Carolyn Khor's blog

C arolyn Khor, Murray Hunter and Lim Teck Ghee   Amongst the advantages of an East Malaysian-led or influenced government is its potential to reject pressure from racial and religious extremism. Unlike the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak have historically been more tolerant and diverse in their religious and secular practices. By promoting inclusivity and pluralism, an East Malaysian bloc can mitigate the influence of extremist ideologies in politics and the civil service.   Another is the much more multiracial and polyglot communities in the two states and the absence of the traumatic May 13 racial chapter of history which not only transformed Peninsula politics and society.  Its  dark shadow is repeatedly raised by Peninsula politicians to stifle the nation’s progress to a psychologically and mentally liberated society.   To address the challenge of political transformation effectively, we have compiled a list of  issues and assesse...

Exchanging oranges for limes, but still better than nothing. Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng is expected to propose on behalf of Pakatan Rakyat, Law Choo Kiang as Speaker and Ustaz Maktar Hj. Shapee as Deputy Speaker for the Penang State Assembly tomorrow (28/6/2013). Both are second term PKR state assemblyman for Bukit Tambun and Sungai Bakap respectively. Deputy Chief Minister 1 for Penang, Rashid Hasnon will second the motion. Lim had also, in his press release, made known that prior to the final decision, Penang PKR chairman, Dato Mansor Othman was unanimously proposed and supported by the Penang EXCO, consisting of both DAP and PKR members, for the Speaker post. He attributes the change to a consultation with Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR’s de facto leader and Parliamentary Opposition Leader. The initial move to propose Dato Mansor may be politically correct, or reversely, simply an olive branch from DAP to iron out the outburst of the ‘Tokong’ issue which emerged s...