Much heated debate – including the memorable exchanges between Nazri and Mahathir – surrounded the Biro Tata Negara controversy. If Umno is not racist, why does it maintain an indoctrination agency like the BTN, wonders Stephen Tan Ban Cheng, in our cover story.
While all this was going on, Najib and his team continued to promote the 1Malaysia theme. CY peers into the past to deconstruct the 1Malaysia myth – is there space for honest debate and more open democracy, he wonders.
Some are putting a lot of hope in a two-party system, but that alone will not automatically solve the problems facing the nation, cautions Jeyakumar Devaraj. On the global stage, Farish Noor reminds us how neoliberalism and the “war on terror” system have worked together to terrorise the world.
For P Ramakrishnan, one regretful incident stands out in the year just completed – the cow-head protest. He points out that the majority of Malays are accommodating and peace-loving and do not subscribe to such intolerance.
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Many of us, however, are not particularly bothered about the Copenhagen climate change meeting. Angeline Loh laments the apathy towards environmental destruction and greenhouse gas emissions. To promote environmentally friendly transport options, cheahst has come up with some interesting alternatives for Penang.
Meanwhile, Khor Ai-Na, Akemi Utsumi and Terri Faust take a peek inside an institution for people with disabilities and learning problems and call for a change of attitude towards special education.
Finally, we wish all readers a happy New Year! Thank you all for your continuing support in the cause of justice.
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AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
