Author Archives: Tricia

I live in a cell

I live in a cell, There is no day or night, The floor is hard and cold, I fear I am getting old. I live in a cell, My bones feel chill and pain, My body is stiff and weary, … Continue reading

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A sea of yellow flowers

In the quiet night We ask ourselves Why fight the system strong? It’s big and bold and towers tall It’s been this way all along. We light our candles, Wave them high, Try to give hope in the dark, It’s … Continue reading

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Stand Watch

I have been rather affected by the arrest of Maria Chin Abdullah and the way in which she has been so wrongly incarcerated: in solitary confinement, a windowless cell, a plank of wood as a bed, two light bulbs that … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Poetry, Public Administration, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Why rallies matter

First published in theSun on 24 November 2016, here. In the lead-up to Bersih 5, many conversations with friends centred on whether there was any point in having street rallies. Many felt that despite large turnouts to such protests over … Continue reading

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Too good to be true

First published in theSun on 10 November 2016, here. Malaysia woke up last week to find that its government had signed not one, but 14 bilateral agreements with China worth RM144 billion in total, in addition to a RM55 billion … Continue reading

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Look at the estimates (or the budget speech is not the budget)

(First published in theSun on 27 October 2016 here). MUCH is made over the budget speech tabled by the prime minister in Parliament in October each year. And rightly so, since it is supposed to be the government’s financial blueprint … Continue reading

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Freedom to offend

(First published in theSun on 13 October 2016 here). THERE are many ways to think about freedom. If you live with your parents and your parents impose a curfew on you to come home by midnight, you might say that … Continue reading

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Why an independent MACC matters

(First published in theSun here, on 7 January 2016). OVER the last few months, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been one of the few government bodies undergoing tremendous pressure. Most recently, rumours circulated that its chief commissioner, Tan Sri … Continue reading

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Oil prices and a struggling budget

First published in theSun here, on 10 December 2015. THE 2016 budget came as a rude shock to some, since there were massive budget cuts in most of ministries, including education, energy, finance, urban wellbeing, housing and local government, as … Continue reading

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Governing GLCs in Malaysia

First published in theSun here, on 26 November 2015. LAST week, I was invited to speak at an OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) conference on the corporate governance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), or in Malaysian terms, government-linked companies … Continue reading

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