Malaysiaku, Negaraku

Going back to the time when Anwar Ibrahim was only an Opposition leader, there were already attacks from all quarters, from accusing him being a spy of Russia, the United States of America  and even China, to a video purportedly exposing his “dark secrets” being video recorded with a Chinese prostitute, which was found to be fake. Hell broke loose the moment he was installed as the country’s 10th prime minister. He is the most persecuted politician in the country, having spent over 10 years in prison on two charges which found him guilty His ascension from prison to Putrajaya is nothing short of what Thomson Reuters put it as “hard to believe,” as if it cannot be explained except that this was all by divine appointment and intervention.  We will look at a few of the trends and all the accusations hurled against him from the moment he was installed as Malaysian prime minister: 1.  After over two decades of fierce opposition, he demonstrated a pragmatic willingness to colla...

  Anwar visits Siemens factory in Berlin When I previously wrote about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s extensive international travel , some critics labeled me an "apologist." However, recent reports—such as those in Malaysiakini today—vindicate the perspective I held during the early months of his premiership. There was a clear, strategic purpose behind his focus on meeting global counterparts, even if his detractors refused to see it. Addressing the "Sour Grapes" Critics often accused the Prime Minister of "globe-trotting" simply to enjoy the prestige and honours accorded to his office. They pointed to his frequent travels during his first two years as evidence of a leader disconnected from domestic struggles. A common refrain was that he should "focus on local issues first"—a sentiment that ignores the logistical reality of diplomacy. Overseas visits are planned months in advance; domestic crises, by nature, are unpredictable. When the two co...

  Recent news reports highlight the humane treatment extended to students from southern Thailand—where school facilities are often not on par with those available to Malaysian children—by Malaysia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. His approach reflects a commendable degree of compassion and empathy in the exercise of public office. Law is law, but at the very least, Saifuddin has demonstrated the compassionate face of law enforcement. These children pose no threat to national security; they cross the border for a simple and legitimate purpose—to attend school. Recognising this, Saifuddin went beyond a symbolic visit undertaken for publicity. He instructed the Director-General of Immigration to facilitate the students’ access to education through proper and lawful channels.  Saifuddin's example reflects well about the Islam that he believes in. He shows me how a government minister can live up to his Islamic values and still enforcing the laws. I believe i...

Adibah, the doyen of Malaysian journalism  When I received an invitation to attend Adibah Amin’s Tribute Night at The Majestic Hotel, I decided to go, even though I must admit that I did not regularly read her As I Was Passing column. That was likely because I was still quite young at the time, but her name—especially her pen name Sri Delima—certainly rang a bell. In fact, several months earlier, I had the opportunity to visit her in hospital when she was unwell. It is often said that true friendship reveals itself when you visit someone who is bedridden and unable to offer anything in return. I brought my two children along, hoping to introduce them to this doyen of Malaysian journalism and letters, and to help them understand the significance of her contributions to the nation’s intellectual and cultural life. The tribute night itself was a warm celebration shared among friends and Adibah’s former colleagues from the New Straits Times and The Star, many of whom I have also known...

    When Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, dropped what many saw as a political bombshell in Parliament recently, I initially did not give it much thought. After all, it is well within his prerogative to articulate Singapore’s foreign‑policy position. Yet this immediately raises several important questions: Is this merely his personal stance? Is it fully shared by the Prime Minister Lawrence Wong? Does it reflect the consensus of Parliament—and, by extension, the Singaporean public? My reflection on his April 7 speech has little to do with a particular interest in tracking Singapore’s domestic political developments. Rather, it stems from a broader concern that certain questions of principle are worth examining, regardless of national boundaries. When he asserted  that Singapore upholds the principle that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to the international maritime community  rather than Iran, several issues arise.  Q. Is he correct in...