SOUL SCRIBBLES

There’s no real freedom of speech on social media when expressing an opinion means being attacked for it. Let’s be honest — social media isn’t a marketplace of ideas anymore. It’s a firing range. Post an opinion, question a statement, or even leave a polite comment, and you risk being bombarded with insults. I’ve been called names for simply commenting on other people’s postings. Not attacking anyone, not provoking — just expressing a view. That’s how low our online culture has sunk. Freedom of speech has turned into freedom to bash. People don’t want dialogue; they want dominance. They don’t debate ideas; they destroy reputations. It’s digital mob justice, and it thrives on likes, rage, and self-righteousness. We love to say “everyone is entitled to their opinion,” but only as long as that opinion agrees with ours. The moment it doesn’t, the claws come out. The hypocrisy is glaring — people shout about free speech while silencing others through harassment. Many stay silent not because...

Lately, I’ve been writing more obituaries than I’d like. I’ve never enjoyed it — especially when it means revisiting the life and memories of someone who’s no longer with us.   It always strikes me as odd that we save our kindest words for the dead, crafting heartfelt tributes to people who can no longer read or hear them. An obituary, of course, has its purpose. It tells the world someone has gone, sums up their life, and gives others a chance to grieve and remember.  But sometimes I wonder if we’ve made it too normal to express our love and appreciation only when it’s too late. We do the same thing with awards. How often have we seen “ posthumous recognition ” given to someone only after they’ve gone — when they can no longer savour the applause or feel the pride of being seen and valued? Why do we wait until death to celebrate what was so obvious in life? In Islam , we’re encouraged to speak well of the dead especially to remember their good deeds and forgive their shortco...

* Cabinet before (Rafizi and Ewon) resignations  It has been almost two years since Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became Prime Minister. His “unity government,” formed in 2022, was created out of necessity, not vision. Anwar has so far kept it together, but stability alone is not enough. The government now needs to deliver results. The current Cabinet, though broad, has become slow and less effective. Many Malaysians feel there is too much politics and too little action. With rising living costs and stalled reform promises, a Cabinet reshuffle is no longer optional; it is necessary. Malaysians want more than slogans. They want ministers who are capable, inspiring, and clear in explaining policies. Results must matter more than words. Replacing underperforming ministers with capable leaders from PH and UMNO would send a strong message, that the Prime Minister values competence over comfort. Reshuffling the Cabinet is not easy. Anwar must balance competing political interests within his c...

  Diplomacy is never just about policy. It is also about posture — how a nation carries itself before the world. Over the decades, Malaysia’s image abroad has been shaped by the very different personalities of its prime ministers. From Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj’s charm to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s idealism, each leader has left a mark — some uniting, some dividing, but all defining how the world sees us. Tunku Abdul Rahman wasn’t only Malaysia’s Father of Independence — he was its first diplomat-in-chief. His diplomacy was rooted in sincerity and friendship, not power. He believed in bridge-building, not confrontation. Under his leadership, Malaysia became a founding member of ASEAN in 1967 — proof of his vision for regional harmony. Tunku’s style was simple and human: win hearts first, negotiations later. He represented Malaysia with warmth, grace, and dignity — a leader who made diplomacy feel personal. It was Tun Abdul Razak Hussein who professionalised Malaysia’s foreign...

A recent social media thread debating who can or cannot use lifts sparked a wave of opinions — some practical, others defensive — and revealed much about our attitudes toward public courtesy. The question was simple: are lifts meant only for strollers, wheelchairs, and the elderly, or can the physically healthy use them too? The truth is straightforward — lifts are for everyone. But not everyone  needs  them equally. That’s where courtesy, or the lack of it, defines who we are as a society. We’ve all seen it before. The lift doors open, and a crowd rushes in before allowing others to step out. Young, able-bodied people push past parents with prams, senior citizens, or those with mobility aids — all because everyone’s in a hurry. There’s no rule forbidding the healthy from using lifts, but there’s an unspoken one about empathy and patience. Sadly, that’s the one we’ve forgotten. Choosing the stairs or escalator when we can isn’t a sacrifice — it’s a small act of consideration. ...

Donald Trump ’s upcoming visit to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN Summit is not just another headline — it’s a high-stakes test of diplomacy, restraint and regional relevance. For Malaysia , hosting the U.S. President is a diplomatic win. It reinforces our standing as a neutral and credible convener — able to bring the world’s major powers to the table without appearing to take sides. In a region increasingly shaped by U.S.-China rivalry , that balance matters more than ever. Trump’s presence offers ASEAN a rare opportunity to speak directly to Washington on issues that hit close to home — from U.S. tariff threats on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals , to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Malaysia has made clear that engagement with the U.S. does not mean endorsement of its Middle East policy. On the contrary, it provides a platform to press for moral accountability alongside economic stability. But there’s an elephant in the room. Trump is no ordinary statesman. His record of shooti...

When the government announced in Budget 2026 that RM600 million would be spent to restore Carcosa Seri Negara , reactions were swift — admiration from some, disbelief from others. It’s easy to see why. The figure sounds hefty when many Malaysians are struggling with high living costs and public institutions are pleading for funds. Yet dismissing the plan outright risks overlooking what Carcosa represents — a piece of Malaysia’s history slowly fading from memory. So, is the project worth it? That depends on how we define value — and whether Khazanah Nasional , tasked with leading the project, can make the restoration of more than a vanity exercise. Done right, it could deliver more than nostalgia. Restored heritage sites elsewhere have become powerful economic and cultural engines. Singapore’s Raffles Hotel and Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental attract visitors not just for luxury, but for legacy. Malaysia could do the same — blending heritage, commerce, and storytelling to create a dest...

As the state heads to the polls, Sabahans are asking a deeper question — will this election finally give them the dignity and autonomy they’ve long been promised? Every few years, Sabah becomes the darling of Malaysian politics. Suddenly, federal leaders descend on Kota Kinabalu with pledges of progress, promises of development, and talk of honouring the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). And every few years, after the ballots are counted, the attention fades. The roads remain uneven, rural schools still lack basic facilities, and the familiar feeling of neglect returns. This is the pattern Sabahans know all too well — a state rich in resources but poor in returns, abundant in political attention but short on sustained respect. But this coming state election feels different. Not because the names on the ballot are new, but because the political mood has changed. Younger Sabahans, in particular, are restless. They are better informed, more connected, and far less patient with empty rhetori...

  Reading has always been a quiet kind of magic in my life. Long before I understood its importance, books were already part of my childhood. My parents had a simple but thoughtful tradition — birthdays and special occasions often came wrapped not just in ribbons and paper, but in words and pictures. While some children unwrapped toys or gadgets, we often unwrapped books. Looking back, I realise just how deliberate and precious that was. The earliest gifts I remember were comics —  Beano  and  Dandy . Their cheeky characters, mischief, and slapstick humour filled our days with laughter. Each week’s issue was something to look forward to, and I would pore over the pages again and again until the corners curled and the colours faded. At Christmas and year’s end, the excitement was always doubled because of the annuals. Thick, colourful, and sturdy, they felt like treasure chests brimming with puzzles, stories, and illustrations. To me, those annuals were more than pres...

In Malaysia’s parliamentary system, we don’t vote directly for a prime minister — we vote for Members of Parliament. Then, the party or coalition with enough seats decides who gets the top job. That is why parties love to roll out their “prime minister candidate” before an election. A poster boy, if you will. In theory, it seems a smart move. Naming a PM candidate gives one, clarity where voters know exactly who they are    buying into; two, signals   unity where a single name shows the coalition can agree on something, which is no small feat these days; and three, creates a face for the campaign where a strong, popular candidate can carry the entire election. But let’s be honest: this is a gamble. A loved candidate can turn the tide but an unpopular one can drag the whole campaign down. Take GE14 in 2018. Pakatan Harapan’s masterstroke was naming Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as their PM candidate — at 92! Risky? Sure. But it worked. His name reassured fence-sitters, gave PH a...