| Brian Yap is a journalist who writes from the place where politics, the arts and technology meet. web.me.com/brianyap |
So who’s the controversial one?
July 31, 2009JULY 31 — Does it not strike anyone as strange that a filmmaker best known for making some of the most popular and memorable television commercials that touched on themes like love, respect and tolerance is considered controversial?Meanwhile, those who preach racial supremacy, or wield the keris at a political assembly, or try to turn the death of a young … Read More
A powerful force called death
July 24, 2009JULY 24 — For all the hype about the cultural and political impact of social networking technologies like Facebook and Twitter, the age-old phenomenon of death remains the most powerful, galvanising force.After all, despite the fawning the world has recently expressed over Michael Jackson, the truth remains that he was widely derided both personally and … Read More
Time all parties got their act together
July 17, 2009JULY 17 — If it wasn't already obvious before, the events of the past year or so have surely made it clear to most Malaysians — elections have consequences.Some consequences are obvious and direct. Like, say, the fact that Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is no longer Prime Minister. Others are more subtle and incidental. For instance, the current prime … Read More
Top Umno leaders lack humility and good judgment
July 10, 2009JULY 10 — The recently deceased Robert McNamara was long despised as the architect of the Vietnam War. In his later years, however, the former US Defence Secretary slowly redeemed himself, both for his work in global poverty reduction as head of the World Bank, as well as his admission to mistakes in the handling of the war.This isn't about Robert … Read More
That which defines us
June 25, 2009JUNE 25 — There are two things that I believe define Malaysia fairly well: our food and the civil service. The former is a source of pride, unity and identity. The latter, well, is the opposite.Malaysians, young and old, have no problems finding something to be critical of. Put a few Malaysians together, and before long the conversation inevitably leads … Read More
English debate: Focus on the facts and figures
June 18, 2009JUNE 18 — The way debates about issues of national interest tend to go off tangent, it's really no surprise why Malaysia remains unable to overcome so many of our biggest challenges. Take, for instance, the perennial debate about the role of the English language in our education system.As with any debate, it is only possible to proceed when there is a … Read More
Pearls for LKY to take home
June 12, 2009JUNE 11 – For all our silly posturing and lame jokes about one another, only those blinded by knee-jerk nationalism can deny that Malaysia and Singapore are inextricably linked.Our ties go deeper than the fact that we both find Phua Chu Kang funny (well, some of us do, anyway), and certainly deeper than the fact that both nations lived under the rule of … Read More
Time running out for newspapers
June 04, 2009JUNE 4 — Faced with a perfect storm of a global economic crisis, dwindling readership and advertising, and an inability to monetise their online efforts, newspapers all over the world are facing challenging times.In the US, the situation is particularly dire. From national institutions like the New York Times to mid-sized publications like the Christian … Read More
Who’s afraid of whom now?
May 28, 2009MAY 28 — Fear is something Malaysians know well, even if most of us do not regularly wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat.For decades, the ISA kept us in fear. Even though only a few of us have ever had to go through the ordeal that is detention without trial, the chilling effect of the law on our society was obvious and far … Read More
Minimise our differences, not perpetuate them
May 21, 2009MAY 21 — When Hindraf first gained national prominence, the movement was greeted with some voices of apprehension from various commentators, activists and politicians.Not all were reacting out of fear of the movement as a political threat. Even those who were empathetic to Hindraf's cause felt uncomfortable with the racial nature of the movement. The way … Read More
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