What we need is Adab and forgiving leaders, not more anti-racial laws The Malays have a saying, _Sarang tebuan, jangan dijolok_. In other words, do not disturb the hornets nest or else you will be stung badly. The issue of the need for an anti-racial discrimination law is what I refer to as a _bola tanggung_ to the opposition. I am partially in agreement with the Minister of Unity Aaron about laws that are already present to deal with issues of racial slurs and disrespect. Whether these laws ..

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, and its contents are both astonishing and disappointing. The resolution demanded a swift end to the war between the two nations and called for sustainable peace. However, it failed to mention who initiated the invasion and who bears responsibility for this tragic conflict. This resolution marks a stark departure from the consistent position of Western nations over the past three years, which condemned ..

Why I support Sarawaks decision to launch AirBorneo I have been a proponent for Sarawak to have its own airline for more than a decade now. At last, Sarawak is taking off on AirBorneo, and Im elated. The acquisition of rural airline MASwings, a subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group, by the Sarawak government was finalised with the signing of a sale and purchase agreement on February 12. At the event, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg announced that the new airline will be known as AirBorneo. ..

Can Malaysia replicate South Koreas economic miracle? Lessons from wage-led growth For decades, the Miracle on the Han River has stood as a testament to South Koreas transformative journey from a wartorn nation to a highincome economy. Central to that success was a comprehensive industrial strategy that included wage growth **as one of its many components**. While wage increases triggered shortterm inflation, they played a role in boosting domestic consumption, enhancing labour productivity, ..

Donald Trumps Make America Great Again (MAGA) appeal captured US mass discontent against globalisation. In recent decades, variations of America First have reflected growing ethnonationalism in the worlds presumptive hegemon. Trade liberalisation probably peaked at the end of the 20th century with the creation of the multilateral World Trade Organisation (WTO), which the West kept outside the UN system. With deindustrialisation in the North blamed on globalisation, their governments gradually ..

Trumps call and the Yalta legacy: Russias strategic patience in a multipolar world Although recently the spotlight fell on US President Donald Trumps dramatic and somewhat contradictory call for a negotiated end to what he terms the Russia-Ukraine War, the West has long sought to frame the narrative that Russia is desperate for negotiations. Since the moment the West realised it could not secure a decisive victory in its proxy-war on Ukrainian soil, it has been pushing the idea that ..

Common sense diplomacy: Rethinking the US-Russia thaw and the future of global alliances The recent diplomatic thaw between the United States and Russia marks a pivotal moment in global geopolitics. With talks poised to address issues ranging from Ukraine to economic cooperation, the implications for Europe, NATO, and the broader international system are profound. Yet this dialogue is not merely about conflict resolution; it is a litmus test for whether the West can adapt to a multipolar world ..

Difficult to have another decade of golden era with infighting in DAP About 95% of Chinese voters supported Pakatan Harapan and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in the 15th General Elections. Hence, the Chinese community is concerned about the upcoming party elections on March 16. Furthermore, DAP holds the most parliamentary seats among the parties in the ruling coalition and its election results will impact the stability of the Unity Government. First and foremost, it is commendable that ..

One month of Trump 2.0: A test for Anwars democratic promises It has been a month since Donald Trumps second inauguration, and the world is already feeling the effects. In Washington, chaos reigns as Trump shakes up alliances, cuts funding for international programs, and doubles down on his America First rhetoric. Across Southeast Asia, authoritarian leaders are watching closely, sensing an opportunity to tighten their grip with little fear of US interference. For Malaysia, this shift comes at ..

Anti to the Anti-Racial Discrimination Act? Seriously? I tend to believe strongly that all Malaysians, I mean everybody, would support an act which is anti-racial discrimination. But not Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, PAS MP for Pengakalan Chepa. He is anti Anti-Racial Discrimination Act. If there is one, that is. To be fair, he did not actually say anti, but merely raising concerns that the law would or could heighten racial tensions which would possibly lead to a repeat of the 13 May 1969 racial riots. ..

ByWilson Lee Flores / China Daily/ Asia News Network Trans-Asian Railway project is reshaping globalisations future ByWilson Lee Flores / China Daily/ Asia News Network For millennia, humanitys greatest leaps forward have been propelled not by isolation but by connection. The historic Silk Roads caravans carried more than much-coveted spices and silk they bore the DNA of civilisations, fusing art, science, and philosophy across continents. Today, as the world is in danger of tragically ..

To understand Donald Trumps intentions, the man who wrote the book_Trump: The Art of the Deal_, humanitarian values should be put aside. He views geopolitical relationships and foreign policy as real estate business deals, and realising that can take us closer to understanding whether he actually meant what he said and whether he can, or will, do it. Its easy to dismiss Trumps remarks as unsurprising White colonisation. It is true that the plan shows a sharp departure from long-standing US ..

ByRichard Heydarian / Philippine Daily Inquirer / ANN ByRichard Heydarian / Philippine Daily Inquirer / ANN Shortly before unleashing his million-strong army on European soil, the Persian Emperor Xerxes was confronted with his chief advisers misgivings. Artabanus, who served both as a military chief and consiglieri to the Persian king of kings (Shahanshah), counselled caution, underscoring the logistical difficulties of waging large-scale conventional warfare on new terrains and against smaller ..

Malay politicians from both sides of the divide were not divided on this. In other words, they were united in getting all worked up. And they were joined by non-political groups, like the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association. Some Malay folks I know were also riled up venting their displeasure on social media. What were they angry about? That suggestion by DAP Raub Member of Parliament Chow Yu Hui for a non-Muslim affairs minister. There is a minister for Islamic affairs, so Chow felt one is ..

Since the arrival of the Chinese AI tool DeepSeek in January, this month has seen a flurry of conferences on artificial intelligence (AI). At the AI Action Summit in Paris on February 11, 2025, attended by global leaders like EU President Ursula van Leyden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Modi, US Vice President JD Vance made four major US policy points on AI. First, the Trump Administration will ensure that American AI technology continues to be the gold standard ..

In recent months, the United States has made a habit of exiting international organisations, from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). These departures, typically justified as pragmatic rejections of bodies that no longer serve American interests, raise a pointed question: Why stop there? Why not withdraw from the most powerful international forum of all the United Nations Security Council? For decades, the United Nations has served as the ..

Chinese couple went missing in Malaysia on honeymoon] Scholars: Be cautious about hypnosis. Risks and misunderstandings of psychological games The couple in the document were engaging in a psychological suggestion game rather than formal hypnosis. Their experience seems to have been intensified by stress, lack of sleep, and emotional triggers, rather than an inability to "break free" from hypnosis itself. In most cases, people naturally come out of hypnosis, especially when external stimuli ..

Bridging mental health and public safety: Enhancing Malaysias MyPCVE framework As nations intensify efforts against violent extremism, lone-wolf attacks remain a persistent challenge linked to mental health, making its management vital for public safety and national security. Mental illness disrupts cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning ranging from mild anxiety to severe conditions such as bipolar disorder and impairs daily social activities. The social support domain scored 68.29, ..

Many in the West, of the political right and left, now deny imperialism. Major liberal economic thinkers of the 19th century noted capitalism was undermining economic liberalism. John Stuart Mill and others acknowledged the difficulties of keeping capitalism competitive. In his drainage theory, colonialism and imperial power enabled surplus extraction. Three pre-capitalist empires Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman ended at the start of the 20th century. Their collapse spawned new Western ..

With the attraction of billions of ringgit worth of investments, the improvement of the nations economy, GDP as well as the ringgits value all in the past year, surely the government can obtain more funds to help the poor. It is long past due for the government to spearhead more aggressive poverty alleviation programs. The agenda of poverty eradication, especially hardcore poverty from our society, must be prioritised with the help of relevant agencies and groups. There are still many people ..

Remembering Tun Samy Vellu: A minister who listened and acted The late Tun Samy Vellu was a towering figure in Malaysias political and infrastructural landscape, having served as Minister of Works for over two decades. I first encountered him while serving at a national think tank; he would often spot me at meetings and acknowledge my presence. Over time, I became familiar with his secretaries as part of my work, however my admiration for him did not stem from any political leanings or personal ..

Smoke and mirrors: The dangerous illusion of race and religion in Malaysia Last week, as Malaysians came together to celebrate Chinese New Year, I witnessed something that should have been entirely unremarkable yet, in todays Malaysia, it feels almost subversive. A Malay-Muslim neighbour, out of respect for his Chinese friends family traditions, lit an incense stick and placed it at their ancestral altar. It wasnt a grand gesture, just a quiet act of courtesy, a simple way of honouring a ..

A reflection on unity and division in Malaysia: Are we drifting apart? Malaysia has long boasted of being a multiracial and multicultural nation. The mix of Malays, Chinese, Indians and various indigenous groups is seen as a strength, contributing to the countrys rich tapestry of traditions, languages and religions. However, lately there seems to be a growing sense of division one that has quietly crept into the everyday lives of ordinary Malaysians. The recent announcement by the de facto ..

Of CNY ghost stories and Malaysian politicians face-changing stunt Around noon on February 2, two Malay neighbours visited me with their families, joining us in CNY celebration, as they did in the past. While enjoying the _nasi kerabu_ bought from IOI City Mall, we started with chats about family matters before unwittingly switching to ghost stories we had experienced. While I personally never had any encounter with supernatural events, the stories of my wife and daughter were rather ..

Universal screening for developmental disabilities for children in Malaysia Developmental disability or delay in children is common. Most good studies show that between 10-15 per cent of all children have a disability. Comprehensive local data on the rates of various childhood disabilities like intellectual disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disabilities (e.g. dyslexia), physical disabilities (e.g. cerebral palsy and spinal ..

ASEAN has never been static. Since its foundation in 1967 via the Bangkok Declaration, our regional grouping has been through several reinventions. The First Reinvention, circa 1976 was, expectedly, on regional security, given the on-going Cold War then. The grouping successfully maintained peace and stability for most of the region through frameworks like the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (1976) and the Declaration of ASEAN Concord (1976). Interestingly, the very first ..

Rising above Trump tariffs: How a resilient global economy outlasts US protectionism As US tariff threats dominate headlines and markets reel, concerns mount from Washington to Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian analysts warn that US trade measures especially against China could disrupt local industries and raise costs. However, a broader look shows these threats are far from an economic apocalypse. In fact, Trumps protectionism may backfire isolating already shrinking US market while giving countries ..

Beneath the bated breath that American decision-makers have gone off rails, which is the collective rumination of many global leaders, corporate or otherwise, all eyes are on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is holding the Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025, if the Malaysian leader to handle the rambunctious nature of President Donald Trump? To begin with, Trump does not drink nor smoke. Neither does Anwar. For those who don't understand the bonding of ..

Lim Guan Eng likely to survive coming DAP election The Chinese are still in the Chinese New Year mood although this is already the ninth day of the new year. For candidates preparing to contest in the Democratic Action Party (DAP) elections, this is the perfect time to celebrate Chinese New Year and meet party members, especially those eligible to vote. The DAP central executive election, scheduled to be held in March, is expected to be fiercely contested. The main focus will be on the Lim ..

It was perhaps inevitable that some would criticise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahims announcement that Malaysia will aid in the reconstruction of Gaza. He has been accused of neglecting national interests in favour of global affairs. This narrative, however, ignores Malaysias long record as a vocal Middle Power, not to mention our role as ASEAN Chair this year. We have a responsibility to speak for the region on critical global issues including the on-going humanitarian crisis in Gaza. ..

When ASEAN retreat diplomacy is misunderstood by cynics and naysayers As Malaysia concluded the first month of its ASEAN chairmanship in January 2025, there is a tendency by some commentators to measure its potential and pulse on the basis of one-off events, one of which is the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in Langkawi. While some scholars negative commentary of all that manifested from the retreat diplomacy where foreign ministers are occasionally encouraged to meet face-to-face to build up ..

How corporate greed is sabotaging positive initiatives These past few years, the government has attempted to implement several important initiatives, such as: The first two programs provide much-needed help for the rakyat and the last one helps save much-needed government funds, which in turn can be utilized to fund more pro-people initiatives. And almost always, therell be strong resistance from various quarters and/or urges for the government to delay implementing such measures. The main ..

MCA vice president Tan Teik Cheng, as many might or might not know, has called on Akmal Saleh to do some self-reflection to understand why non-Malays strongly dislike him. First thing first. Is it true that non-Malays strongly dislike the Umno Youth head? Or its just the MCA who is not a big Akmal fan? This is not just the personal opinion of Law (Yiak Kwang) or any MCA member it reflects the broader perception of non-Malays towards him, said Tan as reported by Malaysiakini. Law is Johor MCA ..

Programming humanity: Infusing AI with timeless ethical values In todays rapidly evolving AI landscape, imbuing systems with ethical principles is central to both technological and social discourse. Recently, Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged AI developers to integrate Islamic values a proposal that has unfortunately sparked **overreaction rather than thoughtful debate**. Critics quickly frame the idea as a dangerous move toward imposing rigid religious or ideological frameworks, ..

The halal issue: Its all a matter of tolerance and love We will usher in the Year of the Snake in a few days time. Many cant wait to travel home to celebrate the festive season with their families. Loud, auspicious cheers have started to echo in the air surrounding dining tables featuring Malaysias unique and ubiquitous CNY dish, _yee sang_, remarkably boosting the festive mood all across the local Chinese community. The same festive atmosphere is also felt throughout Raya and Thaipusam seasons ..

Ending US dollar dominance alone will not end monetary imperialism. Only much better multilateral arrangements to clear international payments can meet the Global Souths aspirations for sustainable development. Challenges to US dollar hegemony did not begin with the BRICS. French President Charles de Gaulle famously dissented in the 1960s. Valry Giscard dEstaing, his Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs between 1962 and 1966, coined the phrase exorbitant privilege to complain of US dollar ..

With minimal fanfare, Deepseek has sparked an AI tsunami, surging to become the real open-source AI leader in the AI revolution. The company has demonstrated results that rival, if not surpass, those of its competitors, delivering remarkable speed, efficiency, and performance at a fraction of the cost. Deepseek, a relatively new company barely two years old, employs about 140 young and ambitious top talents in China, with core members graduating from the top universities in China. The founder, ..