Alwyn Lau | Opinion | NewsPulse | NewsForge

The house at 38 Oxley Road in Singapore was where the country’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew and other early leaders of the People’s Action Party met to lay the groundwork for Singapore’s independence. — File pic

Singapore / 11 h ago

Singapore government takes possession of Lee Kuan Yew’s home after decade-long family feud

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attends the launch ceremony of the Sahabat Usahawan Madani Carnival at Cycledios, Pantai Batu 1 in Port Dickson, July 31, 2026. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 14 h ago

Tabung Haji RCI report: Anwar questions 13-month bonus payout, calls it breach of trust

A three-member Federal Court bench unanimously dismissed Kunaseegaran’s application for a review of his conviction and sentence. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 14 h ago

Death sentence stands for former Army pathologist Kunaseegaran convicted of killing DPP Kevin Morais

Eight foreign nationals were arrested at a luxury condominium allegedly used to offer fraudulent Japan travel packages online. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Malaysia / 13 h ago

Penang police bust Japan travel scam call centre in luxury condominium

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said he was consulting the State Legal Adviser to verify the allegations before any further action is taken. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 19 h ago

Selangor Speaker to clarify assemblyman’s status on Aug 3, says MB

Malaysia Airlines reserves its comment on its pilot being caught for a narcotics-related offence by the Indonesian authorities but noted that the airline takes such allegations seriously. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Malaysia / 16 h ago

Malaysia Airlines reserves comment, pledges full cooperation with Indonesian authorities on pilot’s alleged drug case

British trip-hop band Massive Attack is under investigation in Singapore for unlicensed public display of Palestine’s flag during its only concert in the country at the Star Theatre on July 29, 2026. — Picture from Instagram/massiveattackofficial

Singapore / 19 h ago

Massive Attack rocks Singapore stage, but Palestinian flag sparks investigation

A Malaysian pilot risks the death penalty in Indonesia after being arrested at Jakarta’s international airport with more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in his suitcase, according to police who said today the man was on drugs while flying a passenger plane. — Unsplash pic

Malaysia / 16 h ago

Malaysian pilot accused of smuggling 70,000 ecstasy tablets into Jakarta, risks death penalty, say Indonesian police

According to the author, while Umno, MCA and MIC may work with PAS-led PN for electoral gains, restoring Barisan Nasional to its former dominance would require more than just political calculations. — Picture by Farhan Najib

What You Think / 12 h ago

Umno, MCA and MIC cannot resurrect BN via PAS-led Perikatan: Here’s why — Phar Kim Beng

Rapid KL said the extension would give commuters more time to familiarise themselves with the new system while encouraging greater use of public transport for daily travel. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Malaysia / 14 h ago

Rapid KL extends free rides on LRT3 Shah Alam line until Aug 14

A total of 859,760 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots in the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 14 h ago

Undecided voters and turnout take centre stage in Negeri Sembilan’s final campaign hours

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has received four reports related to alleged cash handouts during the Negeri Sembilan State Election. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Malaysia / 15 h ago

MACC receives four reports of alleged cash handouts in Negeri Sembilan polls

Malaysia’s population density also rose to 104 persons per square kilometre in 2026 from 103 persons per square kilometre in 2025, with Kuala Lumpur recording the highest density at 8,574 persons per square kilometre. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

Malaysia / 17 h ago

Malaysia hits 34.4 million population; Selangor largest, Terengganu fastest-growing as 12 states enter ageing status, says Stats Dept

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the investigation was launched following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for enforcement agencies to take appropriate action based on the findings of the recently released RCI report. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 17 h ago

MACC begins Tabung Haji RCI probe, sends eight officers to review documents

Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said authorities would track down all affected pass holders but declined to reveal their locations to avoid jeopardising the operation. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 16 h ago

MyIMMs hack: Immigration Dept to revoke all fraudulently approved work passes

Alwyn Lau

Alwyn Lau

Bookworm. Contrarian. Proud Malaysian. Or thereabouts. Tweets at @alwyn_lau

Opinions

File picture of a lecturer addressing students in a university lecture hall. The commentary argues that an overemphasis on PhD qualifications and publication records in academic hiring may come at the expense of teaching quality. — Unsplash pic

20 Jul 2026

When the demand for PhDs and publications can harm more than help

Referee Michael Oliver speaks with Dani Olmo #10 of Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium on July 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. — Getty Images via AFP pic

11 Jul 2026

Controversial refereeing and VAR decisions are part of the Beautiful Game

Universities and colleges should treat out of campus transition as seriously as they treat the transition in. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

05 Jul 2026

Quarter-life crisis: When ‘What now?’ hits Malaysian youths hard

‘I would generalise this advice to caution any driver from parking their car under any tree for prolonged periods of time.’ — Bernama pic

27 Jun 2026

Hiking accidents, flooded parking lots and other cases ‘paranoia’ may have helped prevent

More

A scene from ‘Teach You a Lesson’ featuring Kim Mu-yeol as the fierce Na Hwa-jin. — Picture from Facebook/Netflix K-Drama News

16 Jun 2026

‘Teach You A Lesson’ could be worth learning from

Social media algorithms can reinforce existing beliefs by repeatedly exposing users to information that aligns with their views while filtering out opposing perspectives. — Picture by Yusof Isa

12 Jun 2026

The Backfire Effect And why facts don’t (always) persuade

According to the author, while, as a whole, the increase in the number of PhD graduates should bring a net gain to our country, some issues have already arisen chiefly of which is the high number of unemployed doctoral scholars. ― AFP file pic

02 Jun 2026

Part-time PhDs and Parkinson’s Law or when more time is actually not a good thing

A big screen displays a thank you message to Tottenham Hotspur players after the Premier League match against Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Britain on May 24, 2026. — Reuters pic

27 May 2026

Tottenham has defeated relegation but the hard work begins now

Shouldn’t the education sector be preparing our kids where the ‘book’ is no longer delimited by physical binders, where information flows (from producer to producer) rather than remain static? — Bernama pic

14 May 2026

Why haven’t our schools completely moved to e-textbooks?

As of May 2026, MyDigital ID will be mandatory for logging into major government apps. — Picture via Facebook/MyDigital ID

10 May 2026

The nightmare of forgetting your MyDigital ID password

Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe showed the world it’s humanly possible to run a marathon (42km) in under two hours. — Reuters pic

29 Apr 2026

Sebastian Sawe’s amazing run

DBKL’s crackdown targets derelict cars as KL sees thousands of abandoned vehicle complaints. — Unsplash pic

26 Apr 2026

Abandoned vehicles: An indicator of a deeper social problem?

The author argues that while institutions officially oppose AI-written assignments, practical constraints — from detection limits to cost and scale — make enforcement inconsistent, leaving responsibility largely with students themselves. — Reuters pic

19 Apr 2026

Do educational institutions care about AI-written assignments?

First responders gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in the village of Habbouch, southern Lebanon on April 10, 2026. A ceasefire in name, conflict in reality – even after agreements are signed, fighting often continues, underscoring how fragile the first steps towards peace can be. — AFP pic

10 Apr 2026

Why ceasefires remain important even when the firing doesn’t cease

But if your results didn’t meet your expectations or you outright didn’t pass? That’s honestly not a bad thing either. — Bernama pic

02 Apr 2026

SPM over? Time to learn some people skills!

Tottenham Hotspur fans look dejected in the stands during the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London on March 22, 2026. — Reuters pic

27 Mar 2026

Could Tottenham really be relegated?

A still shows a video conference with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (top row, left) chairing a remote session with his Cabinet on March 31, 2020 in London. — AFP pic

17 Mar 2026

Revisiting the WFH debate

The author argues that slashing gym licence fees is unlikely to significantly reduce Malaysia’s obesity rate, as research shows population-level weight problems are driven more by diet, lifestyle and public health policies than by gym access alone. — AFP pic

08 Mar 2026

Will lower gym fees reduce Malaysia's obesity rate?

AI-generated songs had taken over my playlist. — Reuters pic

01 Mar 2026

Is AI taking over music?

Festivities are wonderful but I guess being interrogated on some of the personal aspects and decisions in one’s life in the middle of one’s entire clan can be daunting. — Bernama pic

19 Feb 2026

CNY’s famous ‘20 Questions’

According to the author, there are also numerous reasons why tuition centres may face a drop in demand in the future. The most obvious answer is the presence of the Web and the (literally) infinite number of online learning and/or personalised learning websites and apps out there. — Pexels.com pic

03 Feb 2026

Are tuition centres still relevant in an age of AI?

Jackie Chan in a scene from ‘The Shadow’s Edge’. The author argues that Jackie Chan’s last decade of films — filled with repentant fathers, estranged children and emotional pleas — reads like a six-movie message to his real-life kids, a cinematic attempt at reconciliation playing out on screen long before it happens in real life. — AFP pic

22 Jan 2026

Jackie Chan’s cinematic way of reaching out to his kids

A teacher interacts with students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Kebun in Shah Alam on January 3, 2023. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

16 Jan 2026

How much does your performance in school ‘predict’ your future?

Primary school students return to school at Sekolah Kebangsaan Syed Idrus Chemor in Perak March 21, 2022. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Farhan Najibnn

03 May 2022

The (cautious) case against mask mandates

A man smokes outside an eatery in Petaling Jaya January 1, 2019. u00e2u20acu2022 Picture by Miera Zulyana

25 Apr 2022

Why a smoking ban probably won’t help

A man walks past a shuttered bar/night club with a u00e2u20acu02dcFor Rentu00e2u20acu2122 sign in Kuala Lumpur during the Covid 19 pandemic October 18, 2020. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

11 Apr 2022

So what really is the problem with nightclubs?

A customer counts how much change was given back after buying some groceries at a wet market in Kuala Lumpur. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Saw Siow Feng

29 Mar 2022

Why are we worth more dead than alive?

21 Mar 2022

Three groups who welcome the RM10,000 EPF withdrawal

Form Five students get ready to sit for their SPM examination at SMK Seksyen 7 in Shah Alam March 2, 2022. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

15 Mar 2022

Should Malaysian students do a gap year?

Sekolah Kebangsaan Section 7 students on their first day back at school in Shah Alam July 22, 2020. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

28 Feb 2022

Could e-textbooks be the solution to heavy school bags?

Election Commission officials get the polling station at Dewan Badminton Kompleks Perumahan Polis Tabuan Jaya ready ahead of early voting in Kuching December 13, 2021. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

14 Feb 2022

Are Covid-19 cases being artificially boosted ahead of Johor polls?

The Lim clan having their reunion dinner at Lim Jetty, Weld Quay on January 31, 2022. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

07 Feb 2022

Playing ‘20 Questions’ at Chinese New Year

Rex Lee Kok Hong, 36, displays his angpow collection at his home in Sungai Dua February 13, 2018. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

31 Jan 2022

Chinese New Year and e-’ang pows’

27 Jan 2022

BAM should revoke Goh Jin Wei’s ban too

A general view of traffic on the Federal Highway in Kuala Lumpur June 1, 2021. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

24 Jan 2022

Alternative to holiday traffic jams

Students resume classes at Sekolah Kebangsaan Meru Klang in Klang January 10, 2022. u00e2u20acu201d Bernama pic

17 Jan 2022

Why hasn’t ‘Pendidikan Moral’ been scrapped yet?

People receive their Covid-19 booster shot at the KL Gateway Mall in Kuala Lumpur January 5, 2022. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

10 Jan 2022

Boosters: Allow walk-ins at PPVs by disabled

People wait to receive their Covid-19 vaccines at the Covid-19 vaccination centre in the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Seri Kembangan, June 17, 2021. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

27 Dec 2021

Notes from a PPV volunteer

A general view of traffic on the Federal Highway in Kuala Lumpur June 1, 2021. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

20 Dec 2021

Three pointers on how to be safer behind the wheels

As the country slowly reopens, the temporary traffic respite will gradually come to an end. u00e2u20acu2022 Picture by Yusof Mat Isan

13 Dec 2021

So far, yet so near: Are you a super-commuter?

Choong has spent more than 30 years zipping around the world visiting archeological dig sites and even excavating in some. u00e2u20acu201d Picture via Facebook

07 Dec 2021

A conversation with Malaysia’s own Indiana Jones

The release of u00e2u20acu02dcJames Bond: No Time to Dieu00e2u20acu2122 for Malaysian cinemas has been from September 30 to November 25. u00e2u20acu201d Picture courtesy of United International Pictures Malaysia

29 Nov 2021

James Bond: From fantasy to reality

Just IN

Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said 2,001 factory fire cases with losses amounting to RM4.21 billion have been recorded over the past six years. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

9 h ago

Malaysia records 2,001 factory fires, RM4.21b losses since 2020, says Fire Dept D-G

The Election Commission has reminded voters in Negeri Sembilan to vote early or at their recommended voting times, while adhering to rules prohibiting mobile phone use and campaign materials at polling stations during tomorrow’s state election. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

10 h ago

EC reminds Negeri Sembilan voters to follow recommended times, phones barred during voting

The Royal Klang City Council has handed over the investigation into an incident during a stray dog-catching operation in Taman Teluk Gedung Indah, Port Klang, which resulted in the death of a dog yesterday, to the Royal Malaysia Police. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

10 h ago

Police to investigate dog’s death during Klang stray‑catching operation, says Royal Klang City Council

Latest technology news, reviews and analysis Lihat di PulseWire Baca selengkapnya di www-inquirer-net