· February, 2006

Stories about Malaysia from February, 2006

Malaysia: Learning Language

28 February 2006

On rosesnchaos’ Livejournal blog, she talks about how she feels her English has deteriorated because of the hodgepodge of Chinese, Malay and English she hears around her: “It's the speech of lay society, but it's just so common here in Malaysia, even among educated folks. Speaking proper English will come...

Malaysia: More Plagiarism

28 February 2006

Malaysian blogger Kenny Sia is experiencing tulan (read his post to see what it means): He's discovered someone named Vivian Chew submitted a photograph he took to a local newspaper and won some money. “BLOODY HELL! Who is this Vivian Chew? Makes me wanna chew Vivan Chew.”

Malaysia: Blogger Probe

  27 February 2006

Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi looks like he might be investigated for his coverage of a local controversy over an allegedly disrespectful cartoon published in the New Straits Times. He writes: “Let the law take its course and let justice be seen to be done.”

Cambodia, Malaysia: Blogmeet

  24 February 2006

Cambodia-based blogger and cartoonist Jinja reports on a meeting he set up with Malaysian bloggers on his trip to Kuala Lumpur. “We also chew over the idea that we should have some more exchange within Southeast Asia. Maybe a regional portal, or a Cambodia/Malaysia blogger exchange? Most of us have...

Malaysia, Singapore: Dangers of Technology

  24 February 2006

The scandal involving a Singapore student's taped sexual adventures spread on the Internet continues to draw comment. Singapore's A Worm's perspective talks about the dangers of modern technology, while Life is Just from Malaysia has similar thoughts: “The internet is growing ever so gracefully.”

Malaysia: Its Own Cartoon Kerfuffle

  23 February 2006

Malaysia's paper-of-record, the New Straits Times, has gotten into its own cartoon controversy after running a syndicated strip on its funny pages critiquing the Danish cartoon controversy. The government has demanded an explanation from its editors and demonstrations against the NST are apparently planned. Jeff Ooi's Screenshots has been following...

Malaysia: Fairness of Freedom

  22 February 2006

Ktemoc Konsiders notes the irony of the imprisonment of a British holocaust denier against the background of the Danish cartoon controversy: “The Europeans must now shut their mouths up, and cease their hypocritical pontifications of the ‘freedom of expression’, and accord to Muslims the considerations of sensitivity that they have...

Malaysia: Unbalanced Punishments?

  20 February 2006

Colors of Life contrasts the sentences in two murder cases in Malaysia: one involving a lover's quarrel, another involving inflamed passions over harsh words. Both were emotional crimes, yet why did the perpetrators of the latter get lighter sentences?

Singapore, Malaysia: Chocolate Love

  20 February 2006

All U Can Eat Buffet discusses MILO, a drink made from chocolate-flavored powder that children all over Southeast Asia have grown to love. He's found at least two types: one made in Malaysia, which is sweeter, and one from Australia, which is creamier.

Malaysia: Selfish Society

17 February 2006

Mack Zulkifli reflects on why people seem more and more reluctant to help each other: “But that's just how society is turning out. When they need something from you, the persuasiveness is laced with the sweetest of candy. When push comes to shove, some people might forget that at the...

Singapore, Malaysia: Fruit Fuss

  16 February 2006

Malaysian business blog small and medium thoughts discusses an article that says Singapore has been repackaging Malaysian rambutan fruit as “Singapore Lychees” for re-export. Horrors! “This isn’t the first time I’ve read about this sort of wrong ‘country of origin effect’ attribution to Singapore.”

Malaysia: High-rise from Hell

15 February 2006

MaRvELgAL reminisces about living in a Kuala Lumpur high-rise infested by drug addicts and suspicious “suicides” — “When it gets really quiet, you can hear the thud when the body hits the ground, usually followed by a cry or scream. This, I got used to it. The next day, you...

Malaysia: Valentine's Day Reshuffle

  15 February 2006

Jeff Ooi, Mack Zulkifli and Cik Amoi talk about the Feb. 14 cabinet reshuffle in Malaysia. Writes Mack: “There are two types of response, generally. One was ‘what's new?’ and the other was ‘why fix what's not broken’. “

Malaysia, Japan: This Love Thing

  15 February 2006

Kenny Sia points out that in Japan, girls buy boys chocolates for Valentine's Day. He complains that in Malaysia it's the opposite. “Man, this love thing is evil.”

Malaysia: Business to Politics

  14 February 2006

Peter at Competitive Malaysia looks at the fates of three local businessmen-turned-politicians. His conclusion: “it is better for businessman to remain focus on it core competencies….business rather than enter into politic.”

Malaysia: Presses Silenced

  13 February 2006

Bloggers comment on the indefinite suspension of a newspaper's publication license in Sarawak, Malaysia for reprinting one of the controversial Danish cartoons. Here's Kenny Sia (who lives in Sarawak), Asiapundit and Jeff Ooi.

Malaysia: Junket Frustration

10 February 2006

Frus and Fuss in Malaysia criticizes the 14 municipal council members who went on a junket to South Africa: “Look here, don't play-play with my tax money!”

Malaysia: Bald Heads

9 February 2006

Jee's Life comments on the news that the Malaysian police shaved the heads of 10 senior citizens caught playing mahjong on the second day of Chinese New Year: “It’s a pantang and prohibition for Chinese to shave their head bald during Chinese New Year, it’s just like asking a Muslim...

Malaysia: “Sky Juice”

9 February 2006

KenJJ.com discusses the odd practice in Malaysia of calling plain water “sky juice.”

Malaysia: The Cartoons

8 February 2006

Malaysian blogger Mack Zulkifli weighs in on the Danish cartoons controversy: “As far as I can see, in this specific conflict, nobody is coming out the winner. This is not freedom of speech. Don't champion it.”

Malaysia, China: A Hokkien Tale

  6 February 2006

Ktemoc Konsiders retells a story from the Chinese Ming Dynasty about how sugar canes saved the Hokkien, from whom many Chinese Malaysians are descended. “Since that fateful day, the Hokkiens have celebrated Chinese New Year with a pair of sugar cane plants, which must be complete stalks from roots to...