ... More About: Human Rights , Back , Release , State , Call
Powerful corporate interests penetrate Penang local councils
2008-04-19 07:23:00 Just got a text message from an unhappy political scientist friend, who forwarded to me an sms that he had sent to a DAP rep in Penang : People not happy with councillors appoint & list. old wine in new bottle. expect you guys to deliver your promises during election. Also received another email from a concerned Penangite. ... More About: Environment , Corporate , Human Rights , Democracy
LIVE COVERAGE: PM announces Judicial Commission, stops short of apology
2008-04-17 15:20:00 2145: The announcement of an ex gratia payment/financial compensation has not gone down well with some of the lawyers present. There is some discussion at the dinner tables as to whether it would look as if judges could be sacked and later paid off as a crude way of saying sorry. One ... More About: Democracy , Live , Accountability , Judiciary , Commission
Why spend only RM4 million on trams when you can spend billions on mega pro
2008-04-16 18:34:00 The old tram tracks of George Town, freshly uncovered and preserved on Penang Road. Getting a basic tram service up and running will cost only RM4 million, says a consultant. George Town once had a remarkable public transport system. It had these fascinating trams, which were affordable and people friendly. Cities across the world, especially heritage cities, ... More About: Environment , Accountability , Million , Mega
Ten reasons why the second Penang Bridge is not a great idea
2008-04-15 17:59:00 Controversial second bridge: The site at Batu Kawan on the mainland as it looks now It will add to traffic congestion on the island. Even with an additional third lane, the existing Penang Bridge is expected to become congested again in a few years. That’s the rationale for building a new bridge. But then, what will happen ... More About: Great , Idea , Reasons
The Hanging Flowerpots of Butterworth
2008-04-14 14:17:00 Unnecessary structures: Flimsy covered phone booths that fell apart soon after being installed Weird and tacky lamp-posts: Each lamp-post had the letters MPSP up in lights! Notice the hooks where flower pots once hung (you can just about see the hooks below the four lamps). What they didn’t factor in was what a tough job watering ... More About: Accountability
LIVE COVERAGE of the Penang Forum
2008-04-13 03:21:00 People in the new Penang now feel more empowered in the struggle for justice 4.30pm - The world is watching civil society in Malaysia, which is blossoming and acting as real agents of change. “I’m enthralled by the response of you participants who have stayed on the whole day,” concludes Ahmad Chik, the moderator for the ... More About: Environment , Human Rights , Forum , Democracy
Fed-up Abad Naluri chairman quits; game over for Patrick
2008-04-10 10:36:00 Just heard from a reliable source that Dato Sri Kamal Hashim, the chairman of Abad Naluri, has resigned from his position with immediate effect. This was apparently with the concurrence of the PM. Kamal Hashim is presently the northern region director of The Star, which gave the launch of the PGCC by the prime minister last year ... More About: Environment , Patrick , Game , Accountability , Chairman
Karpal, Mahathir exchange letters on 1988 judicial crisis
2008-04-09 12:16:00 On 27 March 2008, the MP for Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh, wrote to former premier Mahathir about the 1988 judicial crisis. “It is not the present Government which should apologise, but you yourself personally,” wrote Karpal. “Your culpability in the events leading to the dismissal of these three judges cannot have any justification in law ... More About: Exchange , Letters , Judiciary , Judicial , Crisis
Patrick Lim and Penang Turf Club: The plot thickens
2008-04-08 06:41:00 So the Penang Turf Club held its AGM yesterday, and I gather a lot of questions were raised. But so far I haven’t seen any public comments made by Turf Club officials. A reliable source told me that the original agreement between the Penang Turf Club and Abad Naluri has actually lapsed as Patrick Lim had ... More About: Politics , Environment , Accountability
?Wang ehsan? model for Pakatan-controlled states?
2008-04-07 05:09:00 The Star carries an alarming report today, the latest in developments which suggest that the BN-controlled Federal Government is looking into alternative models to by-pass the state governments in allocating federal funds to the various Pakatan Rakyat model states. Federal Govt mulling over project mechanism in Pakatan states JITRA: The Government is seeking a suitable mechanism ... More About: Model , Accountability , States , Malaysian politics , Wang
Pas MP receives standing ovation in Shah Alam Catholic Church
2008-04-05 17:59:00 The MP for Shah Alam, Khalid Abdul Samad from Pas, received a standing ovation and thunderous applause from 350 parishioners of the Church of the Divine Merch in Shah Alam. He had offered to meet the parishioners for a dialogue session on 27 March. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you ... More About: Catholic Church , Catholic , Standing
?Wall of sound? confronts Blair at Westminster Cathedral
2008-04-04 17:26:00 I used to walk along the aisles of the magnificent Westminster Cathedral, the “mother church” of the Catholic community in the UK, in awe of its unusual Byzantine style, its heavenly choirs and the majestic organ music that reverberated across its cavernous interior. The Cathedral has been described as “a very special place of prayer, ... More About: Christianity , Islam , Iraq , Sound , Wall
Will Penang follow Selangor in banning hill-slope development?
2008-04-03 16:51:00 Today’s entry is from a guest writer in Penang , someone concerned about the unchecked property development in the state and its devastating impact on the environment: Heartening news today from Selangor where the new state government has announced a ban on development of hillslopes of 26 degrees gradient or more. When will Penang follow Selangor’s ... More About: Environment , Development , Hill
Turf Club members fret as Patrick Lim fails to deliver Batu Kawan racecours
2008-04-02 08:27:00 Abad Naluri’s dream in Batu Kawan goes awry It all seems to be going wrong for Patrick Lim. First, the Penang Global City Centre project has all but been killed off as a result of a concerted campaign by Penang civil society groups to save the Turf Club land on the island. Then, the Penang state government fell ... More About: Malaysian politics , Members
Anti-war protesters to blare music during Blair talk
2008-03-31 16:20:00 I must say this sounds like it’s going to be an unusual - if noisy! - anti-war protest directed at Blair. Spotted this on the Indymedia UK website: Sounding Out Tony Blair Stop the War Coalition | 31.03.2008 14:13 ... More About: Politics , Christianity , Music , Iraq , Protesters
Can Abdullah save Umno and the BN?
2008-03-30 12:16:00 I have been wondering about Zaid’s remarks on the 1988 Judicial Crisis. Has he really turned over a new leaf compared to the immediate aftermath of the 1988 crisis, especially in the light of his statements that he has apologised? This report from The Star: Zaid: I never endorsed Lord President Salleh Abas? dismissal By SHAHANAAZ HABIB KUALA LUMPUR: ... More About: Democracy , Judiciary , Save , Malaysian politics
A vulnerable Abdullah casts a wary eye at rivals
2008-03-29 03:50:00 From now onwards, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi will be casting a wary eye on all sides as rivals such as Tengku Razaleigh and Anwar sense his considerably weakened position, never mind that the BN is just eight seats short of a two-thirds majority. After all, under his stewardship, the BN lost five states and received less ... More About: Democracy , Malaysian politics , Casts , Rivals
Christian leaders must denounce the US war in Iraq
2008-03-28 13:42:00 Meet Robert Waldrop (left), one of the leading lights of the Catholic Worker movement in the United States. Bob runs the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House in Oklahama, US. His powerful words - more than the way he looks - remind me of a biblical Old Testament prophet speaking truth to power! The Catholic Worker movement ... More About: Christianity , Christian , Iraq , War in Iraq , Militarism
State official forces last-minute change of venue for election talk
2008-03-28 05:35:00 More little Napoleons at work. Just received the following from Suaram Penang: A ban has been ordered by the state authority on SUARAM election talks! SUARAM Penang has received a last-minute call from the Caring Society Complex person-in-charge last night (26/3/08), who claimed that the Penang state Secretariat has ordered a ban on the coming Friday and ... More About: Change , Democracy , Talk , Election , State
Will Gerakan leave BN?
2008-03-27 04:00:00 Over the years, Gerakan has tried to change or reform the Barisan “from within” - or so it likes to claim. Clearly, it has failed. Did the BN instead end up changing Gerakan? The question on many people’s minds is, now what for the party that had governed Penang for close to 40 years? In a ... More About: Leave , Democracy , Malaysian politics
1988 judicial crisis: Is an apology sufficient?
2008-03-26 04:08:00 Former Lord President Salleh Abas has reacted positively to Zaid Ibrahim’s proposal that the government should apologise to him and the other top judges who were victimised and sacked in the 1988 judicial onslaught by the Mahathir administration. Of course, Karpal Singh has a point that when he says that it is not the present administration ... More About: Democracy , Judiciary , Judicial , Crisis , Apology
Penang school heads told not to invite State Govt leaders as VIPs
2008-03-25 08:07:00 School heads in Penang have been instructed or “advised” not to invite State Government leaders and elected representatives from the DAP-PKR as VIPs and guests-of-honour. The message was conveyed during a briefing last Wednesday by a senior official from the Penang Education Department, which comes under the federal-level Education Ministry. The directive/”advice” to play on the ... More About: Politics , School , Democracy
Big Brother is watching - via CCTV
2008-03-25 04:29:00 I am not alone in expressing reservations about the proliferation of CCTV cameras as the solution to crime prevention. A couple of friends have just sent me a few links. UK is CCTV capital It is estimated that there are some 4.2 million Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in Britain, one for every 14 people. An individual might ... More About: Big Brother , Poverty , Watching , Brother
Trengganu MB crisis: Follow the money trail
2008-03-24 11:46:00 I spent a couple of years in Trengganu when I was a kid. I have fond memories of a tranquil and rustic state, wonderful childhood neighbours - whom I have recently been reacqainted with after all these years - and family picnics at Pantai Chendering. So the high stakes battle in Trengganu over the choice ... More About: Money , Poverty , Accountability , Crisis , Civil society
He is risen!
More articles from this author:2008-03-23 14:20:00 Easter morning in Penang: A new beginning Easter is the greatest festival in the Christian calendar - more important than Christmas. Christians believe that was the day Jesus triumphed over Death and appeared to his followers. As theologian Marcus Borg notes, he was executed by the Empire but vindicated by God. Too often, we only look at ... More About: Politics , Christianity , Militarism 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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