The cannon I WAS designed and built as a weapon for war, but those duties – last performed during the fight against communism – are long gone. Now I announce duty and celebration to the people of the valley. Seven... more »

RAMADAN is about cleansing and purification, and for most Muslims it is both a joy and a challenge to be as productive while fulfilling the religious obligations.  For me the daily routine of this year’s fasting has been similar to... more »

Within a week of the general election I visited four different educational institutions for equally different reasons. The first was Cempaka Cheras, to watch their performance of Happy Days, involving primary and secondary level students from both their national- and... more »

AFTER the electoral tsunami, the political volcano has been spewing ceaselessly with the lava of change. We barely have time to absorb one eruption before the next occurs: as I write, the loudest has been the release of Datuk Seri... more »

MANY recent elections around the world have been described as defining events for nations ‘at a crossroads’, or as ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunities’ for citizens to determine their societies’ onward journeys. This was certainly the case for both the 2014 referendum on... more »

THE funeral of Tan Sri Napsiah Omar Tuesday last week brought together mourners from the royal family, politicians from across the divide and civil society. Joining the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin at Surau Tuanku Muhriz in Kampung... more »

MALAYSIA won seven gold, five silver, and 12 bronze medals at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast, placing us 12th among the 71 teams competing (even though there are 53 members of the Commonwealth, since some constituent... more »