A tale of two nails
The writer says: "The Nail Theory suggests a more rigid reality: power is a structure, and a specific position within a political party is a nail driven into that structure. This…
Philip Golingai
A strategic discussion in Malaysia’s Sabah
The writer says: "Ultimately, the question 'Why are we here?' was not for the six men to answer, but for Sabah voters to contemplate. It is the voters who must now carry the…
Sabah polls: Standing between emotion and logic
To win elections, political campaigns have to win people’s hearts. They must have compelling political narratives that connect with what voters care about and who they believe…
The power of one case
For a while, Zara Qairina’s death became one of the most consuming public issues in Malaysia. It was more than a news story; it became a national flashpoint, the writer says.
A different response
For the writer, it is not too late for big corporations to help people like his nephew Oliver, who lost the beautiful place he called home to a natural disaster.
The politics of protests
Intelligence officers and diplomats the writer spoke to agreed that the protests in Malaysia and Indonesia began as organic grassroots movements. However, they believe that…
Cynical use of genuine outrage
Zara Qairina’s case has taken on a life of its own, with a growing advocacy movement fighting for accountability and justice, while fake news fuels public outrage, the writer…
A call for justice hijacked
The case of 13-year-old girl Zara Qairina Mahathir who died on July 17, a day after falling from the third floor of her school dormitory in Papar, Sabah, is tragic indeed and the…
From solidarity to politics?
"When there’s a perceived failure by police, government agencies, or the education system, calls for justice can quickly shift from a purely humanitarian cause to a demand for…
The politics of outrage
Since Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has lost his post as PKR deputy president and quit as the Economy Minister, he is vocal in his criticism of his party’s government.