Hafidz Baharom

In the past week, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) once again raised the issue of how wives joining the workforce would neglect families.

Currently, a spate of cases on hysteria in SMK Pengkalan Chepa 2, Kota Baru, has the nation wondering how to deal with such a situation. So far, authorities have decided to close down the school after a ‘black figure’ was spotted on camera. The picture is currently making its rounds on social media.

While I congratulate the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Berhad and the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaysia (RUM) for reducing their losses to RM55 million with hope of further reductions after the rate hike, I must voice out that this notion of wanting to become ‘halal certified’ is a worrying trend.

There was obviously some shock when the recent Akamai State of the Internet quarterly report was published recently and made its way to the press. It was especially infuriating when the headline puts us trailing behind Sri Lanka and Thailand, but it is not highlighted the full picture. In fact, it omitted the worst statistic in the entire report regarding Malaysia.

Public transport has already been an issue in Malaysia due to our late entry into the sector. Up until the mid-1990s, projects to make it easier for Malaysians to get around was very much abandoned except for the existence of buses. Rail was thoroughly left for dead up until 1995 onwards where the Putra Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Star (LRT) was introduced.

Welcome to the age of subliminal racism.

Welcome to the age of subliminal racism.

While Shah Alam is arguing over yet another addition to the myriad highways with the Damansara Shah Alam Elevated Highway (Dash), Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysians that work and spend leisure quality time in it needs to consider what to do to alleviate the clogged roads of the city.

A lot of accusations are being levelled against those being outspoken about not attending the upcoming 34-hour rally organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0). And quite frankly, it is quickly beginning to border insanity.

With more and more Malaysians asking how a RM2.6 billion donation from a certain ‘brotherly’ nation can be used for political funding, perhaps it is time we look at what are the regulations and limitations set by political parties themselves in order to curb these supposed corrupt practices.

I took part in the last two rallies organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), and now they are announcing a fourth to take place for 36 hours in Kuala Lumpur. But more than that, suddenly it is no longer about clean and fair elections.

It’s been a couple of months since the incident at Low Yat, and now we have a brilliant minister who is all gung-ho to want an exclusive digital mall for the Malays. I personally find the idea ridiculous because I grew up in a majority Malay community in Shah Alam with multiple malls which were occupied by mostly Malay traders.

I write this piece contemplating what has happened so far in the nation. And it is a simple message that one hopes everyone can relate to.

And so, the grand experiment of a two-party system in the form of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat has failed.

In perhaps the most ‘chicken’ display of his ‘warrior blood’ heritage, the prime minister of Malaysia chose not to make an appearance in front of non-governmental organisation members at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

It comes to mind that we need to end the subsidies on foods, even rice. Or in the case of what was recently raised by the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), especially rice. And it was an eye opener to get their data on issues plaguing our farmers.

Two recent events occurred without much celebration in Malaysia. The first was World Media Freedom Day on May 3. This was subsequently followed by Star Wars Day on May 4. For myself, both hold almost equal value.

The issue of whether we should use government funds to be allocated for blanket subsidies as we have had in the past, or through direct transfers as the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M), is a conundrum.