Jeyakumar Devaraj explains why he can’t support Najib’s Budget. While the PM’s slogan that the people should come first sounds good, it is not going to happen under an economic strategy that puts the interests of corporations in the forefront. 

In our cover story, Sheridan Mahavera explores federal-state relations in relation to Sarawak and Sabah. The people of these two states have to believe that there is hope, not only for change through the ballot box but for a better shared destiny between east and west Malaysia. Sheridan follows up by interviewing political economist Andrew Aeria , who speaks frankly about the divide between east and west and suggests what can be done to overcome it.

Aliran welcomes the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision declaring that the Kota Siputeh seat has been vacated. In doing so, the High Court has upheld the interpretation of the Speaker of the Kedah state assembly that under Article 51 of the Kedah Constitution the incumbent assembly member for Kota Siputeh Abu Hassan Sarif was no longer an assembly member.

In reviewing a new book by Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj’s new book, Francis Loh questions whether the impetus for change should come from a worker-based socialist movement or a broad-based popular democratic alliance.

The key to understanding the long-term structural causes of the present crisis lies in the nexus between economic inequality, debt and financial explosion, writes Michael Lim Mah Hui . �

Training the spotlight on the Barisan, Martin Jalleh feels the MIC does not have much of a future, thanks to its long-serving president, Samy Vellu, who could sink the party along with himself. 

The Prophet's display of respect and co-existence is a model that has become sorely lacking in many parts of the world, says Hisham al-Zoubeir .

The Prime Minister has been touting his 1Malaysia slogan. But can we co-exist as one when irreversible damage has been done, wonders Fathol Zaman Bukhari.

Pas has been in the headlines of late for all the wrong reasons. The party needs to understand that we live in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious Malaysia where no single religion can be forced down the throats of everyone. Nonetheless, Farish Noor thinks the party still has a key role to play in determining the future of Malaysia and the development of democracy in the country.

As governments from around the world convened for the third annual Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in Athens, Greece on 4-5 November, many in the civil society sector continue to question the credibility of the forum as a valid platform capable of producing beneficial change for migrant workers. As a regional network, Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility Asia (CARAM Asia) stands resolute in its criticism of the current structure that continues to operate outside ..

Aliran condemns the Home Ministry’s recent action to reportedly cancel next year’s publishing permit of the Catholic multilingual weekly newspaper, The Herald , as it violates the principle of freedom of expression and of religion in the country.  The serious implication of this reported cancellation is that the democratic right of a religious group to communicate with its own members through its religious organ has been denied and breached. Equally worrying is that this move comes in the ..

Anil Netto looks at the Pakatan Rakyat economic orientation and questions whether its pro-business policies are compatible with pro-people sustainable development.

It appears that the Opposition can only win Round 1! Whether it is the Kampung Buah Pala case, or Nizar’s case involving the Perak crisis or Anwar’s case with regard to getting the vital evidence for his defence - that seems to be the case! In all these instances, the High Court had shown a lot of wisdom, had taken the pain to understand the issues concerning these cases, and had delivered well-reasoned judgments that were impressive and well received by the people at large.

The legitimately elected but illegally ousted Perak Menteri Besar, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, has applied for a full quorum of 11 Federal Court judges to hear his appeal tomorrow. A majority of Malaysians would support this application not only in the interest of justice but also because they want to see the return of confidence in the judiciary. They want the judiciary to be rescued from the doldrums and regain its former glory as a beacon of justice for all Malaysians.

Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj explains in Parliament why he is worried about the Budget's neo-liberal trend, including the ongoing shift towards regressive taxation and another round of 'liberalisation' and privatisation.  

Fan Yew Teng takes issue with Muhyiddin’s recent outburst; what a stark contrast to Umno founder Onn Jaafar, who was more inclusive and open, he observes.

Looking back at the Abolish ISA rally, Ravinder Singh Dhaliwal, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and Stephanie Bastian pay tribute to these unsung Legal Aid lawyers who secured the early release of those detained during the rally.  

In pushing for meritocracy, we have to be careful that we do not entrench the reproduction of privilege especially in university entrance exams, writes our special correspondent . 

K atrina Jorene Maliamauv reflects on the brutal death of a domestic worker, Mautik Hani, at the hands of callous employers. Mautik had dreams to chase; questions to ask; memories to share. Her life has been snuffed out now ... but do Malaysians care?

Law and order have completely broken down in the Perak State Assembly. What we are witnessing today is a farce that has brought down the dignity of the State Assembly. This may be the first occasion in the entire history of parliamentary democracy when two separate Assemblies have met under one roof simultaneously presided over by two Speakers, with two different agendas tabled and debated.