Carolyn Khor's blog

An art exhibition titled ‘Spirited – Human Art of the Non-Human’, portraying how tribal communities communicated their hopes, fears and coping strategies amidst uncertainty and the natural world, was inaugurated at the Homestead, Wawasan Open University (WOU) on 15 December 2023. Jointly organised by WOU and The George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (GIOAS), the exhibition displays a selection from David Goh’s tribal artwork. The collection spans the Nusantara region, comprising art pieces from Peninsular Malaysia to Papua New Guinea. It also features tribal textile pieces, Ikat, from the collections of Puan Sri Dr Lim Suan Poh and Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, and a piece from Tan Yu Kai’s collection. GIOAS is an independent, non-profit institute within Wawasan Open University (WOU) dedicated to exploring societal ideas and complexities. Emphasising the pursuit of peace, human prosperity, happiness, and well-being, the organisation operates witho...

The tiger is often a symbol of strength, courage, and resilience. The most famous tigers are the hallmark logos of Maybank, the Johor Ta’zim Football Club’s logo, followed by the now discarded Proton logo of the Malayan tiger used between 2000 and 2008. Even so, people might wonder why Malayan tigers should be saved from extinction. After all, they are predatory animals that threaten humans when there is conflict. However, the role of the Malayan tiger in forest ecosystems cannot be overstated. As apex predators, they help maintain the balance of the ecosystem by controlling the population of herbivores, which in turn ensures the vegetation is not overgrazed. This balance is critical for the health of the forest, which supports a vast array of biodiversity. “A healthy tiger population indicates a healthy ecosystem,” said Harun Rahman, the Project Lead, who is also the husband of Lara, the president of RIMAU. “The Malayan tiger is a subspecies of tiger found in the tropical forests ...

  Beneath the vast blue skies off the coast of Semporna and overlooking the clear turquoise waters of the Celebes Sea, children's faces light up each time a teacher walks into the classroom. 'Selamat pagi, Cikgu,' they call out. 'Selamat pagi, murid-murid,' replies the teacher enthusiastically. For nearly a decade now, since 2015, the Bajau community has benefited from Iskul’s gift of knowledge, empowering literacy among stateless youth. The Bajau, or sea nomads, inhabit the Omadal Island, a mere 60-minute boat ride from Bum Bum Island. Emphasising the need to enhance academic achievement and leadership potential within the Bajau Laut community, Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal's mission to empower the community through education has yielded remarkable results. “Starting with a foundation in basic literacy skills in Bahasa Malaysia and Mathematics, we also support our students’ development with a wide range of programmes for a wholesome and...

Leela Jhansi, a play written by Fa Abdul was staged to a full house attendance in its maiden debut held at Komtar’s ‘Auditorium A’ on April 3. The play, centred around Leela, a 13-year-old from a remote village, whose father receives a marriage proposal from a middle-aged wealthy man, was produced by Big Nose Productions. Running for three consecutive days over the weekend, starting on Friday,   In this day and age, where many women are still confined to the kitchen, a vocal activist has once again challenged conventional beliefs to shine a spotlight on the dilemmas of child marriages. 'Leela Jhansi', Fa Abdul’s latest play produced by Big Nose Productions, will be staged at Komtar’s Auditorium A from May 3 to 5.   Leela Jhansi’s story plot raises thought-provoking questions about the justification of child marriage in dire circumstances, the blurred line between tradition and exploitation, and the consequences of society's skewed priorities. The cast comprises Chri...

Choosing between individual music lessons and group lessons is easier than you think. As parents, you may want to consider several factors before deciding on the most appropriate lesson format. This includes considerations such as your children’s age, personality, mental ability, and your children’s preferences. Let’s start with exploring the different factors that might influence your decision: 1.       Children’s Age: Developmental Milestones and Learning Readiness All children are different, and all have different learning abilities and paces. The first thing to consider is your children’s ages. Are they young children under the age of 7? Or slightly older but below 12 years old? Or are they in their tweens and teens? As children grow, they develop their motor and cognitive abilities, and it is essential to understand what your children may or may not grasp. Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development provides valuable insights into children’s cog...

Is harmony shaped like the yin and yang’s curve,  Or a line that marks where our paths diverge?  Do we seek out harmony, or does it seek us,  A construct of minds, or so elusive it hushes? Within, says the wise, lies answer’s seed,  Through introspection, we find the balance we need. So much to uncover, in the depths of our being,  From the angels and demons in our psyche convening.  In solitude’s conflict, a question is born,  Heart or mind’s logic? In the quiet, we’re torn. Not merely black or white, nor just yes or no,  In the shades of grey, harmony’s true colours show. Life’s dance is a sway, a gentle bend,  In search of a melody that heals and blends.  But what is harmony’s truest form?  It begins with ‘me,’  to calm the storm. In the quiet of the night, harmony resonates fiercely,  Eager to burst into the world with clarity. * This poem is also published on Eksentrika . 

Malaysia Population:  33 million Internet penetration:  94% Zaharom Nain 17th June 2024 The uncertainties faced by the Malaysian media industry continued into 2024 with at least two online news portals closing temporarily and industry leader, satellite pay-TV operator Astro Awani, suffering significant losses. The wider environment has not been very supportive either, with the constantly pressured Unity coalition government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim imposing greater controls on Malaysia’s media. This Unity government was cobbled together after the general election of November 2022. Many were cautiously hopeful that the fragile political and economic environment that had troubled many Malaysians since the coup of 2020 would finally be stabilised. Eighteen months into its five-year tenure, however, the many reforms that had been proposed have not been carried out and the uncertainties prevail. In this environment, Malaysia’s media have undergone a tough year. Astro, for ex...

Not many people know of the Khao Nam Khang Historical Tunnel, which is situated high among the hills in southern Thailand, within the Khao Nam Khang National Park. This tunnel complex, touted as the longest surviving man-made tunnel in Thailand, used to serve as a hideout and operational base for armed members from the 8th Regiment of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) until the signing of the Hatyai Peace Agreement on 2 December 1989, a trilateral effort involving the Thai government, Malaysian government and the CPM. The tunnels bear witness to a turbulent past that has been transformed into a symbol of peace today, offering visitors a peek into the past in a unique blend of history and natural beauty. Other longer tunnels are currently inaccessible. The Khao Nam Khang Historical Tunnel was built under the mountains in the 1970s when there was an influx of CPM recruits and volunteers seeking refuge from the Malaysian authorities. This was in contrast to the s...

GEORGETOWN: A rectangular-shaped road divider at the junction of Jalan Pisang Rastali and Jalan Pisang Embun in Kampung Pisang, Air Itam, has raised safety concerns among road users. Many drivers ignore traffic rules to avoid taking a detour and reach their destinations more quickly. A driver who declined to be named, said, “The corner is extremely dangerous for road users, especially when cars suddenly rush across the road at the bend and cannot be seen by the oncoming drivers from the opposite side of the road. Air Itam state assemblyman, Joseph Ng Soon Siang acknowledges that complaints have been received regarding the divider and that the matter has been brought up to Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) already. “Although the area is under the jurisdiction of Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR), we always forward our complaints to MBPP so that they can liaise with JKR. “Actually, road users should adhere to the traffic rules. Before Sunshine Central was completed, it was a triangul...

Lim Teck Ghee, Murray Hunter and Carolyn Khor As the nation battles insufficient tax revenue, growing government debt and GLC inability to provide the catalyst of dynamism and change to the economy, young Malaysians are increasingly unable to find rewarding employment and losing hope that their future in Malaysia will be promising and secure.  The writing was on the wall from a long time ago with worker out migration to Singapore and elsewhere increasing with arithmetic progression since the launch of the NEP. According to Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar some 1.13 million out of 1.86 million Malaysians who have migrated overseas resided in Singapore. Two Malaysian diaspora studies conducted in 2022 and the findings of which were recently announced found that 39 per cent of the diaspora working in Singapore are skilled workers and 35 per cent are semi-skilled workers, while in Brunei, 68 per cent of the working diaspora are skilled workers and 24.1 per cent a...