Analysis

Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy faces a defining test as the courts decide whether the King’s explicit clemency directives — recorded in the Royal Addendum — were faithfully implemented or quietly diluted.

After a week of submissions, Najib Razak’s defence team dismantled the prosecution’s claims, exposing contradictions, hearsay evidence and glaring double standards — from the verified Saudi donation to the real culprits who remain free.

In Part 1 of this series, we confronted the horror, heartbreak, and public outrage following the recent cases of violence and school bullying here in Malaysia. In Part 2, we look beyond the grief — at the conversations, workshops, and quiet courage of teachers and parents trying to heal a wounded system. From the UNITAR–JPN mental-health session to real stories from classrooms and homes, this is where empathy meets action.

School bullying has long crossed the line from childish cruelty to a national crisis. As a mother of four sons — two of whom are neurodiverse — and as a journalist, I can no longer read these stories with newsroom detachment. Every headline feels like a wound. Tears flow when I am writing this.

As street demonstrations go, Saturday’s ‘Turun Anwar’ (Remove Anwar) rally may not have the numbers as the country’s ICERD protest in 2018, or the street demos in Bangkok, Jakarta or Manila. But whether it was 100 people in various shades and sizes, or half a million who braved the heat, haze and later, rain, like it or not, it should be a watershed moment for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) folks, especially for their leader, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim.

The US presidential election results may surprise you or, as with this writer, not. But what made Americans go back to Trump, that orange guy who had a shot at one term and did badly enough to not get second term?

We are the greatest nation in the world, says the leaders in the USA all the time. But is it for real?

The talk that BlackRock is involved in the buying of Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad’s shares got many restless on their posterior. Why the uneasiness?

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed Malaysia’s intention to seek accession with the BRICS economic grouping. The announcement brought excitement and consternation concurrently to Malaysians. Let’s dissect why the news brought the feeling of excitement and dread simultaneously to Malaysia.

Attending the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is a rite of passage for young Malaysians to make their first step into adulthood and working life. But, the announcement of 2023 SPM results caught Malaysians off guard with as many as 10,000 students absent from the titular exam. Let's dissect into this worrying phenomenon.

The long speculated end to fuel subsidy is here. Well, almost. The end of blanket diesel subsidy in Peninsular Malaysia comes with trepidation, as the rationalisation is long overdue. Yet, the years of delay in the rationalisation may have structurally weakened the nation's economy. The big-bang approach to rationalise the diesel subsidy too is worrisome, as there may not be adequate room for Malaysian businesses, be they micro-SME or SME, to land on their two legs.

Even if the Agong's Decree on house arrest for Najib lies hidden forever, the Pardons' Board letter dated 29 January 2024 on halving of 12 year jail sentence 'without remission' mentioned, exists!