Category Archives: On the Beat

A craving for unworthy awards ( 17 May 2026 )

Mushrooming ‘recognition’: Malaysians are far too easily impressed by certificates, awards, plaques and honorary accolades, even when these honours are questionable, says the writer. — 123rf IF there is an award for an Asean member country with the highest number […] Continue Reading

Rain Rave’s success music to the ears ( 10 May 2026 )

Big win: The recent Rain Rave Water Music Festival 2026 attracted many international visitors and reportedly raked in RM200mil in tourism income. — GLENN GUAN/The Star THE Rain Rave 2026 Water Music Festival event in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, has […] Continue Reading

To poll or not to poll, that’s the question ( 03 May 2026 )

Unnecessary distraction: Having an election in these times of global turmoil is not prudent. — Filepic/The Star DESPITE continuous speculation that the general election could be held soon, there is actually no urgency for the unity government to call for […] Continue Reading

Real unity is by the roadside ( 26 April 2026 )

Beyond politics: What makes the story of Dicky Yau and Abang Usop particularly powerful is its authenticity. — Facebook/Agencies IT was certainly the news story of the week, and a really uplifting one. Scrolling through social media, it is always […] Continue Reading

Social media and the hijacking of facts ( 20 April 2026 )

At a time when anyone with a phone can publish ‘news’, unverified and often racially-tinged information are common. Being responsible when reporting news has become crucial. AS a new reporter who had just joined a newspaper in 1984, I was […] Continue Reading

When diesel is more than just fuel ( 12 April 2026 )

Power mode: The columnist on the way to Lusong Laku in Belaga, Sarawak, a few years ago. In Borneo 4WD vehicles are a vital form of transport. — Photos: GLENN GUAN/The Star IT’S always difficult to explain to many Peninsular […] Continue Reading

Did the US win anything in Iran? ( 05 April 2026 )

Still standing: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)is estimated to have more than 190,000 active personnel. — AFP US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States has won its war against Iran, and that the conflict could end […] Continue Reading

Hari Raya is about coming together ( 29 March 2026 )

Spirit of the season: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, who is well-known for his very muhibbah personality, with (from left) Datuk Kuik Cheng Kang (Group Editor In Chief, Media Chinese International Ltd), Datin Paduka Esther Ng (Chief […] Continue Reading

Oil price hike: Why Malaysia is coping better ( 22 March 2026 )

Blow softened: Subsidies are keeping petrol prices low in Malaysia – for now. — The Star THE conflict in the Middle East between the United States-Israel and Iran has thrown the rest of the world into serious disarray. We all […] Continue Reading