Raja Petra KamarudinI had this teacher who once lectured us on the bad habit of smoking. He would constantly stink of nicotine for he was a chain-smoker and we could smell him even before he entered…

Raja Petra KamarudinOn Friday, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Maximus Ongkili, said the federal government will always respect state rights and privileges, ‘whether those given to…

Raja Petra KamarudinSome religious authorities say Muslims should not wish Christians ‘Merry Christmas’. In fact, they say, Muslims should not participate in any non-Muslim (kafir) celebrations at…

Raja Petra KamarudinYesterday, Malaysia’s Education Minister, Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is also the Umno Youth Leader, called on ‘the moderate voice of Islam representing the vast majority of…

Raja Petra KamarudinWhen I was a kid, whenever anyone insulted us, we would sing, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words cannot harm me.” I am not sure though whether this is true…

Raja Petra KamarudinMalaysia Today’s readers come in two categories. One category welcomes the new-found freedom to express themselves (though some do not quite know how to use this freedom yet and…

Raja Petra KamarudinIt looks like I have caused a stir by revealing the excesses, abuses and corruption in the religious department. Now they want to get me under the Internal Security Act. Well, I…

Raja Petra KamarudinIt is interesting that, of all people, the Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, should be giving Malaysians a lecture on Islam. Well, I remember my Tok Guru (religious teacher),…

Raja Petra KamarudinSome ‘religious’ leaders have decreed that Malaysia Today, in particular its editor, has insulted Islam. Well, under the Hudud law, one of the Islamic laws, this crime is called…

Raja Petra KamarudinIslam says:if someone breaks a promise more than three times, then you should no longer be associated with that person. But what if it is a government that keeps breaking its…

Raja Petra KamarudinI have said this before and I will say it again: I will always be in the opposition. And why is that? Because I just love going against those in power. In short, I am…

Raja Petra KamarudinMalaysians shout and scream about wanting freedom of expression -- basically, freedom of speech, freedom of the media and freedom to assemble without the requirement of a police…

Raja Petra KamarudinOn 2nd September 2004, the day Anwar Ibrahim was freed from jail, many came up to ask me what I would now do with my time. Since Anwar was now free, they reckoned, there would no…

Raja Petra KamarudinA few years back, in August 1998, one local Islamic organisation, Saba Islamic Media, launched a campaign to place a Koran in every hotel room, which it called ‘Hotel Qur’an…

Raja Petra KamarudinUMNO has alleged that the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) has created a split amongst the Muslims to the extent that even masjids now have two imams, one for the PAS supporters and…

Raja Petra KamarudinDo you own a PLUS tag? Well, be very careful. PLUS tags are hot items for petty thieves and drug addicts. If you display your PLUS tag on your windscreen as required, they will…

Raja Petra KamarudinI was the Chairman of the Kolam Mosque (Masjid Kolam, Kuala Ibai, Kuala Terengganu) for about 20 years from the 1970s. That was about the time Ustaz Haji Abdul Hadi Awang first…

Raja Petra KamarudinChina is not the only country in the world that practices the concept of one nation two systems -- which was a policy adopted after Hong Kong reverted to China. Malaysia, too,…

Raja Petra KamarudinIn March this year, Malaysian voters gave Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government a resounding victory in the 11th General Election. The Umno-led Barisan Nasional government secured…

Raja Petra KamarudinAnwar Ibrahim will be having a dialogue with the legal fraternity at 5.00pm today. The dialogue, which will, amongst others, feature his views on Malaysia’s legal system as well as…