Inter-Research And Studies (IRAS)

By Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid The grim reality of elusive unity, plagued by ethnocentric and ethno-religious divisions, is underlined by the continual existence of fault lines that anthropologist Shamsul A. B. calls ‘axes of contradictions’ . The stubborn presence of such social cleavages, after half a century of nationhood, raises the issue of the efficacy of integrative policies pursued by successive Barisan Nasional (BN: National Front) governments. Momentarily eclipsed by the modernisation ethos of Mahathir’s Vision 2020 and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Islam Hadhari (civilisational Islam), the ‘national unity’ agenda has made a comeback during Najib Razak’s era since 2009 in the form of his ‘One Malaysia’ (1Malaysia) scheme. It has not been smooth sailing for Najib. It is understandably difficult for him to admit that the multiple polarisation of Malaysian society was effected at the hands of none other than his colleagues and former bosses in the ruling United Malays National Organisati...

By Daniel Gordis It would have been hard to imagine that Islamic State’s brutal execution of American freelance photojournalist James Foley would worsen the Israeli public's assessment of the U.S.'s role in the Gaza conflict. But listen to the chatter in cafes and on the checkout line in the market, and it seems that it may have done just that. When the war died down and the cease-fires began, the reservists started to return home. One of them, a student of ours at Shalem College in Jerusalem, had been in the thick of it. When he finally got out for good and came back to campus, I found him in the student lounge, shook his hand and asked, “How are you?” He looked at me for a moment, exhausted, and replied, “Tell me, what happened to America?” The question of “What happened to America?” is very much on the minds of Israelis these days. Taxi drivers, commonly cited barometers of public opinion in these parts, have a simple explanation: “Obama hates Bibi.” It’s not only the driv...

From the Bloombergviews In Iraq, the U.S. is fighting in a de facto alliance with one group on its list of terrorist organizations -- the Kurdistan Workers Party, also known as the PKK -- against another, Islamic State. This odd situation reveals an emerging truth about the Kurdish group: Its terrorist status is falling out of date. At this point it has to be recognized for the constructive role it can play in Iraq and the wider region. On the front lines in northern Iraq, even before U.S. airstrikes began, the PKK proved itself to be the most effective fighting force against Islamic State (formerly Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). Some of its battle units came from Iraq's Qandil mountains, long a base for PKK attacks into Turkey. Still more came from the Democratic Union Party, the group's affiliate organization in Syria, where they have fought Islamic State to a standstill in Kurdish areas. Of course, sharing a common foe with our side doesn't suddenly turn a ter...

From the Bloombergviews (1:15 pm.: Updated second paragraph to include reference to NATO reports of Russian military involvement.) The convoy of about 300 whitewashed Russian military trucks on the Ukrainian border, the first of which entered eastern Ukraine today, is an apt metaphor for this depressing conflict. Russia says they're carrying humanitarian aid. Ukraine says Russia has invaded. It may not be an invasion, but Ukrainian officials have the better of this argument. Many of these trucks are almost empty , and they are traveling without the Red Cross escort Russia agreed to. Now NATO  reports that Russia has brought artillery across the border. Still, Ukrainian officials must be careful in how they respond, because there remains plenty of room for escalation. Their campaign against pro-Russian rebels in their city strongholds has been making gains. But the closer victory comes, the higher the risk that Russian President Vladimir Putin -- cornered by the nationalist fervo...

Oleh Viktor Wong Rencana ini telah diterbitkan di bm.theantdaily.com pada 15/8/2014 Ramai di antara kita sudah muak dengan politik terlampau yang diamalkan Barisan Nasional dan Pakatan Rakyat. Sudah tiba masanya parti politik di luar BN mahupun Pakatan bergabung sebagai satu suara alternatif sebagai pilihan pengundi. Mungkin rakyat Malaysia juga perlu menimbang kembali corak pembuangan undi agar kedua-dua gabungan ini tidak begitu mabuk kuasa. Laungan 1Malaysia daripada BN hanya omongan kosong tanpa usaha tulen mempromosi perpaduan bangsa sedang parti dominannya Umno kekal menyemarakkan sentimen perkauman dan agama. Parti-parti komponen lain seperti MCA, MIC, Gerakan dan PPP pula ternyata gagal menghalang Umno daripada amalan politik kebenciannya, malah mereka kini sudah lagi tidak relevan. Korupsim salahguna kuasa dan kegagalan tadbir urus di pihak kerajaan semakin menjadi-jadi. Di pihak Pakatan Rakyat pula, sejak dua pilihanraya umum lalu ia masih gagal melaksanakan pelbagai ja...

The Archbishop of the Catholic Church is scheduled to file a review of the Federal Court decision barring the use of the word 'Allah' in its Herald weekly's Bahasa Malaysia edition, which is specifically catered for Sabah and Sarawak. Lawyers for the Archbishop said they will file an application to review the decision of the seven-member bench of the highest court in the country. "We will file the review but the papers are not ready yet," said one of the lawyers from the legal team. It is understood they may file the papers for a review next week, at the earliest. The Federal Court in a narrow four-to-three decision disallowed leave to appeal in the highly charged case, over the use of the word `Allah' when the Court of Appeal ruled it was exclusive to Muslims. The then archbishop who filed the judicial review in 2009 was Reverend Murphy Pakiam. The Vatican last month appointed Rev Julian Leow, from Penang, to replace Pakiam, who retired at the age of 75. ...

当人们逐渐厌烦执政国阵和在野民联间的政治斗争之际，这是时候让国阵民联以外的政党集结成力量，成为人们的另一把声音。这也是时候，让人们认真思考投票趋向避免两个联盟做大。 国阵的一个马来西亚不过是个好叫的口号，从未推动非民族方法和国民团结，反之身为执政联盟的主导巫统却一直在诉诸于民族和宗教极端主义，政治仇恨和威胁。国阵其他成员党如马华、国大党、民政党和人进党无法阻止巫统向右转，相反的逐渐变得无关紧要。贪污、滥权和管理不当，依然在执政联盟里出现。 民联这边，上两届大选给的承诺许多现在仍未实现，有的却“水分不足”。重要的一个就是恢复地方议会选举和国会改革，这些民联所领州政府都没认真推动。众皆知，民联中的一员不赞成地方议会选举，惟没公开反对。 我们还在包容他们继续辜负公共责任吗？ 皆因对国阵的不满，才会投民联一票，希望能加强在野阵营更有效的监督与制衡。那么的话就算知道国阵过去现在的一切过错，然而因为民联的表现逊于人们的期望，难道我们下届大选必须投给国阵吗？ 人们应当更小心投票。 因为这样让人不爽的政治趋势，好多人会在大选时，选择呆在家里而不投票给任何一方，但是沉默大多数这样的杯葛真能推动两个联盟？ 肯定不会的。 首先，为何要依赖两党制而缩小了我们的民主选择，只能在国阵和民联间选一？ 为什么我们不能走向多党制，投票给国阵和民联意外的政党？让他们进入立法议会里，这样一来国阵和民联彼此的课题都能被揭露和批评，确保他们实施的政策不会偏离轨道。 众皆知，马来西亚社会主义党(PSM)连接马来西亚人民党(PRM)和左倾非政府组织，马来西亚青年团结阵线(SAMM)等左派非政府组织组成左翼联盟，欲教育人们更大的民主，平等和第三票（地方议会选举） 在这之前，因民联拒绝社会主义党申请成为一员，它一直处在与民联非一般的合作方式。在上届大选，社会主义党就尝到了苦果，遭民联背叛，其候选人竟然被民联成员党挑战。 除了这个，在第十二届和第十三届大选时，社会主义党被逼“易帜”，只能以公正党徽来竞选，理由是社会主义党的拳头党徽不适合选举。社会主义党还要忍这些不公平多久？ 社会主义党强调这个新组成的却非正式的左派联盟，只会作为监督者揭露国阵和民联行政、政治和政策，若他们偏离轨道就会警告之，承认这个新组的左派联盟仍未能成为第三势力。另一厢，社会主义党仍未放弃加入民联。 为什么社会主义党主动组织左...

Oleh Viktor Wong TheAntDaily.com 30 Julai 2014 Ketika BN kehilangan majoriti dua pertiga di Parlimen pada dua pilihanraya umum yang lalu, Umno mula memainkan pelbagai agenda perkauman, agama dan Raja-Raja bagi mengembalikan sokongan majoriti Melayu beragama Islam bagi mengekal kekuatan di kawasan luar bandar. Kadang kala, Umno berjaya di dalam agenda perkauman, agama dan Raja-Raja dengan cemerlang tetapi ia masih gagal mencatat kemajuan di kawasan bandar. Bagaimanapun, ia mencapai kejayaan di kawasan separa bandar dengan memainkan isu sebegini bagi mengelirukan pengundi. Selepas beberapa protes dari rakan di dalam BN, terutama MIC, MCA, Gerakan dan PPP, agenda radikan ini diserahkan kepada pertubuhan bukan kerajaan berhaluan kanan termasuk Perkasa, Isma, Muafakat, Pekida dan Jati. MCA, MIC, Gerakan dan PPP gagal mencapai kejayaan membanggakan di dalam PRU kerana mereka tidak mampu menghentikan ekstremisme Umno. Gerakan lenyap daripada kubu kuatnya di Penang dan MCA hanya ada tujuh ke...

国阵在过去两届大选失去了国会三分二议席，执政联盟中占主导地位的巫统，打出种族、宗教和统治者议程，想借此恢复所失去的马来穆斯林选票，同时稳住在郊区的强势。 在一些情况下，巫统在操纵种族、宗教和统治者议题上很成功，但却依然无法在多数城市选区取得进步。不过，却成功地在半城乡地区取得突破，以放大种族和宗教议题来模糊选民，同时分裂他们的支持。 然而，在国阵盟党马华、国大党、民政党、人进党提出抗议后，巫统把日益所依赖的种族、宗教极端想法外包给其他极右翼非政府组织，包括了土权组织（Perkasa）、马来西亚穆斯林联盟 (Isma) 、大马社会和谐团结组织（Muafakat）、大马伊斯兰福利及宣教组织（Pekida）和“纯净”（JATI）。 马华、国大党、民政党和人民进步党在上两届大选表现极糟，皆因这些国阵成员党无法止住巫统内的种族和宗教极端主义。民政党在其根据地槟城遭连根拔起，马华只剩下7个国会议席、国大党剩下4个国会议席、人民进步党输完所有竞选的议席。 马华、国大党、民政党和人民进步党的领袖将受挫归咎于巫统的霸权，不过，巫统竟然无理的回击说国会成员党的失败，仅因表现不佳而被选民唾弃。 因此，巫统的宗主地位和在国阵的主导继续，所有种族和宗教的议程外包给了极端右翼非政府组织。马华、国大党、民政党和人民进步党无力阻止这些右翼非政府组织的迅速成长，明显的这些极端组织得到资助和保护。 仅种族、宗教、统治者课题已不能满足了，巫统如今诉诸于性别歧视，特意营造出女性无法胜任行政长官的现象。 据巫统法律顾问拿督哈法立占所言，女性无法受委为州务大臣，仅因为有月事，这样一来就无法陪同苏丹出席宗教仪式。 当用尽右翼想法之后，巫统如今想以宗教和统治者来贬低女性，以此来满足自己权力的欲望，同时否决其他政党管理自身事务的权力。 问题在于，伊斯兰是否不乐见女性担任领袖，还是父权之下的诠释来满足既得利益者？若的确为宗教立场，那么巫统必须从可兰经摘录出来佐证这点。 巫统的法律顾问提出性别歧视的言论，其实是尾随人民公正党主席兼加影州议员旺阿兹莎将担任新任雪兰莪州务大臣而来。据悉，四面楚歌的现任大臣丹斯里卡立将在开斋节后被撤换。 面对巫统律师贬低女性的言论，马华、国大党、民政党和人民进步党确有公开批评，但随后调转枪口，称在野党联盟民联开火太过于计较此事，并指责种族和宗教关系更紧张，是因为在野党...

Dr Nasir Hashim writes about how empires, as they crumble, tend to wage war against their own people – but the people will stand up to defy the waves of oppression unleashed on them. Death of an empire Did I not tell you about this senile Empire? With its pompous guardians constipating at its door steps Festered by collusions, greed, profits, demi-gods and lost horizons But did I also not tell you how they fervently dig graves for others? Too sedated and too dumb to realise that’s their very own Did I not tell you how their bastion of power is crumbling like nine pins? Yet they think that’s progress So they pride Over slogans and promises Destroying the very dreams that they ever fostered So the Empire continues to wallow in jaundiced gusto Shackling the innocents at every twist and turn of time Claiming victory for placid democracy and justice Now you are witnessing the Empire’s bleeding ‘broken chain of command’ Of misdirected priorities and competing opportunists Flip-flop decision...

The judge also stressed that the IPCMC must be implemented as soon as possible due to sharp rise in police custody deaths. The Court of Appeal today upheld a High Court ruling that Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and his police officers were responsible for the death in custody of A. Kugan five years ago. Court of Appeal judge Datuk Wong Dak Wah, who delivered the court's unanimous judgment, said custodial deaths should not happen in this country and there must be zero tolerance. "An independent and public inquiry must be held to commensurate the right of the deceased family," he said in affirming the findings of the then High Court judge, Datuk V. T. Singham, last year Wong, who sat with Datuk Ariff Mohd Yusof and Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, said in this case, the burden was shifted to the family of Kugan to prove their claim in court. He said the court had to take a proactive role in custodial deaths because there was no independent body to monitor detaining authorities. ...

The Economist 2/8/2014 In carrying out the most significant purge in a generation, Xi Jinping seeks to tighten his grip SINCE President Xi Jinping launched his anti-corruption campaign at the end of 2012, the question has been how high he would aim. On July 29th an emphatic answer came with the news that Zhou Yongkang was under investigation by the Communist Party for “serious violations of discipline”—for which, read corruption. Mr Zhou was once one of the most powerful men in the land. Until two years ago he was a member of the Politburo’s ruling standing committee: in charge of the state’s vast security apparatus, he controlled a budget bigger than the army’s. It had long been an unwritten rule of China’s power politics that men of Mr Zhou’s stature were untouchable. In flouting the rule, Mr Xi has left no doubt about the authority he believes he now wields. He appears to be the most powerful Chinese leader since the late Deng Xiaoping. Mr Zhou first appeared to be in trouble in 20...

Student leaders from various universities and colleges vented their frustration and concerns over education, extremism, conversion and their identity at a roundtable discussion with Global Movement of Moderates Foundation chief executive officer Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah. It was lively discussion, where the youth, encouraged by the informal setting and Saifuddin’s willingness to respond to their questions, spoke on issues that mattered to them, including national unity, and listened attentively as he addressed their concerns. As Saifuddin said later: "Their questions are a reflection of what young people are thinking about today.” A student from a private university asked Saifuddin what youth could do to push for national unity in Malaysia. Saifuddin suggested that they could join non-governmental organisations such as Friendship Group for Inter Religious Service (FGIS) which fostered unity through understanding each other’s religion. "This is one good group to join. The mess...

Satu pungutan suara mengesahkan trend rakyat Malaysia Timur kini yang semakin bergolak, dengan kebanyakan penduduk bandar Sarawak bercakap secara terbuka mengenai meninggalkan idea meninggalkan Malaysia. Tinjauan terhadap 100 orang di Malaysia Timur mendedahkan 72% daripada rakyat Sarawak berasa meninggalkan Persekutuan adalah pilihan terbaik, dengan hanya 14% di Sabah bersetuju. Tinjauan itu juga mendedahkan 43% daripada mereka percaya cara terbaik untuk Sabah dan Sarawak menyelesaikan masalah mereka adalah dengan meninggalkan Malaysia. Pemisahan dianggap pengkhianatan mengikut undang-undang Malaysia. Undian itu mendedahkan perasaan curiga dan kekecewaan yang masih wujud di antara Semenanjung Malaysia, Sabah dan Sarawak setengah abad selepas Persekutuan ditubuhkan pada 16 September 1963. Keputusan undian The Malaysian Insider ini sama dengan kaji selidik atas talian sebelum ini yang menunjukkan semakin ramai rakyat Malaysia Timur mahu Sabah dan Sarawak meninggalkan Persekutuan. Seora...

In a veiled attack against an ustaz, who incurred the wrath of Hindus after a video clip of him insulting Hindus went viral, former Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said Muslims needed to be wiser in differentiating between criticism and insult. "Everyone needs to be careful. Islam allows us to be critical in order to make people realise things but not to the point of making others feel insulted," Asri told The Malaysian Insider. The well-known Muslim scholar said Islamic analysis on other faiths using academic arguments was allowed, but attacking or poking fun was clearly forbidden in Islam. Asri was commenting on Ustaz Shahul Hamid Seeni Mohd who had poked fun at the statue of a Hindu deity on the premises of an Alagappa’s factory in Bukit Mertajam and told his audience at a ceramah four years ago not to buy curry powder from "Hindu companies", such as Alagappa’s and Baba’s. In the recording that was uploaded onto YouTube, Shahul had said: "If y...