One of the best things about being Malaysian is the opportunity to grow up amongst people with such diverse cultural and religious backgrounds – Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Eurasian, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Taoist, I know, this is insane... – that we’ve become experts at navigating the minefield of cultural do’s and dont’s that would leave others baffled or worse, offended.
February 18, 2010
One of the prevailing cultural legacies the Malays have inherited from their ancestors is the monarchical system of nine sultans who act as constitutional monarchies in their respective states. Each of the state sultans will in turn be appointed as the national monarch for a 5 year term under a unique system of rotational monarchy,… [Read more…]
January 10, 2010
In light of the recent spate of attacks on churches in Malaysia, let’s get one thing straight. It is never, ever acceptable to commit violence against any religious house of worship. In peace or in war, respect must always be accorded to the sanctity of churches, synagogues, temples, shrines and mosques to those who worship… [Read more…]
December 16, 2009
I would be the least likely person to support Barack Obama. Well, that’s an outright lie. I could think of several other persons less likely to support him – Republican fat cats nervous about paying more tax, Confederates of the Deep South still bearing (or inflicting) the scars of Segregation, the extremists living along the… [Read more…]
December 12, 2009
My previous diatribe on France (written with love, of course) where I segued into discussing the French national motto and its relevance on contemporary French society got me thinking about the Malaysian equivalent (I would’ve also pondered on the Australian motto but as far as I know Australia hasn’t got one). Truth be told I’ve… [Read more…]
December 10, 2009
Visiting Paris as a teenager many blurry years ago, my first impression of the French was hardly positive. Arriving at the Gare du Nord from London’s St Pancras train station, we carried our luggage and tried our luck as one after another taxi driver shook their head, with lips pouted down, as they refused to… [Read more…]
December 1, 2009
It is ironic – even bemusing, were it not so tragic – that the ‘direct democracy’ Swiss voters employed to ban the construction of new minarets has now brought the country closer in line with autocratic regimes such as China, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, in their persistence in restricting religious and cultural freedoms of their… [Read more…]
August 29, 2009
On Thursday morning I woke up to an sms from mom to say that our beloved cat Comot has died. I was devastated to learn the news, particularly since it was only three weeks ago that I last saw her, during my recent trip back to the family home. I will miss the way she… [Read more…]
August 10, 2009
In July this year, the Malaysian Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced a decision to reverse the 6-year experiment of teaching Science and Mathematics to school students in English, citing research findings which showed low levels of proficiency among both teachers and students, particularly those from rural or disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Teachers’ inability to communicate effectively… [Read more…]
November 23, 2008
The National Fatwa Council recently announced that Muslims are prohibited from practicing yoga. Specifically, what is banned is the combination of physical movements, religious elements, chanting and worshipping which forms the foundations of yoga as practiced in Hinduism. The ‘yoga’ in its modern sense, which usually involves only the physical movement, is not actually banned… [Read more…]
February 19, 2010
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