Aliran Monthly 33: 9 editor’s note: Higher food prices a key issue in Kajang by-election

The Kajang by-election on 23 March is fast approaching. And the higher cost of living, especially soaring food prices, is proving to be a major issue.

In our cover-story, Anil Netto suggests seven reasons why Malaysians are struggling to put food on the table – which could have a bearing on the outcome of the by-election.

The poll could be a game-changer but was the ‘Kajang Move’ a wise strategy? Azmil Tayeb analyses the backdrop. But wise or not, some quarters appear anxious to put Anwar away, notes P Ramakrishnan. There even seems to be exceptional interest in the government’s appeal against Anwar’s acquittal says Hishamuddin Yahaya.

Meanwhile, there are those who want to put away another opposition stalwart, Karpal Singh, laments Rama, who also wonders why no action has been taken against some real trouble-makers.

In these difficult times, we desperately need real statesmen, writes Henry Loh in our back-cover story. Malaysians must step up to the plate. Douglas Teoh says it is time we look beyond Mahathir’s Old Politics and he apologises to East Malaysians many of whom feel they have not been treated fairly.

If we don’t tackle some of these issues, more Malaysians might leave the country – an issue that Syerleena Abdul Rashid tackles in her article on Bangsa Malaysia and citizenship. In a separate piece, she says it is no point censoring critical views in this digital age when intellectual argument should be used to engage with the people.

Finally, a couple of readers, Henry Soon and Tih Seong Pin, have responded to our previous cover-story, ‘Education system in crisis?’ We feature their perceptive insights in our centre pages.