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By Ooi Kee Beng [This article was first published in The Edge Malaysia, Nov 26-Dec 2 issue] THE coming into being of a steady two-party system in Malaysia is often thought of as a necessary step in democratic development. But we have to remind ourselves that the process itself, the detailed dynamics of that transformation, … Continue reading
By Ooi Kee Beng, For ISEAS Perspective, SINGAPORE, 26 Nov 2012 INTRODUCTION Malaysia’s Parliament has to be dissolved by the end of April 2013, following which Malaysians must go to the polls within 60 days. Nothing significant about that, except that this 13th general election is a critical one which will decide how the country’s politics … Continue reading
By Ooi Kee Beng [Editorial in PENANG MONTHLY, Nov 2012] It is certainly true that never before in human history have so many been lifted out of poverty as has been the case in East Asia over the last few decades. The suggested reasons for these are many, though few easily agreed upon. In China, … Continue reading
By Ooi Kee Beng For PENANG MONTHLY, Oct 2012 Standfirst: Cheah Cheng Hye, alumnus of Penang Free School, has been called the Warren Buffett of the East. Although he claims that gives him way too much credit, the reasons why he is one of Asia’s most respected fund managers are many. For one thing, Value … Continue reading
By Ooi Kee Beng [Editorial in Penang Monthly, October 2012] One thing that strikes me when I travel from city to city nowadays is that the ones I enjoy most and have the fondest memories of are simply those that boast some huge and central public space where the local population – the citizens literally … Continue reading
By Ooi Kee Beng For THE EDGE, Malaysia (29 October 2012) Under the rubric of Nation-building, countries throughout modern times have been struggling to construct institutions that can safeguard national independence, bring economic growth, and create a harmonious society. Thus, small and new countries like Malaysia have been frantically trying to put their house into … Continue reading
By Ooi Kee Beng In Penang Monthly [December 2012] and in New Mandala, Australia National University, 26 September 2012 There is an anecdote told among close acquaintances of the late Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s feared and respected Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister in the early 1970s, that he once in confidence said … Continue reading
By Ooi Kee Beng For The Edge, Kuala Lumpur, 24 September 2012 Its very name is magic…Istanbul. All its old names are magic… Byzantium … Constantinople. They conjure images of ancient civilizations, always fighting each other, and sometimes enriching each other. But in the end, they had to merge to leave a skyline that fascinates … Continue reading
PENANG MONTHLY editor Ooi Kee Beng and Roketkini editor Wan Hamidi Hamid interview Professor Tariq Ramadan on the sidelines of the 3rd Penang in Asia Lecture organized by Penang Institute at the Traders’ Hotel, 17th July 2012. The writings of Tariq Ramadan have often been criticized for being contradictory, and in this conversation, they to … Continue reading
By OOI KEE BENG, Editorial in Penang Monthly, September 2012 The history of naming is an extremely interesting one that varies greatly from culture to culture. In some, surnames are important, in others, they are not even existent. In some, personal names were important, in some, less so. Let’s take the Chinese case. In ancient … Continue reading
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