| Zeffri Yusof is an ex-journo and all-round informavore. Zeffri believes in the force of Reason, human goodness and dignity, and the "machahood" of man. He's on and off on twitter.com/zeffri |
Not rising to the bait
August 25, 2011AUG 25 — Every time religious issues come up in public discourse for a sustained period of time, I can’t help but feel it’s all just misdirection.No, not in any conspiracy theory-sense; more of an escapist break from the hard truths that have to be dealt with in the here and now. Not in an afterlife.Truths like our quite severe brain-drain situation. Truths … Read More
We are the boss
July 13, 2011JULY 13 — As Malaysia takes in the aftermath of Bersih 2.0, a few things have been laid quite bare by events in our capital over the weekend.One — that tens of thousands of Malaysians can accomplish what most of us already know we’re capable of doing: unite for a common cause. And no, not necessarily a drummed-up one handed down from up top, but a … Read More
Strapping on quotas
June 28, 2011JUNE 28 — We sure do love our quota-based “fixes” over here, don’t we?The most recent being the announcement by the prime minister that corporate Malaysia will observe a 30 per cent women-in-the-boardroom quota by 2016.Yes, indeed. “Equality” by government-sanctioned allocation is our way forward, it would appear. Last I checked we don’t actually get to … Read More
Debates we’re not having
June 20, 2011JUNE 20 — This came up in conversation the other day: “As a society, are we progressing or regressing?”Let me qualify that. By progressing, I mean in the Enlightenment Philosophy sense: The idea that societies can and do improve in terms of their social, political and economic structures because people themselves make their own society by comprehending it … Read More
Some search but do not find
May 13, 2011MAY 13 — Dina Zaman’s recent piece on spending some time in an undisclosed Muslim commune in her intriguing Holy Men, Holy Women series really struck a chord with me.As a child of nine or 10, I recall following my father during my school holidays to stay at the Al-Arqam commune in Sungai Penchala. He described it as a place where the religious movement … Read More
Saya dan bahasa kebangsaan
April 01, 20111 APRIL — Saya terpanggil untuk berkongsi pandangan peribadi selepas membaca rencana bertajuk “Imperialisme bahasa Inggeris menghakis jati diri nasional” tempohari di ruangan “Breaking Views” The Malaysian Insider.Saya kira artikel tersebut memang menarik, penuh emosi (dalam ertikata terbaik) dan melambangkan penulisnya sebagai seorang advokat atau aktivis … Read More
Time for Malaysia’s secular discourse
March 18, 2011MARCH 18 — It’s been said that the measure of a dominant majority is in how it treats the minorities in its midst.Are they fair and just, benevolent and considerate in their dealings; or are they self-serving, aloof or even tyrannical when looking after their interests?In Malaysia, this distinction falls squarely on the Malay-Muslim majority as represented … Read More
Watson shows it’s time to take transhumanism seriously
March 01, 2011MARCH 1 — Last week, IBM’s Watson supercomputer triumphed convincingly in a three-episode televised matchup against two Jeopardy champions — Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter; the final result ending with a victory for Watson with US$77,147 (RM235,414) of earnings, besting Jennings who won US$24,000 and Rutter who won US$21,600.In a nod to Homer Simpson, … Read More
As pluralism, so does multiculturalism
February 22, 2011FEB 22 — There has been plenty of talk about religious pluralism in Malaysia of late – mainly about how it can’t and won’t work for us.Taking the cue from our PM and Islamic (albeit government-related) religious authorities, let me summarise it as such: tolerate each other’s religions — yes; respect each other’s religions — yes, but with conditions; accept … Read More
Moral Policing Subang Jaya (MPSJ)
January 19, 2011JAN 19 — What does it say when Muslims knowingly handle alcohol on the job? Only one of two possibilities: That they really don’t know (Jahil — which is rather hard to fathom in this day and age) or that they have somehow found a way to square it with their beliefs (or indeed, lack thereof).Question is, is preventing them from doing so any better? And if it … Read More
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