Children in Protest(s)

The Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has announced that the Education Ministry is planning a nation-wide protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza, involving about 5 million children and 360,765 teachers from more than 10,000 schools (NST, 9 January 2009). The NST reports this to be a Cabinet decision, passed on Wednesday. “Asked on the [...]

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Anticipating Change – the Day before September 16th

Today feels like the pause before the unfolding of an important event – like the breath we hold just before diving into fresh waters, or the butterflies we feel in our stomach before making a new commitment, or the prayer we whisper quickly before starting a speech in front of an eminent audience. Today is [...]

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Christ in my Activism

I advocate for the protection of migrants and refugees in Malaysia. I do this primarily through research, writing, teaching and coordinating. I collaborate with civil society groups and other committed individuals – lawyers, writers, teachers – who work together to protect and assist the vulnerable amongst these populations.
I share about the everyday lives of [...]

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The BERSIH Rally – The Reconstruction of Reality and the Second Phase of Collective Movement

I like this open letter to Badawi written by fiction writer Beth Yahp, entitled Malaysian Narratives, dated Monday, 12 November 2007, in The Other Malaysia. She too writes about the absence of press freedom and the discrepancies between newspaper reports and the experiences of protesters.
An exerpt:
Like most of your state controlled media, Prime Minister Abdullah, [...]

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CIJ: Misinformation Reigns on the November 10 March

I am so glad that CIJ wrote this comment (see below). I have been appalled by the news coverage in the mainstream papers, in particular the New Straits Times. They either report wrongly, or have angles that are SO CLEARLY on the side of BN that they might as well be their publishing [...]

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The BERSIH March

I went for the BERSIH march yesterday – it was quite an experience! It was like watching an American action film in 3D and with surround sound, except that I was ‘on the set’ and part of the unfolding drama. Helicopters thudded overheard, scores of policemen lined the streets, and imposing red trucks with FRU [...]

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Fifty Refugees: The Lives of Refugees in Malaysia

The 50th Anniversary of Merdeka is coming up in a few days time. In commemoration of this, and of the struggles of refugees in Malaysia, a friend of mine worked a project to document their experiences of displacement, detention, and exile. Do read their stories, and tell others about this website so that [...]

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Where is Nathaniel Tan?

I received an sms while on the way from Brussels to London, informing me that Nat was arrested and is being held incommunicado by the Special Branch. Allegedly for cybercrimes. The circumstances of his arrest are suspect indeed. More information is available on Eli’s blog and on Polytikus’ blog (his girlfriend). [...]

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Reviews of two of my papers on Orang Asli

I just came upon these two articles, which review two pieces of my academic writing on the Orang Asli. Academic work is so difficult in comparison to journalistic writing – I am grateful that anyone has read any of it!
‘Orang Asli Lands in a Malay World’, published on March 1st, 2007, reviews the journal [...]

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NST: Body of missing girl found with hands severed

This is a recent tragic event in Malaysia. A seven-year old Chin girl, Dally, a recognised refugee from Burma, was kidnapped a week before her family was to depart for the United States. The day before their departure, her body was found near her home with her hands severed at the wrist. [...]

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