SOUL SCRIBBLES

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...