The columnist offers ideas on how to improve and increase the use of Bahasa Malaysia in vernacular and private schools.

THERE’S a Malay saying that goes like this: “Seperti kera mendapat bunga”. Literally, it translates as “like a monkey getting a flower”.

THERE seems to be a lot of interest in the public domain about Malaysian academia after a social media-loving French professor questioned the scholarship of a paper submitted to a journal by an academician from a Malaysian public university.

FOR this nation of ours to progress, what do we need?

AS this new year shuffles in – and as with every new year that comes around – I feel a bit of despair and a mountain of hope, all at the same time.

AS 2023 draws to a close, many of us are no doubt reflecting on what happened this year in our lives, perhaps seeing some resolution, maybe even making plans for 2024.

RECENTLY, at a forum organised by a news portal, one of the panel­lists, a veteran editor from that portal, gave Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a grade of D- in evaluating his first year as PM. Before that, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin gave Anwar a B-.

AS empathetic people everywhere – including in Malaysia – reel from the devastating impact of the Israel-Hamas war, a letter from the Mufti of Singapore shines a light on the path to the truest form of spiritual understanding. Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir wrote to the republic’s Chief Rabbi, Mordechai Abergel, on Oct 13, following the outbreak of hostilities on Oct 7.

TWO things that happened last week prompted this column’s subject matter today.

AT a recent forum on unity and harmony in Malaysia held at my university in collaboration with the National Unity Department, I made a statement that came as a surprise to many including the other panellists present.

A NEW semester has begun in most public universities, so in today’s column, I would like to share my educational experiences with new students streaming into their campus life stage of adulthood.

A FEW weeks ago, I was invited by a local private university to deliver the keynote speech in a scientific conference.