Author: Karambir Singh

Smoking issues ignite passions

Every time you try to quit smoking you are actually getting closer to staying smoke-free. – Henry Ford, American industrialist IN a world where opinions often clash, and passions run high, few topics, other than politics, manage to ignite such fervour and intensity as the issue of smoking.  In Malaysia,

An essential institution for unity

A monarchy conducted with infinite wisdom and infinite benevolence is the most perfect of all possible governments. — Ezra Stiles, American educator ON the morning of June 5, I had the opportunity to attend an event in Miri City to mark the official birthday of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah

PMX’s litmus test

You wouldn’t let your grandparents pick your playlist. Why would you let them pick your representative who’s going to determine your future? – Barack Obama, Former US president BRACE yourselves for another showdown: elections are back in town! In the second half of this year, several states in Malaya, namely,

It’s a dog’s life

A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down. – Robert Benchley, American humourist Dogs! Some love them, some hate them, and some have no feelings about them either way. Nevertheless, dogs have earned the reputation of

1969’s bloody May 13 – reflections

The May 13 tragedy is a true reminder of the Malay proverb kalah jadi abu, menang jadi arang (the loser turns to ashes, the winner to charcoal) because racial conflict will not do any good to any race in the country, except tarnishing the image of the country in the

Rolling the dice

There is a respectable body of economic thought that holds that casino gambling is actually economically regressive to a state and a community. – Mario Cuomo, American lawyer and politician Welcome to the world of gambling, where the stakes are high and the consequences even higher. Most of us have

The importance of restoring trust

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. – Martin Luther King, American civil rights leader WHEN justice is served, it is a powerful moment that can restore faith in the rule of law and promote social cohesion. On April 19 2022, I wrote a column titled ‘“Has the definition

The ombudsman

If you constantly have to play ombudsman for your beloved, you’re in a co-dependent prison of your own making. People will keep doing what they can get away with.  – Luvvie Ajayi, Nigerian-American author and speaker Sarawak has done it again! This time it is the ombudsman. The ombudsman: a

Ageing, a hidden time bomb

It’s not how old you are. It’s how you are old. – Jules Renard, French author Ageing is one factor we humans have in common and cannot avoid. However, ageing remains one of life’s most overlooked and under-discussed issues. As we grow older, we face new challenges, experiences, and perspectives

Poverty alleviation, a complex journey

” As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality exist in the world, none of us can truly exist. “ — Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist POVERTY is a universal problem. It affects millions worldwide, trapping individuals and communities in a cycle of deprivation and hindering progress towards much-needed