There is no doubt that Indonesia’s Muslim leanings have shifted to a more intolerant state from where they were 10 years ago. One needs only to see the recent turmoil to understand the gravity of this shift: the explicit acceptance of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the massive turnout at the divisive 4/11 and 2/12 rallies last year and the support by many for FPI leader Rizieq Shihab’s aggressive and demeaning description of Christians is a small sample of many indications.

Do I see rainbow in the sky With droves of birds flying by? Do I see a lush greenery Flora and fauna of sheer beauty? Do I see rich traditions From ancient civilisations? Do I see children playing together Of various races and gender? Do I see a true democracy With freedom of speech and assembly? Do I see honest leaders The nation’s burden on their shoulders? Do I see neither corruption Nor radical race and religion? Do I see high integrity No abuse of power and authority? Do

Islam [seyogia] dipahami sebagai ajaran yang terkait dengan konteks zaman dan tempat. Perubahan waktu dan perbedaan wilayah menjadi kunci untuk kerja-kerja penafsiran dan ijtihad. Dengan demikian, Islam akan mampu terus memperbarui diri dan dinamis dalam merespon perubahan zaman. Selain itu, Islam dengan lentur mampu berdialog dengan kondisi masyarakat yang berbeda-beda dari sudut dunia yang satu ke sudut yang lain. Dengan kemampuan beradaptasi kritis inilah sesungguhnya Isla

KUALA LUMPUR: A group has launched a call to push for the Rukunegara to be the preamble to the Federal Constitution. The initiative aims to advocate for the objectives and the principles of the declaration to be used as a guide in public policies and law making. Championed by a group of civil society leaders, the initiative is also known as Rukunegara Sebagai Mukadimah Perlembagaan (RMP). The initiative’s chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar said Rukunegara had been sidelined over th

Commentaries on a coherent foreign labour policy have again emerged in the last few weeks. The common consensus is that Malaysia does require foreign workers, but there needs to be a holistic policy that has certainty to enable planning by employers. It should also be consistent as flip-flops are costly to businesses. The policy should be for the longer term to ensure labour supports sustainable economic growth. Recent measures on foreign labour, especially for unskilled work

Tributes to Tan Sri Adenan Satem, the late Sarawak chief minister, are still pouring in. The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) is saddened yet humbled to be adding to the outpouring of grief as not only the people of Sarawak but the whole nation mourn a great and trusted elder. No leader has had such an impressionable impact, even if only briefly, on our lives in a long time. Selfless parents who are proponents of the importance of the English language heaved a sigh of