Category Archives: Public Administration

Fighting corruption a decade later

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 5 January 2017, here. THE beginning of the year is as good a time as any to reflect upon the direction the country is heading towards. Ten years ago, Malaysians were just beginning to appreciate … Continue reading →

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

Walkway of Shame

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Tricia

All we know is “one worker”, We don’t know your name, “From Vietnam” to KL, The city of shame. You gave up your life For some eco construction, And instead what it gave you Was death and destruction. Who were … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Men in Blue

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Tricia

Men in Blue, Your main duty is to Keep the streets clear of crime. Instead, you strike fear, And to us it is clear, It’s not the best use of your time. Men in Blue, We know that you act … Continue reading →

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

Bijan the Clown

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Tricia

Once in a land, There lived a funny man, Who wore a jewel-studded crown. But he was afraid of balloons, And even of cartoons, His name was Bijan the Clown. He tried hard to be brave, But he was just … Continue reading →

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

A Black, Slimy Creature

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Tricia

There’s a black, slimy creature, That eats away at your soul, It’s a muddy, slippery thing, That so quickly gets out of control. The creature begins its life humble, Presenting itself with a smile, You allow it to feed on … Continue reading →

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

Stand Watch

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Tricia

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

Opening up budgets

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Tricia

(First appeared in theSun newspaper on 17 September 2015, here). THE Auditor-General’s Office has found massive discrepancies in government spending for the longest time. While it is excellent that the auditor-general boldly reveals this year after year, it is important … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Society, Economics, Public Administration, Transparency and Good Governance | 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

Why media freedom matters

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 30 July here. THE three-month suspension of The Edge Financial Daily and The Edge Weekly newspapers by the Home Ministry is a chilling reminder of a government that silences any form of critical questioning. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Culture, Literature, 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