Public enthusiasm for displaying the Jalur Gemilang to commemorate the 69th Merdeka anniversary appears to have hit a low point this year. Very few flags are visible across urban and rural areas, with the displays mostly limited to government offices, local authorities, and large corporate firms. A primary reason for this sharp drop in public spirit stems from recent controversies, criticisms, and polemics surrounding the national flag. Many patriotic citizens feel hesitant, if not intimidated, ..

Singapore unites and moves forward, Malaysia fractures and slides backward We celebrate national day next Monday. What should have been a day for the whole nation to celebrate independence and reinforce national identity has once again lost its focus due to controversies over "upside-down national flags." While politicians exchange barbs, ordinary citizens live in fear over innocent mistakes. A day meant to foster unity and remind us of how far this nation has come has thus been cast under a ..

My own corner of Malaysia: Rotary clubs and a school reunion In the last two weeks, I attended two meaningful events that represent what I consider my own "corner" of Malaysia. Malaysia may soon be painted green or deep blue, but my corners of Malaysia still prevail and will outlive any political party. As long as there are pockets of the country that still practice the original vision envisioned by our forefathers, the Malaysia of our hearts will endure. We will all fight for our country tooth ..

A small but growing shelf of American fictions had begun to treat the unthinkable as plausible: the formal breakup of the United States. New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg recently observed that novelists are no longer merely warning of polarisation; they are mapping the logistics, the human wreckage, and even the possible relief of national divorce. Kurt Andersens The Breakup, Emily St. John Mandels Exit Party, and Catherine Laceys earlier Biography of X form a loose canon of literary ..

Danish philosopher Sren Kierkegaard (18131855) famously noted that life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. While we look to history for guidance, the inherent uncertainty of the future requires us to act in order to reveal what lies ahead. However, because our perception of reality is subjective, actions are often driven by beliefs or judgments that can easily become detached from objective reality. As financial markets grow increasingly speculative, _Financial ..

A digital content filming team from the Malaysian Media Council came to my office ahead of National Day and asked me four questions. The first question was: "What does Merdeka mean to you?" My answer was: Merdeka doesn't just mean national independence and sovereignty; more importantly, it should allow every single person to identify with the sentiment: "We are all Malaysians." Regardless of our ethnicity, religious beliefs, or the language we speak, everyone should feel that they have a place ..

The topic is "Who will be the next Prime Minister?", which means who stands the highest chance, rather than who should be the next Prime Minister. To be clear from the start, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is absent from this list. He takes the number one spot on the list, leading the pack by a wide margin. Even if people are unhappy about it, they just have to hold their tongues for now. A few months ago, wasn't there a poll report indicating that Anwar had the highest support rating while Zahid ..

Several days later, she emailed me to say that she hoped I would find the book a good read. My first thought was that the book was a practical resource for people living with cognitive changes to cook safely and to eat well. Its content, writing style, and format were rooted in lived experience. Yet, I felt there was something more to her story. My thoughts went back to two words that kept twirling in my head as we talked over dinner: dignity and personhood. For me, Emily expresses her ..

I cannot help but wonder if 2026 will be the last year we remember our country as the one we grew up with. A lot has already changed, but the teh tarik sessions and football-at-the-Mamak-restaurant mania remain deeply woven into our daily lives. Yet, an ominous shift is underway. Our country will not be subjugated by a foreign powerof that we have no fear. There is no imminent, Trump-like invasion threatening the shores of Southeast Asia. Instead, the signs of impending doom for the Merdeka ..

Anwar and Zahid should stop the charade, just go separate ways now Indeed, politicians are strange bedfellows. Two political leaders can stand side by side, smile for the cameras and insist that everything is well between them. In public, they may praise each other and talk about stability, cooperation and a shared commitment to the nation. In private, however, they may barely tolerate one another. If there is one political relationship in Malaysia today that increasingly fits this description, ..

Earthworks and construction are underway across both the Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) and Shah Alam (MBSA) sectors, primarily focusing on high-density residential developments. Strategically located between Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam, serviced by major highways and MRT lines, and situated near Subang Airport, Kwasa Damansara is well-positioned to transform into a major metropolis housing tens of thousands of residents. As this transformation unfolds, the historical legacy of the site must not be ..

A premier for two countries The indispensable Mr. Zhu Zhu Rongji, the ex- Premier of China, died in Beijing on August 12 at the age of 98. In the American press, some have dusted off former President Bill Clintons reported regret over pushing for Chinas entry into the World Trade Organisation, claiming that the decision helped create the superpower that now challenges the United States. The narrative sounds forceful. It is, in reality, a profound misreading of what openness actually means. It ..

Politicians can retire, but they cannot retire from defending Malaysia Wong Chen has apologised to the people of Subang for resigning before completing his term as their Member of Parliament. It was an appropriate gesture. An elected seat is not merely a political position. It is a mandate temporarily entrusted to an individual by tens of thousands of citizens. But Wong Chen's departure also raises a larger question about Malaysian politics. What happens to the responsibility of politicians ..

Nurul Izzah may not be the first woman PM in Malaysia, but she can hold her head high There was a time when many believed Nurul Izzah Anwar would become the first woman prime minister in Malaysia. Many also hoped she would become Malaysias Margaret Thatcher, leading the birth of a new Malaysia. No one else possessed quite the same combination of qualities and advantages as Nurul Izzah. As Anwars daughter, the path into politics had already been paved for her; her family and party had suffered ..

In another two weeks, we will celebrate National Day. Every year around this time, the authorities urge Malaysians to fly the national flag as a way of expressing our patriotism. But to me, patriotism is more than a slogan or a national flag. It is something reflected in the way we live our everyday lives. Malaysian Chinese going to Malay stalls for nasi lemak; Malaysians of all backgrounds enjoying Indian roti canai and teh tarik at mamak stalls; Malay and Indian friends visiting Chinese homes ..

Foolhardy of Pakatan Harapan to go to bed with Bersatu There is a suggestion doing the rounds that since both Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) are now at their lowest ebb, perhaps this is the right time for the two parties to cooperate. The argument is that when two political parties are struggling, they might just be able to rescue each other. In fact, I would regard any attempt by Pakatan Harapan (PH) to embrace Bersatu as not merely politically risky, ..

Character education needs an ecosystem, not just a curriculum Malaysias renewed attention to character education raises an important question: Can character truly be developed through curriculum alone? Most Malaysians would agree that character matters. Academic achievement may prepare students for examinations and employment, but knowledge and qualifications alone do not prepare them to make wise decisions, withstand pressure, treat others responsibly, or contribute meaningfully to society. ..

History possesses a cruel, repetitive rhythm: it teaches lessons that humanity consistently refuses to learn. The world today drifts along a precarious geopolitical edge, where isolated regional skirmishes no longer remain contained. Instead, conflicts bleed across continents, intertwine rival alliances, and escalate invisibly into a sprawling, interconnected crisis. The chaotic momentum of modern global friction bears an uncanny, haunting resemblance to the fatal summer of 1914, the historical ..

DAPs problem may be nothing more than perceived arrogance making it easy pickings for PAS DAP does not necessarily have an ideological problem. Nor is its principal difficulty that it has suddenly become unacceptable to large sections of Malaysian society. Its more immediate danger may be considerably simpler: arrogance, or at least the public perception of it. In politics, perception can become reality long before reality has the opportunity to correct perception. When a party appears ..

When the DAP national congress convenes on August 16, delegates will debate a single motion: whether the party should pull out of the Unity Government for the remainder of the current parliamentary term. More than 4,000 delegates are expected to cast their votes on this issue via secret ballot. Yet, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook had already made the party's position clear weeks ago, announcing that DAP would stand by the Unity Government until parliament completes its full term. This ..

Uniting multiracial strength to counter the blue and green wave Call it a marriage of conveniencewhich it certainly isor call it anything else. The reality is that Umno and PAS somehow managed to put aside their long-standing bitterness, or at least put it on hold, to forge an electoral pact. We have already seen the results in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, and observers are warning that more is to come. When we talk about the Barisan NasionalPerikatan Nasional (BNPN) combo, we ..

University applications still nowhere in sight for UEC holders The new academic year for universities will begin very soon. Students admitted to local and overseas institutions are filled with joy, eagerly awaiting the next stage of their learning journey. Whether studying locally or abroad, they look forward to the start of a fresh chapter on campus. Yet, the governments promise to Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders from Chinese independent secondary schoolsthat they could begin ..

Negeri Sembilan has barely emerged from weeks of public uneasiness over a highly publicised royal dispute. Just when many had hoped the state could finally move forward after the Aug 1 election, another controversy has surfaced - this time over the appointment of the new menteri besar. First, there was the royal rumble. Now comes the MB rumble. Ironically, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appeared to have predicted such a situation long before polling day. Campaigning in Negeri Sembilan ..

Deep ideological clashes in the USChina contest of the century That is the key question posed by the influential _Foreign Affairs_ magazine in its examination of the USChina military and technological rivalry. At its core lies a fundamental clash of strategic philosophies between the US-led international order and China's worldview, which has propelled its remarkable rise to become the world's second-largest power. The American contributors to the magazine largely reflect a deeply ingrained ..

Negeri Sembilans blue wave: A post-election assessment and the beginning of Malaysias next political realignment The outcome of the Negeri Sembilan state election on Aug 1 confirms that the Blue Wave has evolved from campaign rhetoric into a measurable electoral reality. Barisan Nasional (BN) secured 18 of the 36 state seats, Perikatan Nasional (PN) won seven, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) retained only 11. Together, BN and PN now command 25 seats, giving the alliance a two-thirds majority and ..

As predicted, DAP Secretary-General Loke Siew Fook has lost in the Chennah state constituency in Negeri Sembilan. While he remained popular in Chinese- majority areas, Loke faced significant headwinds in Malay areas. It is understood that he and his campaign team were given the cold shoulder when campaigning in several kampongs and FELDA settlements. With Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS rallying under the banner of Malay-Muslim unity, the results proved that they secured full support from the ..

Sara aid can continue, but long-term solutions needed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement that the government intends to increase the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance will undoubtedly be welcomed by millions of Malaysians struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. For families living from paycheck to paycheck, every additional ringgit counts. The extra assistance can help put food on the table, buy school necessities for children, pay utility bills, or simply ..

The vote you give up is one you will eventually pay for A few days ago, some owners at a condominium in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur received the annual general meeting (AGM) notice where the agenda included a proposal that could affect every resident's wallet: raising the monthly maintenance fee from RM2.68 to RM4.95 per unit, an increase of 85%. I have lived in this condominium since 2023. I only found out about it after other owners shared the information on social media. By then, I was out of town ..

What Langkawis experience means for Port Dicksons tourism future Langkawi offers an important warning to Port Dickson, but the warning must be stated accurately. Langkawi received about 2.58 million visitors in 2022, 2.81 million in 2023 and 2.90 million in 2024. The islands tourism authorities reported further growth in 2025. These are not the figures of a destination experiencing an absolute tourism crash. Yet visitor arrivals alone do not tell the whole story. The more serious question is ..

Malaysia has no shortage of ideas for becoming a more prosperous, technologically advanced, and globally competitive nation. We speak confidently about artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, the digital economy, renewable energy, the blue economy, and becoming a high- income nation. Every government unveils another blueprint, another master plan, or another ambitious roadmap. Yet there remains one obstacle that no economic policy alone can overcome: chauvinism. Before Malaysia can ..