Episode description: Ethnonationalism, religious nationalism, neo-fascism and other forms of right-wing and ultra conservative populist movements are on the rise, in Malaysia and across the globe.

From the growing popularity of PAS and Perikatan Nasional in Malaysia, Narendra Modi and his Hindu Nationalist project in India, to strongman Donald Trump or the Evangelical Christians of the Republican Party in the US, and the anti-immigration Marine Le Pen in France, the list goes on and on. This has led to massive polarisation across ethnic and religious lines.

While each country and region has its own unique historical and sociopolitical contexts, one can’t help but wonder what are the parallels that can be drawn. Why are we polarised and could class struggle be a remedy? We speak to Assistant Professor Peter Beattie, Political Economist and Political Psychologist, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

The link takes you to a nitter copy (it works again!) But in case elon kasi dia koyak lagi: https://twitter.com/egasmb/status/1691789735142772893?t=k-c2L84nIEkJN3yVZ0Jfog&s=19

And it's qt another thread of his, and basically... It's no contest syiok/shiok/syok comes from Malay, but where did Malay got it? Apparently by way of Persian and it still exists in Malay, as "asyik".

Pretty cool stuff!

Interactive piece. Pretty cool. (The Star btw introduced some dumbass jscript -I think - to disable ppl highlighting and copying their text. For reasons of.... Tak nak orang promote their journalism? IDK)

Speaking in fluent Malay and throwing in a few English terms, the confident Ardi is among the few older members in the Men-raq team, most of whom are in their 20s.

The team leaders recently won the IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award 2023, the first time that a Malaysian team has won.

The award, which is in its third year running, is held in conjunction with World Ranger Day on July 31. This year, there were 114 nominations from 52 countries. The Menraq received the US$10,000 (RM45,495) award for exemplary achievement in community-led conservation of tigers.

The team’s win, which was announced during an online ceremony on July 26, earned praise from the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who extended his congratulations and deepest appreciation to every member of the patrol unit.

The award, hosted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) specialist group, recognises the remarkable work of rangers in protected areas around the world.

The Jahai people, explains Ardi, has lived in Royal Belum for generations.

“And I believe that we should be responsible for the well-being of this forest. No one else should be on the Menraq team but us,” he says.

Ardi hopes that his children as well as those of his community members will carry on the work in the future.

“It is our hope that our children would want to carry the same responsibility as their fathers. Being able to protect this forest is what is in our blood and we are proud of what we are doing,” he says.

While once again I am in clown mode, politely asking yet another twitterati if they have a non-twitter copy, while Elon breaks the Nitter hookup again, I guess I'll just manually copy and paste

💀Slimmest majorities at PRN 2023💀

245 DUNs were contested.

26 of them (10%) were won with majority < 1000. Insane!

In all these DUNs, the thousands who didn't vote could have changed the result.

If you can, vote. You never know when your area will go wild.

It's crazy, they only got a week of cinema time! But please, if you're in Malaysia, please do catch it - last day of screenings is apparently tomorrow!

Synopsis: …starring Chen Keat Yoke, Eric Chen, Sam Chong, Rabbit Chen and Fabian Loo. Only in Malaysian cinemas 10 August 2023. Hungry Ghost Diner is a family-friendly film, which explores the heartfelt meaning behind the Hungry Ghost Festival through the eyes of its intrepid protagonist Bonnie Lam who discovers that her family’s coffee shop is haunted by ghosts of her dead relatives returning for the annual Ghost Festival at rural Behrang Stesen, Perak.

Ungated

First Solar, a leading U.S. solar panel manufacturer, said on Tuesday that an audit by the company had found that migrant workers in its operations in Malaysia were victims of forced labor.

The internal audit, which was included in a corporate sustainability report, found that four subcontractors in Malaysia had charged the workers recruitment fees in their home countries and withheld their pay and passports.

U.S. officials and human rights activists have become increasingly concerned about the use of forced labor in the manufacture of solar panels, most of which takes place in Asia.

Global supply chains for solar panels have for years relied on China, in particular for polysilicon, a crucial component in most solar panels made around the world. But a recent ban on products from Xinjiang, a region where the U.S. government and United Nations accuse the Chinese government of committing human rights violations, including forced labor, has led to a shift away from China.

[...] Still, Ms. Murphy said that there was a key difference between forced labor issues in Southeast Asia and in Xinjiang, where the Chinese government prevents companies from doing the type of audit First Solar had conducted.

“What First Solar has done is the critical due diligence that all companies need to do around the world to ensure they are identifying and remediating forced labor in their supply chains,” Ms. Murphy said. “It does happen, and companies have to be on the lookout for it.”

In addition to Malaysia, First Solar has factories in Ohio and Vietnam. The company is rapidly expanding its manufacturing operations, including the construction of a research and development center in Ohio and by building factories in India, Alabama and Louisiana.

cross-posted from: https://monyet.cc/post/295301

Hmm

Hmm

So...what should we do? Newer comm seems uninterested to reply to comments bringing up this point, but if you thank them for their posts they're very gracious

cross-posted from: https://monyet.cc/post/262903

The Malaysia 2023 state elections happening in Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Terengganu, Selangor and Negri Sembilan. This post will bring you coverage of the election day, and will be updated from time to time, with fluff pieces cut out and summarised.

Voting will start from 8am and close at 6pm.

News Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/941653/live-updates-2023-state-elections

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6.25pm: Polling centres for six state polls, KT by-election closed, vote-tallying process begins

ll 3,190 polling centres for the state elections in six states and 41 others for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, which were opened from 8am today, were closed at 6pm.

Depending on the number of voters, several centres began to close in stages from as early as 1pm before polling ended at 6 pm.

Once the voting centres closed, all the ballot boxes were taken to the 186 vote tallying centres and the official results will be announced by the Election Commission tonight.

6.17pm: Sanusi revealed his ballot paper before placing it in box. Sanusi, who is also Perikatan Nasional election director, committed the act at a polling centre at SK Bandar Baru Beris Jaya, Jeniang, at 11am earlier today.

6.02pm: EC starts counting early votes for 6 states, Kuala Terengganu by-election. The counting process was broadcast live on the Election Commission's (EC) Facebook since 4pm today.

5.56pm: Four polling centres closed in Selangor as of 2pm. According to the Selangor state Election Commission office, the four respective seats are Sungai Air Tawar (N.01), Kuala Kubu Baharu (N.06), Permatang (N.09), and Ijok (N.11).

5.35pm: Pas leadership will submit the name of three potential candidates for the Kelantan Menteri Besar post to the president after the state election results are announced tonight.

5.18pm: Four states record voter turnout of over 60 pct at 4pm

Terengganu is the only state where the voter turnout has reached 70 per cent as of 4pm.

The EC in their latest update said four states have recorded a turnout of over 60 per cent.

They are Kedah (68 per cent), Pulau Pinang (67 per cent), Selangor (65 per cent) and Negri Sembilan (62 per cent).

5.00pm: Young voters embrace democracy by fulfilling civic duty to vote

More than 50 per cent of the 9.67 million eligible voters in the six state elections held in Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan and Selangor are youths aged 39 years and below, with 661,905 between 18 and 20 years old; 2.16 million between 21 and 29; and 2.16 million aged 30 to 39.

4:40pm: In its latest update, the Election Commission indicated that the highest voter turnout was recorded in Terengganu at 64 per cent.

Following closely were Kedah (63 per cent), Penang (60 per cent), Selangor (58 per cent), Negri Sembilan (56 per cent) and Kelantan (51 per cent).

4:35pm: Negri Sembilan polls: 83-year-old woman dies after casting vote

A woman lost consciousness after dipping her finger in ink to vote at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Rokan polling centre in Gemencheh, here, before being confirmed dead this morning.

4:30pm: Surrounded, heckled and threatened, Bagan Dalam's independent candidate M. Satees lodges report. He said the incident happened at SK Sg Nyior, where he had gone to inspect the ballot boxes.

4:00pm: Ahmad Yakob finally turns up to cast his vote. The Pasir Pekan candidate arrived at the centre at 3.25pm, accompanied by several bodyguards.

3:40pm: IGP: Until 2pm, voting process in 6 states peaceful, no police reports of untoward incidents were received involving any of the voting centres or processes.

3:30pm: Only a few states reach 50 per cent voter turnout by 2pm

Kedah and Terengganu recorded the highest turnout with 56 per cent followed by Pulau Pinang at 53 per cent.

Selangor recorded 51 per cent of voter turnout, while Kelantan recorded 45 per cent.

3:05pm: There will no by-election in Jeneri, I will win the case, insists caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi who is facing trial for two counts of uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards the rulers.

3:00pm: KJ blames voter fatigue from too much politicking, bad weather for low voter turnout

2:45pm: Voter turnout in most states below 50 pct at 1pm

The Election Commission in their latest update said only Terengganu reached the 50 per cent voter turnout as of 1pm today.

2:45pm: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said it is too early to jump to conclusions with the voter turnout when there were still five hours left for the polling process.

2:42pm: Voter turnout in most states below 50 pct at 1pm. The Election Commission in their latest update said only Terengganu reached the 50 per cent voter turnout as of 1pm today. This was followed by Kedah (49 per cent), Pulau Pinang (46 per cent), Selangor (44 per cent) and Negeri Sembilan (42 per cent).

2:34pm: The polling centre at SK Taman Seri Gombak 2 is seeing a lesser voter turnout than the 15th General Election (GE15).

2:25pm: Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin(BN) expressed his confidence that voters in Gombak Setia would vote for a stable government that could bring them prosperity.

2:20pm: An Election Commission (EC) worker at the polling centre when met, said that as of noon, it was estimated that less than 50 per cent of voters had turned up at the SK Klang Gates polling centre.

2:18pm: KJ: Zahid unlikely to step down if Umno performed poorly in polls

The sacked Umno leader said it would be business as usual for the party irrespective of the polls

2:05pm: Voting at a stream at SK Seri Relau here has been suspended after a ballot box was found to be unsealed.

The discovery was made by Perikatan Nasional's candidate for the Paya Terubong state seat, Andrew Ooi, when he visited the voting station about 11.30am.

Speaking to the New Straits Times, Ooi said he was dissatisfied to find the ballot box unsealed.

2pm: Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has confirmed that Datuk Ahmad Yakob did not want to return as the Kelantan menteri besar.

1:59pm: Sanusi's brother turns down job offer abroad to exercise his voting rights

1:55pm: Bayan Baru member of parliament Sim Tze Tzin wants voters to come out to vote. Taking to Facebook, Sim posted a photo of an elderly woman on a stretcher. His caption read: "Old aunty, sick. Still come out to vote although on a hospital bed.

1:50pm: Stronger wave of support in six-state election compared to GE15, says Sanusi. The caretaker Menteri Besar expressed confidence that this wave would allow PN to retain three states—Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu—while acknowledging the possibility of changes in the three states held by Pakatan Harapan (PH).

1:40pm: Young voters will normally come out in the afternoon. The low turnout rate in Kelantan this morning could be due to youngster voters choosing to cast their votes later in the day.

1:35pm: No excuse not to vote, says 86-year-old former teacher

1:20pm: "I have been voting since the time of the sailing ship logo". Jamaluddin Abdullah, 74, said he has lost track of the number of times he exercised his right as a citizen.

1:15pm: Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said there were no untowards incidents in the state election in Selangor so far. He urged for party supporters to abide the law.

12:50pm: Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the decision to change the Kelantan Menteri Besar and Deputy Menteri Besar, if Pas is given the mandate again, is to give the state a new spirit.

12:30pm: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke arrived at SJKC Sin Hua in Seremban at 12:30 noon to cast his ballot for the state election.

Loke, who is defending Chennah, also took some time to take pictures with voters and Election Commission workers on the premises.

12:20pm: BN candidate Datuk Johan Abd Aziz for Dusun Tua arrives at SK Semenyih to cast vote at 10:59am.

12:00noon: State Polls: Dr Mahathir, Siti Hasmah cast ballots in Anak Bukit

When met by reporters, Tun Dr Mahathir called on the people to come out and vote, as the voter turnout at the polling centre this morning was low.

11:50am: The arrival of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Bukit Antarabangsa, Mohd Kamri Kamarudin pushing his ailing wife in a wheelchair to cast their votes attracted the attention of many other voters.

His wife, Suzana Shahruddin suffers from stage four Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) and needs a wheelchair to move around.

11:47am: Mahdzir Khalid casts vote, expresses satisfaction with polling process

11:40am: The voter turnout rate in Kelantan is the lowest, with only 17 per cent of eligible voters participating, in comparison to other states, which have achieved a turnout of 20 per cent as of 10am today.

The Election Commission, in a statement, said three states have achieved a 20 per cent voter turnout rate - Kedah (20 per cent), Terengganu (22 per cent) and Penang (20 per cent).

Selangor recorded 19 per cent voter turnout followed by Negri Sembilan at 18 per cent, while Kelantan had a voter turnout of 17 per cent as of 10am today.

11:20am: Penang has no plans to declare a public holiday if the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional coalition wins the state election.

11:11am: "I hope Kelantan voters will make wise decisions in this state election," said Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

11:00am: 2 polling centres located side by side in Gombak leaves voters confused.

There are three polling centres located along a less than one kilometre-long stretch in Gombak and this has left some voters confused.

Two of these polling centres- SK Taman Seri Gombak and SK Taman Seri Gombak 2- are located side by side and this caused voters to be puzzled when they arrive in the area.

10:50am: Caretaker deputy menteri besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has accepted a decision by the Pas president to make a change to the Kelantan leadership if the party retains the state in today's election.

10:49am: Voters begin casting ballots in Semenyih amid enhanced accessibility efforts at polling centre. With the Selangor state election in full swing, voters have begun arriving at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Semenyih polling centre to exercise their democratic rights.

10:40am: PRN2023: Anwar calls for early voter turnout across six states. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged voters in the six states to come out early to vote.

10:30am: Allow workers to vote, Rina Harun tells employers. Her concern stems from witnessing a low voter turnout in the constituency she is contesting, as of 9.40am.

10:20am: Voters brave drizzle to cast ballots in Negri Sembilan state election. To support senior citizens and people with disabilities, two shuttle cars were on standby to assist their access to the premises.

10:00am: As of 9am, only 10 per cent of voters in Penang have cast their votes : EC

9:56am: Mohd Amar, wife arrive at polling centre about 8.20am. Caretaker deputy menteri besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah arrived at the SK Panji polling centre to cast his vote today. The Panchor state seat candidate, who arrived at the centre about 8.20am.

9:50am: Polls: Favourable weather at most areas in six states

Also held today is polling for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

9:40am: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail finished casting their votes at SK Seri Penanti at 9.40am.

9:35am: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at SK Seri Penanti in Permatang Pauh to cast his vote. He arrived at 9.33am, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

9:35am: Hilman confident of his chances in Gombak Setia. "If I have the courage to contest, of course I have the confidence to win", he said.

9:28am: 'I'm tired and eager to rest afterwards,' says PH candidate Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, widely known as Altimet, the renowned rapper and composer cast his vote at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Keramat at 8.04am.

9:17am: Azmin arrives at SK Klang Gate to cast his vote

9:00am: Amirudin casts his vote at SJK(C) Selayang Baru polling centre

Asked how he was feeling, Amirudin, who is defending the Sungai Tua state seat said:"I am okay. Its time to vote."

8:50am: Negri Sembilan MB Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun arrives to vote at SMK Dato' Haji Mohd Redza

The chairman of Pakatan Harapan Negri Sembilan took the opportunity to interact with some voters here.

8:45am: PKR candidate for Pasir Pekan, Mohamad Zamakh Sari Ibrahim was among the first to cast his vote at SMK Kampung Laut here at today.

8:40am: Pas President, Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, arrived at the voting centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Rusila in Marang at 8.17am.

8:35am: Long time Selayang folks R. Rayangi and P.Subramaniam were the first in line at the SJK(C) Selayang Baru polling station for the Selangor state election.

The couple, from Taman Selayang Mutiara, arrived at the school gates at 6.45am accompanied with their daughter, 31-year-old S.Ranjini, to cast their votes for the Sungai Tua constituency.

8:30am: Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar arrives at SMK Seri Nering voting centre

Ahmad Samsuri became the first voter to cast his vote on channel two exactly at 8am, and he had time to interact with the people who were also present to cast their ballots.

8:24am: Polling centres in six states, including for Kuala Terengganu Parliamentary by-election open at 8am today

A total of 3,190 polling centres with 17,048 voting channels will open from 8am today in six states holding their state elections.

There will also be 41 polling centres, involving 217 polling channels, which will open at the same time for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election in Terengganu.

All the polling centres are scheduled to close at 6pm.