Category Archives: General Politics

Catalonia’s lessons on federalism

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Tricia

(First published in theSun on 11 October 2017, here). ON Oct 1, the Spanish region of Catalonia – in which its capital Barcelona is located – held its second independence referendum in three years. The Catalan government announced that the official … Continue reading →

Posted in Federalism, General Politics, Public Administration, Selangor | Leave a comment

An Open Letter to Dato’ Seri Najib Razak

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Tricia

First published on the IDEAS website on 4 August 2017 here. Dear Sir, Last week you gave an outstanding speech to international investors at the Invest Malaysia 2017 conference. I am sure many were impressed with the economic achievements that have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, General Politics, Public Administration | Leave a comment

The next govt’s reform agenda

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 20 July 2017, here. SUDDENLY it is election season again, with political parties optimising on the month-long Raya celebrations to test the waters of which leaders attend whose open houses. Of course, the most significant development … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Ethno-Religious Politics, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Integration the world over

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 16 March 2017, here. IN August 2015, I visited France at a time when the Syrian refugee crisis was just unfolding, causing much uncertainty and consternation. The discussions I had with academics and policy analysts … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethno-Religious Politics, General Politics, Human Rights, Language, Liberalism, Outside Malaysia, Religion | Leave a comment

Minorities in an age of distrust

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Tricia

(First published in theSun newspaper on 1 October 2015, here). OVER the last week I spent in Paris under invitation of the French Foreign Ministry, almost every academic and official I met raised the refugee crisis and migration as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethno-Religious Politics, Religion | Leave a comment

Whose cause is Bersih’s?

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 3 September 2015, here. MANY of my urban, middle class friends and relatives went for their first ever rally last weekend, joining tens of thousands on the streets of Kuala Lumpur in a festive parade, … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Elections | Leave a comment

A prime minister’s powers

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 13 August 2015, here. THE news of the prime minister having removed the attorney-general and deputy prime minister; promoting the Public Accounts Committee chairman; and transferring several Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers shocked many people. … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, General Politics, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Nothing to hide

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Tricia

(First published in theSun on 11 June 2015, here). IN our A-Level English literature classes, we used to describe Shakespearean comedy as “someone else’s tragedy”. Such is the case of the most recent public relations disaster to have befallen our … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Economics, General Politics, Transparency and Good Governance | Leave a comment

Remembering the Tunku

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 12 February 2015. “IT was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, General Politics, Reflections, The Cause | Leave a comment

All policy is local

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 29 January 2015. EARLIER this week, the PAS president’s statement that local council elections would eventually lead to racial riots raised ire among civil society, as well as members of his own coalition party member, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethno-Religious Politics, Federalism, Public Administration | Leave a comment