Author: Dr Jeniri Amir

Press freedom still a head-scratcher in Malaysia

We are supposed to embrace a new Malaysia now that Pakatan Harapan (PH) is in power with press freedom as one of the aspects that we should enjoy. After all, press freedom was one of the campaign themes and promises by PH before the 14th general election (GE14). Voters and

We want more action, less rhetoric please

A promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen. A promise is not to be broken but to be fulfilled. In Malaysia, when one doesn’t fulfil one promises, it is always regarded as akin to a political promise. Issues about

Social and economic inequality in Malaysia

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Monday last week said Malaysia’s wealth must be distributed equally among all races. The data shows that the average Malaysian has a gross wealth of RM226,599 consisting of RM208,504 worth of property assets and RM18,055 in financial assets. In Malaysia, wealth is dominated

Cleanliness: What’s wrong with Malaysians?

Cleanliness is a state of purity, clarity, and precision. – Suze Orma, Personal Financial Guru Marie Kondo, a Japanese organising consultant and author in her famous maxim said, “The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.” All religions propagate and teach

On your mark, get set, go! The race has begun for GPS

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The often quoted maxim by politicians and historians, including  Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is most likely credited to writer and philosopher George Santayana. In its original form the maxim reads: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Let’s inculcate the reading habit in M’sians

On the very first day of school on January 2, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik urged parents to inculcate good reading habits in their children. The call was timely and appropriate given the lack of reading habits and skill among the students and Malaysians as a whole. It’s a sad

Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today

New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream,

Sky’s not the limit – success is in our hands

And today, finally we welcome a new year – 2019. The last 365 days have been full of ups and downs in this country. Our lives have been affected directly or indirectly by the turn of events last year. In politics, 2018 was a year where changes that were never

Strong opposition needed for effective role of check and balance

I won’t blame you if you are worried about the latest political development in the country. When some of you voted for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 14th general election (GE14) last May 9, you expected their leaders to stick to their words that they would not repeat the mistakes

Umno needs credibility to survive

Horatio: He waxes desperate with imagination. Marcellus: Let’s follow. ‘Tis not fit thus to obey him. Horatio: Have after. To what issue will this come? Marcellus: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Horatio: Heaven will direct it. Marcellus: Nay, let’s follow him. [Exeunt.] – Hamlet Act 1, scene