Editor's Note - Issue 2003:10

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Please support our work by buying a copy of our print publication, Aliran Monthly, from your nearest news-stand. Better still take out a subscription now.

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In our cover story, Terence Gomez discusses the rise and demise of many of Malaysia�s domestic capitalists spawned during the Mahathir years. Where have all of them gone, he asks. They either faded away when their political patrons disappeared or were removed from the scene. Yet another group of tycoons failed to survive the 1997 financial crisis due to their over-extended operations.

In a follow-up article, Sivarajan reports on the plight of 150 urban pioneers in Shah Alam who were ordered to vacate their premises without sufficient notice. Fortunately, Justice Suriyadi ruled the residents have equity over the land as they had worked and developed the area. Moreover, the developer had indirectly recognised this by offering the residents compensation of house rent.

Anil Netto wonders how a private Norwegian-based firm obtained the commercial rights to an improved breed of tilapia fish, which is widely farmed in the region. The selective breeding had been carried out by the Worldfish Center, now based in Penang, and was supposed to be in the public realm.

Fan Yew Teng and K George continue our discussion about the transition in political leadership. Fan challenges the new prime minister to get serious about corruption, which he has declared war against. The first step, Fan suggests, is to make the ACA truly independent.

Aliran�s oldest member, George, who at 80-plus is senior to Mahathir, jogs our memory about the antics of the former premier and is relieved that that era is over.

Finally, we present six pages of your letters, most of which are in response to our special issue on the Mahathir legacy. Keep those letters coming.