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How Malaysians Use Race to Explain Everything Except Their Own Behaviour

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How Malaysians Use Race to Explain Everything Except Their Own Behaviour Malaysia is a country deeply shaped by race. Politics, education, business, language, food, and even daily conversation often revolve around racial identity. It is discussed so frequently that many Malaysians no longer notice how naturally race enters almost every topic. A traffic incident becomes racial. A business dispute becomes racial. Academic success, job opportunities, crime, customer service, social attitudes—everything somehow circles back to race. Yet in the middle of all this discussion, one uncomfortable pattern remains largely ignored: many Malaysians use race to explain problems while refusing to examine their own behaviour. This is not to deny that racial issues exist. Malaysia’s history, policies, and political system have long been influenced by ethnic divisions and inequalities. These realities are genuine and cannot simply be dismissed. However, the problem begins when race become...
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The Endless Cycle of Hope and Disappointment in Malaysian Politics

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The Endless Cycle of Hope and Disappointment in Malaysian Politics “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” — Lord Acton Every election season in Malaysia begins the same way: with hope. It is not a quiet optimism, but a loud, collective belief that this time, things will be different. New promises are made. Old grievances are revived. Political coalitions rebrand themselves as reformers, saviours, or stabilisers. Campaigns speak of unity, transparency, and a future that feels just within reach. And then, slowly, that hope fades. Not all at once, but in stages. The Rise of Expectation Malaysian politics has always been shaped by high expectations. Voters are not indifferent; they are engaged, often deeply so. Each electoral shift carries emotional weight. A change in government is not merely administrative—it feels personal, symbolic of a turning point. The historic outcome of the 2018 Malaysian General Election was one such moment. It mark...
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Gentrification and the B40: Who Really Benefits from Urban Redevelopment?

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Gentrification and the B40: Who Really Benefits from Urban Redevelopment? Urban redevelopment in Malaysia is always sold with glossy promises. New condominiums. Trendy cafés. Cleaner streets. Smart city dreams. Property brochures speak the language of “progress,” “revitalisation,” and “modern living.” The city skyline gets shinier, Instagram gets prettier, and politicians cut ribbons in front of freshly painted signboards. But behind the marketing banners and architectural renderings, one uncomfortable question quietly lingers: who actually benefits? Because if you ask many people in the B40 community—the bottom 40% income group—the answer is painfully simple: not them. Gentrification sounds like an urban planning term from a textbook, but its effects are brutally practical. When neighbourhoods are “redeveloped,” property prices rise. When property prices rise, rent follows. When rent follows, long-time residents suddenly discover that the area they helped build and sus...
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