Author Archives: editor

Rebirth of maternity rules – but why abort S44A?

The law has changed for soon-to-be mothers. Maternity leave has been increased to 98 days, up from 60 days previously. Once gazetted, the amendments to the Employment Act 1955 as passed by the Dewan Rakyat on March 21st 2022 will have full effect of the law. Regrettably, this well-intended renaissance of maternity rules is not […]

Security firms are categorically responsible for conducting background checks on school personnel

Security firms are categorically responsible for conducting background checks on school personnel

The system in place to prevent sexual criminals and those who endanger children from acquiring jobs in schools has significant flaws, as evidenced by a recent case of suspected murder and arson by a school guard in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras. In the aftermath of the brutal rape and murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl in […]

#BreakTheBias: When women are given opportunities, the world benefits.

When women are given opportunities, the world benefits.

Doctor Özlem Türeci. Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert. Doctor Kizzmekia Corbett. Three female scientists from Germany, the UK and the U.S. Three extraordinary women who swiftly led their teams to produce the first three coronavirus vaccines.. BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca. Despite this, many of us have never heard these names. Most are unaware that the vaccines […]

Denying the natural rights of a mother is not compatible with any religion

Denying the natural rights of a mother is not compatible with any religion

Today, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Madam Loh Siew Hong’s habeas corpus application to compel the immediate release of her three children who were unilaterally converted by her ex-husband, from the Perlis Welfare Department. What is so startling about this case is the fact that Madam Loh was compelled to apply for habeas corpus […]

Deadly Floods: Seven questions we want answered in Parliament

Deadly Floods: Seven questions we want answered in Parliament

2021 ended with a splash. Weeks ago, a freakish rainstorm caused devastating floodings across eight states in Malaysia, leaving areas submerged for days and costing the nation RM1.4 billion in infrastructure damage.  Homes were destroyed, roads and highways cut off, and businesses suffered insurmountable losses. Unofficial accounts predicted economic losses could amount to an eye-watering […]

What Mahathir doesn’t understand about chopsticks

mahathir and chopsticks

To most, chopsticks are eating utensils shaped out of two strips of equal length, commonly tapered, and made of a wide variety of materials such as bamboo, metal plastic or wood. To Mahathir, chopsticks are purportedly stumbling blocks for a perfect Malaysian assimilation. “The Chinese eat with chopsticks, they don’t eat with their hands. They […]

Pedaling Backwards in a Country Moving Forward: A Contradictory Opposition

Pedaling Backwards in a Country Moving Forward: A Contradictory Opposition

If Malaysia deserves better, it really could do without the political mess we had seen in the past few days. The Pandora Papers, the Melaka political crisis, and the tragic death of a CEO in Penang – cases which, in this day and age, should not have happened. We are a country emerging from probably […]

Guilty of Politics, Guilty of Peace

Guilty Of Politics, Guilty Of Peace

Last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the world, the country’s democratically-elected government imploded. Pakatan Harapan could not hold back from prioritizing their politics, positioning their heir-apparent to take over the seat of Prime Minister. Then-Prime Minister Tun Mahathir lost his calm and tendered his resignation after Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim and his […]

What Muhyiddin’s name change means for our legislature

What Muhyiddin's name change means for our legislature

In April, the Shah Alam High Court ruled in favour of  a Sabahan who was arrested last year for allegedly distributing drugs on a writ of habeas corpus, citing, among other reasons, the fact that the name the minister used to sign the detention order – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin – was invalid.  From […]