Posted in Viewpoint, Art, Human Rights, Culture on Dec 5th, 2007 3 Comments »
Reog in Central Jawa
Malaysian Government announced on Monday (Dec 3) that cultural performances like Barongan, Endang and other dances ‘originated’ from Indonesia will be shelved from Malaysian tourism promotion activities.
It is obvious that Malaysian Government has buckled under Indonesian pressure. Why is the Government conceding so fast? The decision by the Ministry of Tourism was […]
Posted in Culture, Judiciary, Lingam Tape on Oct 18th, 2007 1 Comment »
The ‘Independent’ Committee canceled its second meeting yesterday (17 Oct). The Committee Chairperson Tan Sri Haidar now complained that no one has come to him to talk about the video clip.
It looks like an easy job. The three persons appointed just sit around (in a place unknown to the public) waiting for information. I suggest […]
Posted in Viewpoint, Politics, Culture on Jun 6th, 2007 1 Comment »
On 4 June, DPM Najib Razak announced that our national language is now renamed Bahasa Malaysia.
Malaysia’s national language is Malay. There is no dispute about it. On the other hand, the statement “bahasa kebangsaan (negara) Malaysia adalah bahasa Malaysia” (Malaysia’s national language is Malaysian) sounds like a tautology.
I am actually not interested in the polemic […]
Posted in Culture, Festival on Dec 25th, 2006 No Comments »
Merry Xmas! In our modern age, Christmas has become more and more like a day for Santa Claus; rather than a mass for Christ. Children got excited with sock-full of gifts and funny white-bearded man in red-robe ho-ho-ho around shopping malls. Thanks to commercialism, Santa’s has overshadowed Christ in Xmas (we now even spell it […]
Posted in Viewpoint, Culture on Dec 16th, 2006 No Comments »
Bok House demolished on 15 December
It is outrageous that the Malaysian authorities could be so ignorant over the protection of heritage buildings. They are bulldozing Malay traditional villages such as Kg Chubadak. Bok House in Jalan Ampang, a historical building, too could not escape demolition.
The mansion was built in 1929 by the late Chua Cheng […]
Posted in Viewpoint, Culture, International on Dec 12th, 2006 2 Comments »
During my university days, on my bedroom wall used to hang this poster “Chile: Hasta Cuando?” It was a documentary by Australian filmmaker David Bradbury. Being a young student, I was fascinated by revolutionary struggles in Latin America. David Bradbury’s films including Nicaragua: No Pasaran, South of the Border, etc. were my introductory education material […]
Posted in Culture, Festival on Dec 5th, 2006 No Comments »
Tonight kids in Europe will have their socks placed beside the bed. St Nicholas will be bring them nice gifts. For centuries, St Nicholas who is originally from Asia Minor (Turkey) has been hailed as the patron of children and underprivileged, and the saint welfare, health and wealth. In old Christian tradition, he was a […]
Posted in Viewpoint, Culture on Dec 5th, 2006 No Comments »
I just read the news on banned books in Malaysia. My jaws drop, what? Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is banned by the government. I wonder how crazy our censorship can be? In the banned list includes works of Milan Kundera and Khalil Gibran. And 1001 Arabian Nights too? We can’t tell the stories of […]
Posted in Activities, Viewpoint, Parliament Batu, Culture on Oct 31st, 2006 6 Comments »
In the Chinese lunar calendar, the 9th day of the 9th lunar month this year falls on 30 Oct. The day is celebrated as the birthday of “Nine Emperors”. The “Nine Emperors” are a cluster of 9 deities which are somehow related to astrological objects like stars. However the cult and the form of its […]
Posted in Politics, Culture, Festival on Sep 15th, 2006 1 Comment »
Mooncake is a special festival food for the season of autumn. The Mooncake Festival sometimes also known as Lantern Festival (Pesta Tanglung) in Malaysia falls on the 15th of the 8th month of Chinese lunar calendar. The actual name of the festival is called Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节).
The exceptional aspect of Mid-Autumn Festival is that it […]