Only in The Star

Dr M is the first Malaysian to receive the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice. It was given in recognition of the former PM's efforts in pushing through national unity in a multiracial and multireligious country. Mukhriz was in Mumbai on Sunday to receive the award on behalf of Dr M, who is recuperating from a mild heart attack.

Sadly, you don't read about it in the papers or watch it on local TV. Thank you, The Star.

Big Brother Is Watching You

Journalists, be afraid. Authors of political books, be afraid. Producers of politically-charged DVDs, be afraid. SMS senders, be afraid. (Certain) Editors, be very afraid.

"There is a Chinese newspaper which raises issues that can create alarm among the people." - Mohd Johari Baharum, Deputy Internal Security Minister.

And we were told that the media are freer now. Click here for Big Brother Jo's take on your freedom.

Singapore journalists better?

Return of the Singapore trainer. The NST is bringing back Ravi Veloo, plagiarist Brendan P's affidavit comrade from Singapore, to conduct another training session for the tabloid's subs later this month. But before that Brendan P will bring in a Debbie to teach the Malaysian journalists a thing or two about oral journalism and remind them that Singapore has its pretty side, too.

Not on the curriculum. Plagiarism as a subject in journalist, of course, will be taboo. Not after Brendan P has resigned amid the plagiarism row. And not since the NSTP is suing the BBC for its report.

Plagiarism and Singapore.
In any case, a survey by the National University of Singapore, Brendan P's alma mater, found that students who have studied in Singapore for more than five years have lower awareness of plagiarism!
No wonder they could not tell! [Click here for the findings of the survey].

Khir Johari

1923-2006. One of the last real Malaysian gentlemen passed on a while ago. I'm honoured to have known Pak Khir, as he was fondly called, and fortunate to be there when he gave The Society, the newsletter of the Royal Commonwealth Society, what was probably his last interview. The piece on this rare breed of a man - minister, p0litician, diplomat, businessman - was published in its Merdeka Issue:

"He was an enduring personality in politics and government. To a lot of journalists in those days, Tan Sri was quite a character. And an endearing one. It was no wonder that they remember him with fondness."

Update from Bernama: A national heroes' burial for Pak Khir. TV Smith remembers Pak Khir and Jeff Ooi sings for the man.