Category Archives: On the Beat
What should ‘Merdeka’ mean to us? ( 30 August 2026 )
Friends proudly waving the Jalur Gemilang as they make their way around their village near Bako, Kuching. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star NATIONAL unity may not be high on the agenda of some politicians these days who continuously play the race […] Continue Reading
Tabung Haji: A story of mismanagement ( 23 August 2026 )
For generations of Malaysian Muslims, Tabung Haji has been more than a financial institution. It is a trusted place to save for one of the most important journeys in their life – the pilgrimage to Mecca. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star […] Continue Reading
Beyond a symbol ( 21 August 2026 )
Shared identity: Our national flag is a reminder that despite our differences in race, religion, language, politics and background, we belong to the same nation. — Bernama THE National Day is a time when we come together in unity but […] Continue Reading
Stay the course, Mr Prime Minister ( 09 August 2026 )
Governing effectively: With more than one year to go, Anwar has to push through all the reforms, including the proposed laws pending in Parliament. — Bernama IT is only to be expected that the Prime Minister will now find himself […] Continue Reading
The misquote epidemic ( 03 August 2026 )
It’s not me, it’s AI: Politicians now have another entity to blame for their misguided statements: artificial intelligence. — Others IT is something politicians have been doing for a long time, not just in Malaysia but around the world. But […] Continue Reading
Dreaming in extra time ( 26 July 2026 )
Dream real: Hosting the biggest football tournament of the world is no longer simply about building a few stadiums; we need spectacular stadiums. Many Malaysians would rather the government take care of their rice bowl than chase after the World […] Continue Reading
Campaign season: The never-ending national sport ( 19 July 2026 )
Flag fatigue: As party banners replace World Cup flags, the columnist reckons voters are getting tired of politicians constantly ‘performing’ on the campaign trail rather than doing their job of governing. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star FATIGUE and irregular sleeping […] Continue Reading
The malaise of race politics ( 12 July 2026 )
Choosing wisely: Malaysian voters need to ask the right questions of their candidates. — Bernama WHEN the people of Johor went to the voting booths yesterday to cast their ballots, we can be certain the majority ignored the call by […] Continue Reading
Confessions of a durian season sinner ( 06 July 2026 )
Bumper problem: Many are finding it difficult to resist the scrumptious fruit during this Durian Tsunami, including the writer. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star THE past one month has been a very traumatic and sinful one for me. I feel […] Continue Reading
The waiter, the QR code and me ( 28 June 2026 )
Many restaurants in Malaysia are now using QR codes for food orders. — 123rf MALAYSIAN waiters are in danger of becoming an endangered species. The only ones still to be seen in most places are those from Myanmar. Many of […] Continue Reading




