The perpetually ignored: The human cost of digital rush Digitisation has quietly created a new class of Malaysians. They do not belong to the B40, M40, or T20. They are the demographic I call the perpetually ignoredour senior citizens who are being systematically erased from daily life simply because the world now lives inside an app. Back when technology was framed as Information and Communications Technology (ICT), it was about copper wires, bulky cables, and dial-up modems. The internet ..

The United States marked the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026 with the customary pageantry of parades, fireworks, and oratory. Yet the festivities served less as celebration than as revelation. They exposed a nation whose fissures, long visible, have hardened into something closer to irreversible decay. The republic that Abraham Lincoln described in 1858 as a house divided against itself has not healed. It has merely learned to live with its divisions, and to make them the organising ..

Johor polls: Chinese voter swing sends wake-up call to Pakatan Harapan By 8.10pm, celebrations were already underway at the Barisan Nasional (BN) operations centre in Johor Bahru as unofficial results pointed to a landslide victory. BN had not only secured a two-thirds majority but also won more seats than it did in the previous state election The final result saw BN winning 48 seats, exceeding the 40 seats it captured previously. In contrast, the atmosphere at Pakatan Harapan (PH) operations ..

A seventh knife added above the Editor-in-Chiefs head When I first entered journalism, I truly believed that journalists were the "uncrowned kings," enjoying full press freedom. However, over a career spanning more than 40 yearsas the weight on my shoulders grew heavier and I weathered many unpredictable, uncontrollable crisesI came to realise that the media landscape has always been fraught with hidden and unpredictable risks. I often say that there are six knives permanently hanging over an ..

If Bersama aims to lead the Reformasi movement tomorrow, why weaken it today? Every new political movement has the right to dream big. If Parti Bersama Malaysia believes it can become the leading reformist force in Malaysia, there is nothing wrong with that ambition. Political renewal is both healthy and necessary in a democracy. But ambition alone does not answer the most important strategic question. If Bersama hopes to lead the Reformasi movement tomorrow, why weaken the Reformasi movement ..

Malaysia has invested heavily in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to produce technicians, electricians, machinists, programmers and other skilled workers needed by industry. This effort should be strengthened. However, not every young Malaysian is naturally inclined towards technical occupations. Many possess different strengths communication, relationship-building, customer engagement, negotiation and entrepreneurship. These talents are equally valuable in today's ..

A new spectre is haunting Europe the spectre of heatwaves that embodied political extremism. The summer sun, once a symbol of leisure and vitality across Europe, has taken on a harsher, more punishing character. Heatwaves strike with an intensity that claims human lives, strains agriculture, and public health systems alike. From parched riverbeds in France to record- breaking temperatures in Germany and Italy, Europe finds itself grappling with a deadly climate reality that is no longer distant ..

Campaign strategies spark growing divide between Malays and Chinese Johor has always been considered the most harmonious state in Peninsular Malaysia. However, in this state election, ethnic relations in Johor no longer seem as harmonious as before. Umno wants to sweep the Malay votes in one go, while the DAP wants to retain its core Chinese base. Coupled with PAS and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad fanning the flames from the sidelines, the Malays and Chinese are gradually gravitating toward their ..

Tun Dr Mahathirs new nation-building message: "Melayu should vote Melayu" After failing to form a Payung Melayu (Malay Umbrella), a Rumah Melayu (Malay House), or even a Pondok Melayu (Malay Hut), Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has resorted to a simpler message: Malays should vote for any Malay candidate, regardless of their party. Dr Mahathirs logic is painfully simple. He argues that Malaysia can only move forward if political stability is achieved, and that this stability must come from a united ..

I have a group of female friends who pack their bags and head straight for Thailand the moment a holiday rolls around. Most people assume they go for the food, the massages, or the night markets. But those who know them well know the real highlight of the trip is shopping. Every time we head back, the many pieces of packed luggage reflect that the trip is well worth it. Thailand has become a shopping paradise for many Malaysians, not just because of the attractive prices, but more importantly, ..

Malaysias deadly bridges: when shelter turns fatal The recent crash on the Maju Expressway (MEX)where a driver in heavy rain rammed into a motorcyclist seeking shelter under a bridgewas not an anomaly. It was the predictable outcome of a system that has long ignored a known and deadly risk. In Malaysia, heavy rain is not rare; it is routine, intense, and often blinding. For motorcyclists, who form a large share of the commuting workforce, these conditions are not just inconvenientthey are ..

What reset? Hamzahs new party starts with political dinosaurs I watched a recent video of Parti Bersama Malaysia leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and could not help but chuckle along when he mentioned the names of Tan Sri Rais Yatim and Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, two veteran politicians who have reportedly resurfaced in Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudins newly launched Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan). After all, Rais is now 84 years old while Rahim is 76. Their age alone would naturally invite ..

As parents adopt a wait-and-see approach to early school admission, a gradual rollout might be exactly what the system needs. Recent reports indicating low enrolment rates for the early admission of six-year-old children into Year 1 for 2027 deserve careful attention. As an educator specialising in early childhood education, I would like to offer some reflections on this development. From a developmental perspective, the priority for children under the age of eightwho are still firmly within ..

Why is Perikatan Nasional contesting only 33 seats? Is there a deal with UMNO? Election fever is running high as Johor heads towards polling day. Pakatan Harapan (PH) has unveiled its full slate of 56 candidates for the state election, with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim personally announcing each name. Barisan Nasional (BN), led by Umno, also introduced candidates for all 56 seats, although it was Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazinot Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidiwho made ..

The night the votes came in from the Democratic primaries in New York was a surprise. Three candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani made history. They knocked off a couple of sitting congressmen and the hand-picked guy from a retiring one. In districts that are about as Democratic as a union hall on payday, the New Left found a new way to win. These victories represent a clean sweep for Mamdanis endorsed slate and a notable show of strength for the progressive/left wing of the New York ..

How much security should residents be expected to provide for themselves? Across Malaysia, homeowners are increasingly becoming their own first line of defence against crime. In many residential areas, residents pay monthly fees to neighbourhood security schemes, employ guards, install CCTV cameras and erect access barriers. Individual homeowners often go further, investing in alarm systems, automatic gates, security grilles and electric fencing to protect their families and property. These ..

Johor polls: More than a timeline for the General Election The Johor state election has officially kicked off with 172 candidates contesting for 56 seats. This is a critical "testing of the waters" for political parties and political figures across the spectrum. Its ultimate result is likely to dictate whether the next General Election will be called within this year. When the results are announced on July 11, the upcoming political trajectory may become much clearer. Will Barisan Nasional (BN) ..

In the sodden summer of 2026, as Britain marked the grim decennial of its divorce from the European Union, Keir Starmer did what so many of his short- lived predecessors had done: he folded. The Labour prime minister, once hailed as the steady hand who would finally make Brexit work, announced his resignation amid economic stagnation, party mutiny and the kind of social fractures that make the old Keep Calm and Carry On posters look like black comedy. Twenty-six months in Number 10 longer than ..

By reappointing Hamzah, does PAS have a no-PM candidate or just playing smart? When Muhyiddin sacked his number two from Bersatu, Hamzah Zainudins position as the Opposition Leader came under question. PAS immediately announced that the party will find a candidate for that position among its own ranks. For many months, Malaysians waited to find out who that candidate would be. Among PAS members was a split in their opinion who the best candidate would be. The PAS ulama group said it should be a ..

Ali, this is a note from one of your regular passengers. Not a complaint letter, not a policy memo, just a quiet heart-to-heart across a lunch table with two boiled eggs, some rice and _sayur_ to go. **Because on one side of this digital story, everything looks shiny.** We celebrate how Grab has made life easier and cleaner. No more dirty, con-job taxis. Rides come to our doorstep. Food arrives at our door in neatly sealed bags. Young people who wake up with the afternoon sun find lunch on ..

We have never had it so good. The S&P; 500 and Nikkei 225 have just hit record highs. SpaceX pulled off a spectacular IPO, raising an eye-popping $75 billionthe largest in historywith a sharp post-listing surge that pushed its valuation to a mind-blowing $2.5 trillion. Meanwhile, the possibility of a US- Iran deal to reopen the Straits of Hormuz has sent gasoline prices tumbling back below $4 per gallon. Global stock markets are creating a wealth effect for portfolio investors that feels ..

Malaysia's education system: Examine first, then examination Recent discussions on Malaysia's education system, including Dr Maszlee Malik's observation on _Sinar Daily_ on 16 June 2026 that the challenges facing our schools extend far beyond examinations, have reignited an important national conversation. The debate is timely. Yet before we examine examinations, perhaps we must first examine the education system itself. Examinations are merely instruments of measurement. They are not the ..

Road safety requires more than just carrots and sticks The recent proposal to reward safe drivers through insurance premium discounts deserves support. For decades, Malaysia's road safety strategy has relied heavily on enforcement measures such as summonses, speed cameras, demerit points and harsher penalties. Yet despite these efforts, road accidents continue to claim an average of about 17 lives daily. Clearly, punishment alone has not achieved the desired results. Introducing incentives for ..

Where do stinky-Chinese Malay tourists learn their manners? ****The video of a group of young Malay tourists with young ladies wearing _tudungs_ have caught not only national attention but apparently global comments too. Many have given strong advice and even dictated scorn on them but in my column today, I wish to ask a simple question: where did this kind of atrocious manners come from? We know that Malays have their own _adab_ or manners, but they also have the Islamic tradition and value ..

On June 13, I received Bersama's "100 Hari Reformasi" chart in my inbox. It was, to say the least, an impressive list of proposed actions. For a new political party seeking public support, such a document serves an important purpose: it tells voters what the party intends to do if entrusted with power. More importantly, Bersama has pledged to publish a report card on its first 100 days in office. That is a commendable commitment. Genuine accountability requires political parties not only to ..

Chinese votes remain the same, but their influence is changing After taking over Parti Bersama Malaysia, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, in an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, raised a question that is difficult to ignore: should the Chinese community continue to remain trapped in the political mindset that there is no alternative except the DAP? The remark has sparked differing interpretations. Some view it as a political narrative by a new party seeking Chinese support, while others see it ..

I sat for examinations before I was old enough to vote, yet somehow my education had already become political property. That is the strange reality of growing up around the UEC debate in Malaysia. Students are discussed endlessly, analysed repeatedly, but rarely heard. Adults debate nationhood, identity, and unity as though children are abstract symbols rather than human beings trying to build a future. And somewhere in the middle of all this noise, students become collateral in a fight they ..

11 June passed by quietly. But somehow, my sixth sense told me it was a special day. As I searched the Internet, I found out that 11 June is the International Day of Play. Officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in March 2024, the International Day of Play is observed every year on 11 June. This year, the global theme is Protect Play, Protect Childhood. It reminds us of every childs right to rest, play, and take part in cultural and creative activities, as stated in the ..

The beginning of the end of Trumps fetishism of gladiator The octagon on the South Lawn was a strong symbol. It was the deliberate demonstration of a political style that has always treated power as something that must be performed rather than merely exercised. On the evening Donald Trump turned 80, professional fighters contested inside a steel cage erected where the Republic once conducted its more sober ceremonies. The production was labelled UFC Freedom 250, an exercise meant to celebrate ..

When care becomes quiet exclusion: Rethinking how we love our elders It was a simple piece, quietly written, its author unknown. Yet in its microscopic honesty, it held up a mirror many of us may not be ready to face. A piece that my dear friend Yusuf Ali sent, asking me to write in honour of the senior citizens. It spoke in the voice of a 70-year-old woman, Samina, who described a reality both tender and troubling, not neglect in the obvious sense, but something far more subtle. Something many ..

I refer to the incident of a leader of a state government who arrogantly said that he would rather not be the leader if he had to sit at the same table as the DAP or Democratic Action Party. Assuming that the DAP has not contracted Covid-19 or other dangerous communicable diseases, I guess this statement is a political one. First, to not be able to sit with your opponent in a meeting is a strange thing when we remember our father of the nation, Tunku Abdul Rahman who sat with the renowned Chin ..

I refer to the incident of a leader of a state government who arrogantly said that he would rather not be the leader if he had to sit at the same table as the DAP or Democratic Action Party. Assuming that the DAP has not contracted Covid-19 or other dangerous communicable diseases, I guess this statement is a political one. First, to not be able to sit with your opponent in a meeting is a strange thing when we remember our father of the nation, Tunku Abdul Rahman who sat with the renowned Chin ..