TODAY Newspaper

With Malaysian politics on a knife’s edge, what challenges will Muhyiddin face?

By OOI KEE BENG, for TODAYONLINE, Singapore. 9 March 2020 If Malaysia’s new government under Muhyiddin Yassin is a solid one, then one could perhaps begin declaring a new era in the country’s politics.  But it is not, and it in fact depends heavily on parties like the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and the … Continue reading →

As another unstable coalition takes power, what does the future hold for Malaysian politics?

By OOI KEE BENG for TODAYONLINE, 2 March 2020 Muhyiddin Yassin has emerged as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister after a week of dramatic twists and turns among parliamentarians. He emerged the winner thanks to the coming together of three of the five Malay-based parties in the country, along with a coalition of Sarawak parties called … Continue reading →

Expect more mischief by Malaysian political elites unless there is a devolution of power

By OOI KEE BENG, for TODAYONLINE, Singapore, 26 FEBRUARY, 2020 The grab for power attempted over the period of Feb 22 to 24 at Malaysia’s centre of power was a totally elite enterprise. It was a game of numbers among parliamentarians done behind locked doors. This caught everyone not involved in the plotting by surprise. … Continue reading →

The Khat Controversy in Malaysia — A Dicey Storm in a Massive Teacup

Racializing the Un-racializable: What is the Red Shirt Rally All About?

By OOI KEE BENG For TODAY NEWSPAPER SINGAPORE, 28 September 2015 Following the Red-Shirt rally in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 16, discussions have been rife that the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak was “playing the racial card” to bolster support and to distract the public, especially its Malay supporters, from distressing issues at hand. … Continue reading →

Why ASEAN’s Integration is through the Economic Route

BY OOI KEE BENG TODAY NEWSPAPER, SINGAPORE 28 OCTOBER 2015 Just 20 months short of turning half a century old, the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) will officially become an integrated community. On Dec 31 this year, rotating ASEAN chair Malaysia will declare this to be the case. The integration has essentially been and … Continue reading →

A vortex of its own making threatens Malaysia

By OOI KEE BENG for TODAY, Singapore. 10 January 2014 TO EVERY major flow of events, there is always a backflow, and the stronger that major flow, the greater the backflow. But unlike with water, social flows are not so easily read and one can easily mistake major flows for backflows, and vice versa. In … Continue reading →

Can the MCA reinvent itself?

By OOI KEE BENG, for TODAY Newspaper, Singapore: 30 December 2013 Finally, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) is displaying signs that it now realizes what a sorry state the once powerful party now finds itself in. This it managed to do at the party elections held on 21-22 December. In the general elections held in … Continue reading →

Navigating Malaysian politics’ hall of mirrors

By OOI KEE BENG For TODAY Newspaper, Singapore: 12 December 2013 The art of studying Malaysian politics is about hearing the signals despite of the noise; this is not always easy because the noise is always so much louder. To switch metaphor, it is more like being in a room full of mirrors. To keep … Continue reading →