Vijay Shanmugam

International schools don't want to be bound by local pedagogy

LETTER | As teachers, we are reminded to let school children think critically.

7y ago

Who will judge the judges?

LETTER | A response to ex-Bar Council president Param Cumaraswamy.

7y ago

Whither personal freedom guaranteed under the constitution?

The Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land in Malaysia and any law passed by the Parliament which is inconsistent shall be null and void to the extent of the inconsistency involved. Under Article 5(1), which guarantees the fundamental liberty of a person that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with law.

10y ago

The curious case of how certain laws are made

Every law, (be it federal or state), must go through this constitutional machinery. A Federal Bill must be approved (or passed) by the Dewan Rakyat, and then passed by the Dewan Negara and finally approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This last stage is known as receiving ‘the Royal Assent’.

10y ago

Revisiting the case of Stephen Kalong Ningkan vs Abang Openg and Tawi Sli

Today, Aug 1, 2016 marks another milestone for our country for sailing through uncharted waters of political turbulence, corruption lawsuits as well as the implementation of the controversial National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016.

10y ago

The 1Malaysia Animal Farm

Lately Malaysia is slowly tuning into an animal farm from the looks of it.

11y ago

Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali is being seditious

I refer to the comment by Perkasa leader Ibrahim Ali that only Malay fury kept the Internal Security Act (ISA) going on until the Act was abolished after more than 40 years.

12y ago

Sybil Kathigasu was also a freedom fighter

I refer to the comments from the former chief justice of Malaysia, Abdul Hamid Mohamad, in which he said that it was only the Malays who truly fought for the country’s independence. For the rest, non-Malay citizens of this land - it was simply for a personal gain which is truly a ‘seditious’ statement from the learned former judge who should be the pinnacle of wisdom compared to the man on the street.

12y ago

In good faith, retired judge should apologise

I refer to the statement from the former Chief Justice (CJ) of Malaysia, Abdul Hamid Mohamad allegedly made during a breaking fast event during the holy Ramadan month that the Penang state government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng didn’t provide funds or means for the Islamic activities carried out in the island.

12y ago

Desecrating a holy place violates the constitution

Dear Ahmad Zaki Arshad, deputy director, Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais)

I refer to the recent raid by Jais on the pretext of conducting routine checks due to the case of a ‘Muslim’ woman marrying a Hindu man, and also to an article which appeared in The Star newspaper dated June 4, 2014 claiming that Jais is probing bride’s case according to their deputy director, Ahmad Zaki Arshad.

12y ago

Ex-judge on non-Muslim statues seditious

I refer to the statement from the former Court of Appeal judge Mohd. Noor Abdullah on April 15, 2014 ( MIC flays ex-judge for 'racist' comment on idols ) saying that sculptures of non-Muslim deities should not be built in the open, but should be placed within an enclosed building instead (referring to the Batu Caves Lord Murugan and Penang Kuan Yin statues)

12y ago