Civilpoint.net is a blog on current insights into politics, culture and economics in asia and the pacific. We focus on issues of built environment, people's empowerment, civil society, law and governance.our objective is to develop sustainable solutions to these issues through shared knowledge and experiences. We also hope to build democratic alliances and social networks among people who envision changes through democratic processes, in particular civil society initiatives.
The Pinang Express - Pancho'
With the rise in status of Penang's Jawi Peranakan or Jawi Pekan for short, a hybrid community of urban Malays born and raised in George Town, Melaka or Singapore, the word pancho' (glottal; formal; pancor) has almost disappeared from Penang's Malay colourful vocabulary, relegated to elderly ladies who hunt for the pancho' several times at kenduris. The word pancho' caught on a century ago when pipe water took the place of the well and portable water. These days, terms which are used for 'the lavatory', founded in Queen's English, are varied and depends on where these urban Malays were educated. Those back from London prefer to say, 'Got to pee',...
To Be A "British Muslim"
Recently i met up with my niece working in Manchester and she said that the term "British Muslim" cropped up after 9-11 when 'Muslims' were removed from the general category of "Asian" and made to account for their loyalties to Britain. Hence if you are a British Muslim are you more loyal to your newly found nation-state or are you more loyal to your religion which opposes Western values and culture. She was a moderate Muslim with a passion for work life in Manchester where she was doing well and of course had loyalties to Britain and privately to her religion. The term 'British Muslim" however makes public the inherited faith of Muslims....
Galas & Sapi- What Do They Have In Common?
Malaysia conducted two by-elections on the 4th of November, on e in the state of Kelantan, at Galas in the heart of the endangered almost wiped out tiger country and the other at Batu Sapi, in the Bajau , Suluk and Orang Sungei heartland of Sabah. The former has always been a safe seat for PAS, which conducts old fashion "we live with you and suffer with you underdevelopment" politics-good politicians among good simple folks who have so far not demanded anything more than the occasional plate of fried rice and rose syrup during an election trail. How did the National Front or Barisan Nasional, predicted to die an unholy death in Kelantan and Sabah seize the reins of power again? ...
Citizenry and Value-Added Ethnicity, Global
In Malaysia, there is a growing debate on whether a citizen should regard her/himself as a Malaysian first and Malay, Chinese or Indian later. I had always regarded myself as a Malaysian with a vague hybrid ethnicity which is endangered. I sent my children to a school which were truly Malaysian, the Penang Free School, which may have emphasised more on the English speaking Malaysian hybrid but at least did not harbour ethnocentrisms of the last century. By the way, Italians in America do not go to Italian schools and the Chinese in America do not go to Chinese schools. They go to American schools and the second generation becomes American by virtue of their free communication in American....
The New Economic Model (NEM), Malaysia
The international media has given good coverage to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s unveiling of the New Economic Model which is actually a critique of the New Economic Policy, introduced by his father Tun Abdul Razak, after the 1969 racial riots in Kuala Lumpur. After 40 years, a very prominent Malay middle-class has emerged in Malaysia, one that is still dependent on employment in the public services and professional sector but gaining strength in the private. However other ethnic communities have gained resourcefulness in the private and have advanced human capital to a level of global competitiveness. Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said that the bumiputeras (indigenous people) will be assisted in terms of capacity-building, to reach a level playing field as other communities but meritocracy ...
