BY: RUBANA VIGHNESVARAN & HANNA YAHYA In Malaysia, the steep increase in medical insurance premiums remains a pressing issue. Many individuals have been forced to give up their policies, while others must reassess their coverage to ensure affordability. This rise in premiums stems from multiple factors, including rising healthcare costs, annual medical inflation, over utilisation,…
M Vivekananthan Having Tapah MP M. Saravanan from MIC, Chenderiang assemblyperson Choong Shin Heng from MCA, and Umno’s Ayer Kuning assemblyperson Yusri Bakir as the people’s representatives ensure that the voices and concerns of the Indian, Chinese, Malay and Orang Asli communities within Tapah are directly represented at different levels of government. The Barisan Nasional…
V SIVAKUMAR Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are vital players in the nation-building process. They act as a bridge between the government and the people, ensuring that voices from the grassroots level are heard. Some NGOs operate in alignment with government policies and maintain a neutral stance, supporting various government initiatives. Others take on a more critical,…
By: ANAS ZUBEDY This article may surprise some. However, I hope many will find it educational or perhaps, a little enlightening. Are the crescent moon and star the symbols of Islam? The answer is obvious but it will need some unpacking. Let us start by asking the most important question. Did the Prophet use them…
Malaysia’s Islamic intellectual development has been significantly shaped by two landmark frameworks: Islam Hadhari, introduced by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Islam Madani, pioneered by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Both paradigms were conceived not as new religions or ideologies, but as strategic efforts to manifest Islamic values in governance, economics, education, and societal harmony. Yet,…
By: Faris Arriffin When O’Reilly says Southeast Asia “has no money,” he doesn’t just sound outdated—he shows how far behind some are on history, trade, and data. Let’s break it down with receipts: 1. Trade If we’re broke, why did ASEAN trade $722B with China in 2022? That makes us China’s largest trading partner, ahead…
ANAS ZUBEDY I have strong convictions that the Jalur Gemilang mistake is a genuine one. Nothing malicious. When we look at familiar pictures and words, our mind automatically fills up the missing pieces. In psychology, the term for when our brain fills in missing details in familiar pictures or words is called “filling in” or…
The United States President Donald Trump is wrong in starting a trade war with China and expects the world to support him. This was vividly brought home by the mockery of American conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly who could not understand the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia with the caustic remarks…
By: Marques Jeevan Menon Behind every graceful gesture lies concealed power. Behind every silent nod, a sword unsheathed. President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia this week is no routine affair. It is the step of the Hidden Dragon across the bridge of the Crouching Tiger. For those who do not read symbolism, it may appear…
The suggestions offered by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Binti Tuan Mat recently on reforms in respect of judicial appointments at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta are welcomed and are certainly within the area of institutional reforms which the Madani government has made a priority. I note that there has been criticism of…
