Current Affairs

It is now the turn of PAS and its leaders to take the spotlight in the ongoing Selangor MB controversy. Party President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in particular has emerged as a target of anger for those who consider his actions detrimental to future of Pakatan Rakyat.

Observers of the Islamist party, which has administered the state of Kelantan continuously since 1990, note that there is an ongoing debate within the party over its direction. A recent reflection of that debate is the formation of Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia, an initiative by PAS members who want the party remain in PR. It was launched on August 31 in Kota Bharu. Today we look at the party’s power structures and internal debates.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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Last week, the Court of Appeal set aside the coroner's open verdict in the inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock five years ago, ruling out that the political aide had committed suicide. BFM speaks to the lawyer representing Teoh's family to explore what this ruling means, not just for this case, but other custodial death cases.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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Indonesia is gearing up for a new President, Joko Widodo -- affectionately known as Jokowi. To aid in the establishment of the new administration the President-elect has set up what is being called ‘Transition House’.

Among the many issues that Transition House will be handling is the question of human rights. Will conditions improve for the Muslim minority community, Ahmadiayahs as well as other religious minorities, with the incoming Administration? Transition House is a mechanism set up to select programmes to be pursued and to recruit suitable candidates to run them.

It also aims to break what observers call the chain of opportunistic politics that usually emerges at this moment of political change. This is a first for Indonesian politics and observers say that Jokowi is likely to be very open to recommendations that will be made through this process. Are human rights advocates hopeful?

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The Kidex Controversy continues to dog the residents of Petaling Jaya. Now a recent move to amend laws governing the city’s Local Plan (RTPJ) is the focus of attention. The citizen’s group Say No To Kidex accuses the Petaling Jaya City Council of trying to bulldoze a new schedule under a proposed future city plan. It alleges that there is a move to give unchecked powers to the state government and local councils to push through development policies by eliminating the need for public feedback that is now required by law. We take a closer look at why clear planning guidelines are essential to good governance.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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Yesterday Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court yesterday to charges of uttering seditious words. Azmi is reported to have said - “This charge is a blow to academic freedom and the freedom of expression. I will most definitely fight this charge. I hope that reason will prevail.”

Coming to the defense of the law professor were a range of civil society activists. The University of Malaya Academic Staff Union and the Malaysian Academics Movement expressed their objection to Azmi’s prosecution: “We are extremely disappointed with the use of the Sedition Act 1948 against Azmi. This is a gross violation of his academic rights, and goes against the true spirit of Article 10 on freedom of speech, assembly and association guaranteed by the Federal Consitution.” The statement also noted that the charges go against the 1997 UNESCO Recommendations concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching. We explore the issue.  

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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Growing unhappiness among segments of Sabah and Sarawak society at what they see as the raw deal the Borneo states are getting in the Federation is in focus today. Can we ignore these disgruntled voices and what do groups like “Sabah Sarawak Leave Malaysia” want? A straw poll by The Malaysian Insider conducted in the last week of July among 100 East Malaysians showed that 43% feel that Sarawak and Sabah can only solve their problems by leaving the Federation. But opinion is divided about whether this unhappiness will take concrete form. For those interested in the politics of Federalism can pick up a new collection of essays on the issue edited by Andrew Harding and James Chin, titled“50 Years of Malaysia: Federalism Revisited”.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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Muslims make up only 5% of Myanmar’s population. And yet a political movement using the mantle of Buddhism targeting them has gather momentum over the last few years leading to serious human rights violations. The latest move against the Muslim minority is a package of laws being discussed in parliament that will increase discrimination against them. Human Rights advocates warn that the situation in Myanmar is pre-genocidal. Are they being alarmist?

This is a report by Alexandra Lok.

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The Misuse of Drugs Act in Singapore was amended last year following the Constitutional challenges advanced in the case of convicted drug mule Yong Vui Kong. Yong’s sentence was reduced from death to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane. And it is the caning which is the subject of his current struggle in the Republic’s Court of Appeal. We spoke to Yong’s lawyer on why he is arguing that caning is a form of torture.

This is a report by Alexandra Lok.

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The Selangor MB crisis comes to another roadblock as Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim returns from the Royal Palace with a decree from the Sultan for the three Pakatan parties to present at least two names each. While snap polls have been averted, the request of the Palace places the Pakatan Rakyat in a quandary over its choice and exposes the Palace to accusations of political interference.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin and Jason Lim.

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In his presidential campaign, president-elect Joko Widodo promised greater protection for the local economy and a greater budget allocation to Indonesian naval forces. What accounts for this nationalistic orientation, and does the answer lie in part with the social origins of this "every-man" President-elect? Two experts also explore the expected changes to the archipelagic state's relationship with Malaysia and other Asean member states.

This is a report by Aziff Azuddin.

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