Carolyn Khor's blog

The word "now" might seem to have an impatient connotation to it. However, being present in the now requires simply a state of mind that is calm, aligned and aware of the present circumstances. As Julian Barbour said, "Time is a series of nows". The concept of being here in the present can be easily understood by filling a drinking straw with water and then keeping the water in the straw by closing off one of the ends with a finger. When we release our finger which acts as a valve, water then flows out of the straw. It takes time for the water to flow out of the straw, from the top to the bottom. From this experiment, we can experience the "now" that happened in the past, the "now" in the present, and the "now" in the future. However, while the water is still in the straw, time becomes still, happening all at once - the past, present and future, simultaneously. Focusing on the now is relevant to many areas of our lives. For ...

A time to remember Altantuya: Human Rights Day by Carolyn Khor Malaysia is still rated fairly free despite fall in Human Development Index ranking Ironically, the existence of a Human Rights Day conveys an apparent lack of human rights in the world, even with laws which are supposedly meant to protect the innocent. In 1950, the United Nations General Assembly declared 10 Dec as Human Rights Day. It is twenty years since 1993 a mandate of High Commissioner was created for the promotion and protection of all human rights during the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna the same year. Women’s Rights are now acknowledged as a fundamental human right. Discrimination and acts of violence against women are at the forefront of the human rights discourse. Human Rights in Malaysia According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in a survey done under Human Development Index (HDI), Malaysia has backslidden in her ranking from 61 st place in 2011 to 64 th pl...

All this useless fighting over who will be PM should stop immediately. Since PH won in 2018, Anwar's camp just kept on disrupting the government and asking the PM to step down. Why did PH lose the government? Because Anwar kept pressuring Tun M to step down. So, Tun resigned, but did Anwar become PM? No. All the manipulation, provocations and secret phoncalls to lobby for support, without any thought for the welfare of the people at all. Anwar supporters must be so proud of themselves for the situation we are in today. When TSMY steps down, will Anwar be the next PM? I'm afraid it's no, again. Why? Because he doesn't have the numbers. And his numbers depended on UMNO's support which he doesn't have now. PH consists of only 33 Malay MPs as opposed to 58 non-Malays. If you think this number is going to make him the PM, then it is wishful thinking. Now we hear claims of Anwar courting AA and Zu's support to make him the PM. The question is why is Anwar so despe...

https://www.malaysianow.com/opinion/2021/06/15/high-time-for-an-anti-bullying-act/ T Nhaveen’s unfortunate passing four years ago due to bullying must not be in vain and we should all take this opportunity to stand up against bullying, whether in school, workplace, or in cyberspace. It affects people of all ages but especially the young, vulnerable and different.   According to the Education Minister, Datuk Mohd. Radzi bin Md. Jidin , the number of cases lodged against bullying from January 2020 – September 2020 amounted to 0.04% of the total number of about 4.8 million students in both primary and secondary schools, as compared to 0.12% the previous year. The years 2016 – 2018 recorded 0.07%, 0.06% and 0.09% respectively.   Malaysia has not enacted any legislation yet to curb bullying and it is high-time the policymakers look seriously into drafting the Anti-Bullying Act to prevent bullying and unnecessary juvenile deaths in the future. Currently, the Penal Code (Ac...

Of late, PH+ politicians have carelessly thrown around words like 'betrayer' and 'traitor'. What I cannot understand is that these words are only used on certain leaders who do not support Anwar as the 9th PM. On the other hand, potential leaders who have been identified as friendly MPs and are being courted to join Anwar are shielded from such lables. These two scenarios are in fact two sides of the same coin.  Why can Anwar openly meet and entice MPs from other parties to join PH+ while PH leaders who have being identified to be sacked or suspended cannot meet up with other leaders? Where is the logic behind this double standard? Even DAP and Amanah have not been spared from being labled as such. Is supporting Tun M for six months an act of betrayal? If having dignity is such a priority, then Anwar should have had better sense than to work with Tun M during GE14.  DAP and Amanah are between a rock and a hard place. Of course, nobody wants to be on a losing team, and e...

There is no point at all fighting over whether Tun M or Anwar will become the PM candidate. 1. By default, the Opposition Leader will become the next PM if the ruling government loses support - so why did it become an issue in the first place? 2. Even if these two men were working together, the numbers still do not make a winning combination. 3. What makes DAP and Amanah want to support Tun M for six months? What is in it for them?  4. Why do Anwar supporters only support Anwar despite not having the numbers? 5. PKR should just discard DAP and PH, just like how it culled its own party members.  Consider this: 1. The people are sick and tired of elderly politicians fighting over the PM post.  2. The country needs a fresh and young face, preferably a young candidate as the next PM.  Anwar and PKR could team up with Muhyiddin and UMNO; and Tun could team up with DAP, Amanah, GPS, Warisan, Azmin, and PAS.  Who knows? It might work. 

Just as the Covid-19 crisis is about to let up, the political horse-trading and psywar by Pakatan Harapan and Tun Dr Mahathir intensifies. As if still not satisfied with the Agong’s confidence in the current government, Pakatan Harapan and Mahathir’s operatives are still hard at work to convince, especially the MPs to crossover so that Perikatan National may fall. The question then is: Fall to whom - Mahathir or Anwar? According to the Registrar of Societies, Mahathir is no longer in PPBM. Challenging the matter in court is a separate issue. As of the present moment, Mahathir is merely an independent MP who is an ally of Pakatan Harapan. And unless he agrees again, to support Anwar as the potential Prime Minister, there is no way these two men can work together. Neither is Perikatan Nasional strong; but it is definitely more stable than having two men at each other’s throats all the time. As economists indicate, there is a looming recession in the months to come due to Covid-19. We sim...

The reality of politics is that when it suits the politicians, crossing the political divide can be as easy and technical as signing a Statutory Declaration. The winning team will then hail the crossover as a hero while the losers will throw all sorts of names at him. Of course, most non-Malays will immediately associate Azmin and the 11 MPs as traitors to Pakatan Harapan.  A particular president of a party had on numerous occasions hinted of crossovers from other parties, yet this person who is so quick to label others as traitors, still sees it fit to coerce others to betray their own party. What sort of logic is it then, that he is willing to accept traitors, while vilifying others for doing the same thing? Then, the staunch supporters will just shrug and say, “That’s politics.” Then again, the best quote of the day comes from Baru Bian: “That is a good katak. So don’t use that katak very loosely. An intelligent katak will jump, a stupid katak will stay. We need to be wise and p...

As my maiden post since I last written, I have chosen to write about racial discrimination in our country. I echo what many have said before, so let my ranting be yet another. Here goes nothing.  We can keep on pointing our fingers at other people and keep blaming others for the mess we are in. However, as non-Malays, many of us have forgotten that we are the minority in the country. Being right or feeling that we are right does nothing to change the situation. We can keep on and on, demanding for equality and what-nots, but the reality is that it doesn't matter what you and I want. What matters is what others, the majority want. As a minority, Chinese Malaysians have grown accustomed to the double-standard treatment that has been around ever since the NEP was implemented. I won't necessarily say that it is a bad thing, as through decades of discrimination, non-Malays have only become more resilient, self-reliant and self-sufficient. That is indeed the price to pay to live in a...

Press Statement dated 6 June 2016 There is an apparent inertia when it comes to gender equality in Malaysia’s political landscape. No doubt Anwar Ibrahim is the iconic figure most supported as the PM candidate, with the President of Keadilan, Wan Azizah willing to be the interim PM while the process of #BebasAnwar gets sorted out. Still, there is still a void which nobody, especially Muslim women dare to even think about. The gracious, gentle and reluctant politician, as we all come to know fondly as Kak Wan, has been consistently supportive of Keadilan’s ‘Reformasi’ cause, central to the #BebasAnwar movement. Many of the key supporters are loyal to this cause and although it is the main driver behind Keadilan as a party, there should be, a plan B or plan C. Kak Wan's role as the interim PM must be strengthened further to propel our women's agenda into the next millennia. At the very least, Mahathir has offered to be the next reluctant PM, but this is still subject to the...

Click here for online entry form. Click here to book your tickets. Click here for Facebook page. -**-

From left: Ms Chinta, ASP Riza, YB Lee Khai Loon, YB Teh Yee Cheu, Zulfakri, Ustaz Khairol TG Symposium: Arrest and Detention Transgenders fear harassment during arrest and detention, and a symposium organised by the Transgender Committee set up by the State Assembly of Penang brought both transgenders and the authorities together to discuss the situation. Also involved in the organising of this event was Justice for Sisters, SUARAM Penang and PACA. Documented stories of how transgenders are being mistreated and ostracised by the authorities are plenty, and there should be policies and guidelines to resolve this issue. State Assemblyman for Tanjong Bunga, YB Teh Yee Cheu requested that the authorities invite a transgender to be present during body checks, to which the police replied that the suggestion will be forwarded to her superiors. According to the Assistant Superintendant Rizatulmi Haizaran Binti Samat from the police forces’ sexual harassment department, f...

The arrest of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is totally shocking as well as heartbreaking to those who have been supporting his administration for the past 8 years. This political persecution is a big blow to the opposition leaders but is even far more damaging to the overall morale of opposition supporters. The rude manner in which the Chief Minister was treated during arrest is not justified, even with the accusations brought against him. Firstly, he was not armed, did not resist arrest and had been cooperative with the MACC all along. Secondly, the Chief Minister should not be treated like a criminal before a guilty conviction has been passed. He faces two counts under Section 23 of the MACC Act and Section 165 of the Penal Code. Nonetheless, the MACC seem to be at the call and beckon of the UMNO chief. While RM2.6 billion transactions may be brushed off as a donation, the accusations against the Chief Minister pale in comparison to what seems to be an obvious play to ‘sav...

The Child Act 2001 is inadequate to protect children’s rights – this was the opinion and outcome of a roundtable discussion hosted by the Penang Women’s Development Corporation under YB Chong Eng, the state executive councilor for Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development. Members of Parliament from Pakatan Harapan such as YB Zuraida Kamaruddin, YB Sim Chee Keong and YB Teo Nie Ching received feedback from notable NGOs such as the Women’s Centre for Change (WCC), Service Civil International; and women advocates like YB Lim Siew Khim, DAP councillors Syerleena Rashid and Chris Lee, Aida Yusof Rawa from Parti Amanah, Lim Kah Cheng, and Priscilla Ho. The objective of this meeting, held last weekend, was to work together towards eliminating sexual crimes against children. Lim Kah Cheng aptly pointed out that although the number of police cases have drastically reduced through the years, the number of cases admitted to hospitals remained the same. She also mentioned that...

Letter by Carolyn Khor, Assistant to YB Teh Yee Cheu and Communications Chief for Wanita Keadilan dated 4 April 2016 The Speaker of the State Assembly wields great powers bestowed upon him through the state constitution which governs the house. The approval or rejection of a motion lies, ultimately, in the hands of the Speaker, who decides whether or not the matter reaches the State Assembly for debate during sittings. Last week, YB Teh Yee Cheu, the state assemblyman for Tanjong Bunga submitted a motion to the Speaker’s office and the State Secretariat’s office to limit the Chief Minister’s tenure to two terms, each being not more than 5 years. He reiterated that he was submitting the motion due to public interest and is ready to face consequences from his party, if any. He also cited Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago as having practise two-term limits. Although the Westminster parliamentary system, which the Malaysian parliament is modeled after, has no fixed-term limit, unlike the...

Press Statement by Carolyn Khor, Ketua Komunikasi Wanita Keadilan dated 22 December 2015 RM50 million slash for Chinese schools nationwide is discriminatory MCA should be ashamed of themselves for supporting the RM50 million slash for Chinese schools nationwide ever since the 2013 general election. Heng Seai Kie should know that the allocation comes from the taxpayers not BN, and there is no excuse to penalise Chinese voter’s children just because the electorate wanted a clean and fair government. If slashing 50 percent funding to Chinese schools is realistic like she said, then how realistic can it be when only BN voters pay taxes? It is simply low to suggest that it is realistic for Chinese children to suffer just because of incompetent politicians like herself and MCA who support the BN government’s decision to do so. As a BN component party, MCA should have protested against the RM50 million cut. With dwindling support for MCA in the Dewan Rakyat, it is clearly a sig...

If I were Bunya Jalong... by Carolyn Khor I was acquitted. Thanks to Augustine Liom and the honorable judges. I did not think it would be that easy actually. Besides, the law is on my side and I have nothing to fear. Having fathered a son at 60 years old, I must say that I am rather proud of myself. After all, how many men my age is still as virile? Admittedly, I must say that the DNA tests are actually favourable to me. Since it is proven that I am the father, I believe th at I have rights over my son. Let me see, that includes access and visitation rights, rights to decide on his upbringing and future, rights to decide his religion and education, etc,…How about joint custody? Of course, they will be asking for child maintenance, but hey, how much can you get out of a father who has none or not much to spare? Even if I have any money, I will again, seek Augustine Liom's help. I have also planned out my visitation hours where I will spend time getting acquainted with m...

Link to MSN A 25 year old Muslim convert and primary school teacher lodged a police report against the school board’s director who had requested her to remove her headscarf if she wanted to continue teaching at SJK (C) Nan Ya in Kota Tinggi. Did she feel victimised and was therefore seeking help? And was it necessary for her to make the police report? Choi Yi Shan, a 25 year old Muslim convert and primary school teacher, turned the tables on her colleagues over a remark that was made over her choice of dressing. She lodged a police report against the school board’s director, Phang Ah Ngang, 72, who had requested her to remove her headscarf if she wanted to continue teaching at SJK (C) Nan Ya in Kota Tinggi. Consequently, the news drew flaks amongst the Muslim groups that demanded action to be taken upon the school board’s director remarks. The headscarf remarks uttered by the school board director were neither criminal nor seditious. Today, Choi received a public apology from ...

Link to MSN Bukit Relau receives due ‘medical attention’ after ‘Botak Protest’ by Teh Yee Cheu. Pressure by the Tanjong Bunga State Assemblyman resulted in new consultants being engaged by the land owner to restore the illegally cleared hill land. Pakatan Rakyat Penang is exemplary in its execution of democracy in that elected representatives of the people can speak out without fear or favour with regards to the State Government’s actions or inaction. In all aspect, this professionalism to separate party issues and governance is highly beneficial to all. A yes-man would no sooner prove to be detrimental to both the coalition and the public. Teh Yee Cheu recently shaved his head bald as a protest against the developers of Bukit Relau to restore the barren hill to its previous condition. Six months earlier, General Accomplishment Sdn. Bhd. was fined RM30,000 under Section 70A (1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act for carrying out illegal earthworks at the site. Eve...

Link to MSN Malaysia News Jahara must be deaf to request a second apology from Lim Guan Eng. BAZUKI MUHAMMAD\Newscom\RTR Far from being satisfied with Penang Chief Minister’s prompt apology for calling Jahara Hamid a grandmother, she is now threatening legal action within a week if Lim Guan Eng did not apologise for a second time. The Telok Ayer Tawar State Assemblyman and Penang Opposition Leader must indeed be hard of hearing to demand a second apology. Jahara had earlier drawn comparison between two different locations in Penang to support her argument that illegal Malay hawkers were being unfairly treated by the State Government. This would have resulted in instigating racial tension if the matter was not refuted immediately, to which the Chief Minister called Jahara a ‘racist grandmother’. Telok Ayer Tawar Pakatan Rakyat coordinator, Norhayati Jaafar confirmed that the Malay stalls operating without licenses in Jahara’s constituency especially at Pantai Bers...

Link to MSN Malaysia A grandmother by any other name is still a grandmother. Reuters Picture Stream The commotion over the ‘racist grandmother’ remark hurled by the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng during the Penang State Assembly towards the State Opposition Leader, Jahara Hamid drew ire from many people even though an apology was issued soon after. Gender accusation is highly inappropriate considering many people would have misconstrued Lim’s remark although his timely apology was commendable. The Chief Minister fell for the oldest trick in the book – succumbing to provocation and unfair accusation from the opposition. On hindsight, if Lim had not been so quick with his tongue and instead retorted in a calm manner, Jahara would have just remained as that, a grandmother. In all hilarity, the term ‘grandmother’ has never been a derogatory one until now. The word conjures an affectionate portrayal of a woman with wisdom. As such, it would be an oxy...