The debacle surrounding the much hoped for New Year group sex party reviewed. I arrive at the usual conclusions on the Tourism Minister Azalina Othman, the Royal Malaysian Police and the local politically controlled mainstream media.
Posted inThe Lobby
The Gaza Crisis – Not Just Another War!
For the last two weeks or so, it is difficult for anyone to not talk or discuss the Gaza crisis. There are those who are outraged over the aggression on the Palestinians and there are those who believe that the aggression by the Israeli forces on the Palestinians is nothing more than a valid act […]
Posted inJudging the Judges
Appointing and Promoting Judges on Merit
In the New Sunday Times on 21 December 2008, it was reported that our Chief Justice was thinking of determining the seniority of judges based on merit instead of time served on the bench. “Merit” would also be a relevant factor for the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to consider in the appointment and promotion of […]
Posted inLet's Talk About Sex
Homosexuality & Rainforest Destruction
Question: What do homosexuality and rainforest destruction have in common?
Posted inSelected Exhortations
Freedom from Fear: Aung San Suu Kyi (1990)
We live in interesting times. A climate of fear allows the corrupt and the cruel to continue with their ways of repression and oppression. Malaysians need to take up our cudgels, rise up and break the chains of fear which bind us. Revolutionise our minds! Free the spirit! Formerly beleaguered past President of the Malaysian […]
Posted inSelected Exhortations
Year in Review 2008: Fight for rights far from over
Edmund Bon Tai Soon’s comment piece published in theSun on 26 December 2008 in its ‘Year in Review 2008′. Reproduced here. THIS year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). While we celebrate it, it is also a time to reflect on some milestones in respect of civil and political […]
Posted inPray For Me
Is GOD dead?
First posted as draft-test version on 20 April 2006. Just edited for clarity and language. Thank you Yvonne Young for your insightful comment on 26 December 2008 which compelled this. Re-posted below. Relevant, I think, as the year 2008 draws to an end but atrocities in Gaza escalate.
Posted inLB Rants
‘Baby-bed’ launch of LB.com, 25 December 2008
This is the blawg: https://www.loyarburok.com/ The Lord is glad that the site is finally, albeit softly and simply, launched – yesterday – and up and running! Thank you all who made it, and to Seira and Sherrie (the S-ploited) who performed. The Lord’s cohorts spoke about the history, vision and work plan of LB.com which […]
Posted inSave The Children
Isu anak-anak muda JERIT: Hentikan penindasan rakyat tertindas
Terdapat beberapa pendapat dan ulasan dalam media massa baru-baru ini yang menyuarakan perasaan tidak menyelesakan berkenaan peranan seramai lebih dari 20 anak-anak muda JERIT yang telah mengayuh basikal-basikal mereka sempena kempen basikal JERIT ‘Rakyat Pengayuh Perubahan’. Pendapat-pendapat dan ulasan-ulasan ini telah menimbulkan perasaan yang amat tidak menyenangkan kerana ia sama sekali tidak memberi perspektif yang […]
Posted inTalking about Lawyers
Loyar Buruk Loyar Burok Loyar Beruk LB
Memang benar bahawa selalunya terdapat golongan kecil atau minoriti dalam setiap profesion yang akan memburuk-burukkan nama dan reputasi profesion tersebut. Tingkahlaku minoriti akan dilihat sebagai satu representasi profesion tersebut secara amnya.
Posted inSelected Exhortations
“Gay rights are simply the rights of gay persons to live in peace and dignity,…”: Gabrielle Chong
19-year old Gabrielle Chong won the first prize at the recently concluded Bar Council Public Speaking Competition held from 9 to 12 December 2008. She spoke passionately about the continuing marginalisation and discrimination of LGBTs, and moved the judges with her simple message delivering the essence of what it means to be human. Do also […]
Posted inJudging the Judges
The Judicial Appointment Commission – A Deformed Reform
I have said it a million times before and I will say it again. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi just loves establishing committees and commissions just as he loves leaving, and probably living, in a jet plane! At a whiff of an issue or matter which has the minutest semblance of a complication, no matter how simple […]
Posted inSelected Exhortations
“Democracy is more than the ritual casting of a ballot at multi-party elections. True democracy involves…”: Amos Kok
We applaud him, and in our hearts thank him for giving a reminder why many still shoulder on this struggle. As mentioned here, find the unplugged version of law student, Amos Kok‘s speech at the MALSA launch on 20 December 2008. Only minor editorial editions have been made to preserve the original message and tone […]
Posted inWomen Rule
Where have all the female heroes gone?
A 16 year-old girl was asked to name three female characters that she found inspiring. She quickly rattled off, “Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears.” Why? “Because they are pretty and boys love them.”
Posted inTalking about Lawyers
Beware, new collective in town – introducing MALSA!
20 December 2008 saw the launch of a new rights-based collective of law students. Numbering more than 100 already from over five private colleges, it will grow in strength very fast very soon.
Posted inJudging the Judges
Notes on a Talk by Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad
On 6 November 2008, the former Malaysian Chief Justice, Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, gave a talk titled ‘Harmonization of Common Law and Shari’ah in Malaysia: A Practical Approach’ at Harvard University in honour of Abd Al-Razzaq Al-Sanhuri, a highly respected Egyptian scholar and jurist. These were some of my notes and thoughts upon reading the speech. All Quranic translation are taken from the translation rendered Abdullah Yusuf Ali with his commentary; Published by Amana Corporation. Finally, though I make general references to Muslims and non-Muslims, I appreciate the hybrid nature of one’s personality and affiliations as posited by Edward Said, and my doing so is merely to facilitate directness of expression where thoughts of the interaction between the two social constructs are concerned.
Posted inTalking about Lawyers
Majlis Peguam dibubarkan menjadi parti politik?
Ia amat menyedihkan apabila kenyataan semacam ini oleh Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang dibuat, jika benar seperti dilaporkan lebih kurang 1 bulan yang lalu: The Bar Council should opt to dissolve itself if it wanted to dabble in politics. … He also advised Muslim lawyers in the country to be united as Muslims were “under […]
Posted inTry Me-lah
I.S.A. – Ikut Suka Aku, Ini Seksaan Aku
Rakus, kau perkosakan jiwa rakyat Kau rampas anugerah kurnian ilahi Apakah ertinya kebebasan dibawah belenggu kau Apakah ertinya kemerdekaan dibawah pengaruh kau
Posted inSelected Exhortations
Welcome Address to the Bar Council Human Rights Debate
An edited version of Mr. Edmund Bon’s opening speech at the inaugural Bar Council Human Rights Debate given on 9 December 2008. In his speech his explains the germination and eventual evolution of human rights and its development within the framework of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (‘UDHR’). He also discusses the qualities of human rights and deals with the cultural and political criticisms against human rights. Finally, he enjoins us to embrace human rights and use it as a weapon against oppression by government.
Posted inSelected Exhortations
Interview with LoyarBurokker Amer Hamzah Arshad
Amer Hamzah Arshad’s interview with Off the Edge for the December 2008 issue.