Jerrenn Lam

Latest posts by Jerrenn Lam

Malaysia: Rare Earth Processing Plant Creates Backlash

  27 April 2012

An Australian mining company has established a processing plant in Kuantan, Malaysia. But many Malaysians are incensed that this plant was constructed without consulting the residents. Netizens debate whether the government should stop the operations of the rare earth processing plant

Malaysia: Protesting the Peaceful Assembly Bill

  29 November 2011

The Malaysian Parliament has approved the controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill which critics believe will make it difficult for citizens to organize protest assemblies. Netizens used the #pa2011 hashtag to express their views about this measure

Malaysia: Food and Blog Action Day 2011

  19 October 2011

For this year’s Blog Action Day, bloggers around the world discussed food. Many Malaysians took part in the cause and wrote about highly diverse topics in their blogs. Some described their favorite dish and recommended good restaurants while others pondered about hunger and poverty in the world

Malaysia: Proposed Electoral Reforms

  17 October 2011

Bersih 2.0 is pressing the Malaysian government to implement eight electoral reforms in preparation for the next general elections. Bersih organized a massive demonstration last July which evolved into a formidable political reform movement.

Malaysia: Mahathir Says Bush Lied About 9/11

  17 September 2011

As the world commemorated the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack in the United States, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad came out again to declare that it was not the work of Muslim extremists. Jerrenn Lam reports.

Malaysia: Generation 709 Calls for Political Reforms

  30 August 2011

Following the Bersih democracy rally last July 9, a group of young Malaysians has come forward to continue the demand for free and fair elections, calling themselves ‘Generation 709’. The group hopes to reach out to more young people and mobilize them for political and civil rights through active use of social media

Malaysia-Australia Refugee Swap Deal Criticised

  15 August 2011

The refugee swap between Malaysia and Australia that was signed last month has been suspended by the Australian High Court after huge criticism. Under the deal, the next 800 refugees to arrive in Australia will be sent to Malaysia, and in return Australia will take in 4000 refugees from Malaysia in the next four years.

Malaysia: Bersih 2.0 Rally Rattles the Government

  11 July 2011

It was organized to push merely for electoral reforms but Malaysia's huge Bersih rally last weekend which was violently dispersed by the police has grown into a political movement that threatens the image and stability of the government. Bersih is now called by many people as the name of Malaysia's revolution

Malaysia: More Arrested Before Planned Rally

  5 July 2011

More people have now been arrested in Malaysia for supporting the Bersih 2.0 rally that is planned to happen on the 9 July, 2011. Some were arrested merely for wearing Bersih T-shirts. The Bersih rally, which has been declared illegal by the government, is organized to demand transparent and clean elections.

Malaysia: Planned Rally Calling for Fair Elections Banned

  1 July 2011

The monumental 2007 Bersih rally in Malaysia is going to have a sequel. A Bersih 2.0 democracy walk on July 9 has been organized where supporters of the cause for a clean and fair elections will march through Kuala Lumpur before handing a memorandum to the King. But the government has already declared it illegal.

Malaysia: Costly Government Spending on Facebook Pages

  21 June 2011

The Malaysian Tourism Ministry is now involved in a controversy after revealing that it had spent $RM 1.8 million (US$594,000) in developing six Facebook pages to promote tourism in Malaysia. It has generated a lot of protests among Malaysians, many of whom feel that it is absurd to be spending millions to create a Facebook page.

Malaysia: Email For Citizens Project Draws Criticism

  20 April 2011

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that all Malaysians aged 18 years and above will receive a 1Malaysia email account. But many bloggers have criticized the project as unnecessary, saying that its estimated cost of RM 50 million can be better used for other purposes.

Malaysia: Ruling Coalition Tops Sarawak Elections

  19 April 2011

On Saturday 16 April, 2011, Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition won the state election in Sarawak, winning 55 of the 71 seats contested to retain its control and two-thirds majority over the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition alliance. Bloggers discuss the outcome.

Malaysia: State Election Brings Another Sex Scandal

  7 April 2011

The Sarawak state election this April will have a big impact on Malaysia's national politics. Will the opposition finally defeat Sarawak's longest serving chief minister? Meanwhile, an alleged sex video tape of an opposition leader has been exposed a few weeks before the election.

Malaysia: ‘Offensive’ Novel Creates Controversy

  20 March 2011

A recent controversy that has arisen in Malaysia is the issue of a novel used as a textbook for literature in secondary schools. Critics claim the book, which discussed the caste system, has racist content. The Indian community in Malaysia is demanding the removal of the book in the school syllabus

Malaysia: Suicide a Rising Problem

  24 February 2011

Malaysia has recently been gripped by an alarming social issue: suicide. It is estimated that an average of 60 suicides every month are being committed in Malaysia. A young Malaysian even posted a suicide note on Facebook.

Malaysia: Amending the law to censor internet?

  15 February 2011

Malaysia’s government is considering tightening its already strict laws on printing to include online publications as well. The announcement immediately drew huge criticism from the online community who believe that the Internet should not be controlled.

Malaysia: Hindu Festival Celebrated Amid Protest

  24 January 2011

The Hindu festival of Thaipusam, a public holiday in Malaysia, was celebrated as devotees thronged the famous Batu Caves to fulfil their vows. This year's event became controversial after activists were arrested for protesting the inclusion of a "racist" novel in schools. The book depicts the Indians as the "pariah caste"