James Wong Wing On

The publication of the personal memoirs of two veteran Malay Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leaders by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has sparked off a row between old-styled anti-communists and liberal scholars in the Malay community.

The government has given the green light for the sale of the book and it is expected to hit the shelves of all major bookstores by the end of this week.

Dr Kua Kia Soong, an English-educated and Britain-trained Chinese educationist, explains why he is against the introduction of English as the medium of instruction for teaching Maths and Science in vernacular schools in this second of a two-part series.

Having rediscovered his cultural identity through mastering his mother tongue, educationist Dr Kua Kia Soong shares his personal experiences, as well as the relationship between language and cultural identity.

George W Bush secures a second term in the White House and the real loser in the American presidential elections is not John Kerry, but the terror connoisseur.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Umno, PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious political landscape? An academician shares his views.

According to Dr Mohd Kamarulnizam Abdullah, head of UKM's Strategic and International Relations Programme, although Muslims share certain common beliefs, Islam allows divergence in the interpretation based on particular time and societal background and understanding.

Records are 'still lacking' on the contributions of Britain's Indian troops in the Pacific War, says a historian in the conclusion of a four-part series.

What led to the speedy collapse of the British defence of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore in 1941-1942? Singapore-born Oxford war historian Karl Hack discourses a range of theories and hypotheses.

Malaysians and Singaporeans have many similarities in their experiences, narratives and discourses of the Pacific War and Japanese Occupation, not the least of which are memories of the trauma and upheaval.

Two popular English books detailing Chin Peng's perspective of history will be published in the Chinese language before the end of this year. Meanwhile, the legendary communist leader made a quiet visit to Singapore, a place which he last saw almost half a century ago.

In the run-up to next year's 60th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War, Dr Karl Hack shares his research on the experiences, collective memory and discourses of the Pacific War in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore

Dr Chandran Jeshurun says that although the Malaysian Armed Forces has been modernised since the early 1980s, it is still ethnically imbalanced and has to deal with issues like the diversification of sources of arms procurement.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad fathered many controversies and puzzles, especially in foreign affairs and defence policies. Malaysiakini speaks to an expert, Dr Chandran Jeshurun, who critically explores the appearance-reality discrepancy.

Will national, ethnic, religious, linguistic and ideological identities be eroded or even destroyed by the English language and western capitalist values in the process of globalisation? Malaysia's veteran historian Professor Cheah Boon Kheng shares his thoughts on this, and other issues of nation building.

Veteran Malaysian historian Professor Cheah Boon Kheng says the Communist Party of Malaya under-estimated the power of nationalism in the struggle for independence.

According to Malaysian historian Professor Cheah Boon Kheng, all ethnic and cultural communities in Malaysia must claim their contribution to the nation's struggle for independence, as the existing public narratives and discourses are one-sided.

The daughter of a 1965 political detainee in Singapore has published a collection of memoirs of female members of the Communist Party of Malaya, recalling their personal experiences in various stages of history.

Should Anwar stay in the democratic opposition, it would not only reflect his idealism, but also a healthy dose of realism.

While Malaya won independence peacefully through the political, diplomatic and negotiating skills of Umno, MCA and MIC leaders, the actual account of history is more complex.

After weeks, with one academic claiming four months, of scrutiny, the Home Ministry finally allows the sale of a book featuring dialogues between a group of academics and the communist leader.

Democratisation is one of the best weapons to defend Taiwan from being attacked by China, says Taiwanese official Frances Lee, in the second and final part of this article.

Why is China so passionate about the liberation of Taiwan? Why does Taiwan resist an immediate re-union? Malaysiakini explores these emotional subjects with Frances Lee, the director for Public Affairs of Taiwan's Taipei Economic and Cultural Office here.

Chen Jian and his fellow historians are now recording and documenting WWII resistance in Sabah and Sarawak with the final objective of incorporating the results into a larger narrative.