Latest news with #Koel
Malaysiakini
4 days ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Tariff-wise, Trump holds the upper hand
YOURSAY | How to fight a strong man wielding a big sword using just a pen knife? COMMENT | Malaysia's pusillanimous foreign policy Koel: A thoughtful and timely article by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas. Handing over US$70 billion when Malaysia's total investments held in the US are US$43 billion? This is madness! Does Malaysia have a coherent foreign policy in these troubled times? We hardly see or hear from Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan. It is time to go back to the spirit of the non-aligned movement, and time to actively seek alternative trade partners. The world is seeing the fallout of putting all your eggs in one basket. All you need is one madman to destroy everything. As we see right now, there is no stability to this White House administration. How much of what's happening is about helping that country? How much is the self-interest and greed of a businessperson in the highest office of that country? Nobody seems clear. Not even his aides. In such uncharted territories, smiles and flattery are not going to get us very far. People also need to look at who suffers the worst in these 'tariff wars'. There is a white, supremacist, and racist element to these trade wars that hints at a neocolonial stance. Some of the worst hit are the countries of the Global South, and that is by design. In case your history is weak, what did the colonisers do? Impoverish, extract, and dominate. Of course, in most cases, they will find local collaborators, lackeys to help them in this pursuit. We are probably seeing the first part of this strategy of impoverishing some of the poorest countries in the world. To what end? In case anyone missed it, local media ran an article that highlighted a case in Vietnam of a land grab that might hint at what is also at play with US President Donald Trump's administration. Land used for farming in North Vietnam was suddenly taken away and given to the Trumps for them to build golf resorts. Thousands of Vietnamese farmers were suddenly asked to move out with pitiful amounts of compensation that are hardly sustainable. All part of the tariff talks. Of course, the Vietnamese leaders who struck this deal are not personally affected, and the move will be framed as 'boosting the economy', but at what cost to the Vietnamese farmers? Such is the danger when governments fail to stand up to foreign bullies. Time to think strategically and open our markets to friendly, just, and mature nations and governments. Malaysia's interests, independence, and sovereignty must be safeguarded. The government should not reduce us to the status of a vassal state. Do we have any pundits at the moment to help this government steer through these trade wars? We cannot afford to send children to negotiate with the sharks! For a Better World: Thomas has done his research meticulously by quoting a vast array of published material. But his liberal, anti-Trump ideology can be difficult to observe or distinguish, but it pervades his discussion and analysis. Why blame the world's problems and ills on the US and its present leader, Trump? He won the national popular vote with 49.8 percent while his rival secured 48.3 percent. Respect it, but if Trump transgresses his country's Constitution or laws, he can be sacked/impeached by US Congress members. I agree that the US is a superpower, but so is Russia and, to some extent, China and the European Union. The way Thomas articulates it, it looks like it's Trump's fault for every conceivable bad and controversial issue that arises in human society on this Earth. Do Trump and his ruling elite have such unimaginable power? GP2025: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has always been all talk and namby-pamby in actions. He hides behind 'international diplomacy' so that he need not be tough. He is useless, and the majority know it and want him out of government. Unfortunately, the minorities, whom he has taken for a ride and who don't want to face it, still support him. Anwar is expected to do his job. No amount of criticism is going to help him perform. That's asking too much of someone who can't deliver. The best thing to do now is to support Perikatan Nasional's initiative to remove him from government. HOYOHOYO: Tommy, it's easy to write as a lawyer. Facing the drastic consequences is another thing. Anwar is wise in his response to Trump. A 19 percent tariff on all US-imported goods will lead to exorbitant tariffs on our exports. He had repeatedly warned against retaliation. High tariffs will obliterate the entire exporting industry overnight. The wisdom of inviting Trump to visit Kuala Lumpur is to massage his ego. How to fight a strong man wielding a big sword using just a pen knife? Anwar chooses reality to avoid the consequences that you are not facing in the comfort of your office. Scoop: Slap a 19 percent tariff on US goods? What happens to the tariff on Malaysia? Ask Canada, India, and China. Trump doubled the tariffs on those who imposed reciprocal/retaliatory tariffs. What would happen if Malaysia's tariff rate ended up close to double that of Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia? Almost three times higher than Japan and South Korea? Tommy is a corporate law specialist, not an international trade specialist or economist. Oh, and the piece is way too complimentary of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's foreign policy. Hmmmmmmmm: Tommy, I find your views too simplistic. Regarding our response to US tariffs, it looks like a case of 'damned if I do and damned if I don't'. The problem in this country is that we do not choose the best brains to lead us. If we have the best advisors, then we can be confident that the decisions made by the government are for the best. As it is, we will always wonder if we made the right decisions. I also wonder what the point is with trading with the US if we do not ultimately make a profit. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Koel Mallick's colourful Sunday clicks light up Instagram
Koel Mallick 's recent vacation photo has brought a dose of colour, sunshine, and pure joy to her followers' feeds. Dressed in a cheerful pink-and-green outfit, the actor posed in front of a towering, blue giraffe installation with the caption: 'Happy Sunday! ' The post is a bright contrast to the usual glam photoshoots, capturing Koel in a breezy, candid moment that fans instantly adored. With the city skyline behind her and a playful sculpture beside her, the picture radiates carefree energy and childlike wonder. The comments came flooding in—from calling her the 'Tolly Queen' to praising her natural charm. Admirers described the moment as sweet, refreshing, and 'full of good vibes,' echoing Koel's own caption. Several fans even shared nostalgic memories of discovering her in films like Paglu, reinforcing just how deeply she's embedded in Bengali cinema's heart. Whether she's on screen or sharing a quiet travel snapshot, Koel's presence continues to blend grace with relatability—making every post feel like a postcard from someone you've loved for years.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Koel Mallick embraces the spirit of yoga on International Yoga Day: ‘Be fit, be happy'
Koel Mallick on International Yoga Day 2025 As the world came together to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21, Bengali cinema's favourite star Koel Mallick took a moment to share a personal message of wellness and positivity with her followers. Posting a video of herself engaged in yoga practice, Koel reflected on the deeper philosophy behind the ancient discipline. 'Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self! Happy International Yoga Day!!!! Be fit, be happy!!!' she wrote, blending motivation with mindfulness. Clad in comfortable workout gear, she could be seen flowing effortlessly through the asanas, embodying calm, grace, and focus. This isn't the first time Koel has championed fitness and holistic living. Known for striking a balance between her busy acting career and personal well-being, she has often spoken about how yoga and disciplined workouts help her stay grounded. For her, yoga is not just about flexibility or physical strength, but a path to mental clarity and emotional balance. Fans responded warmly to her post, flooding the comments with heart emojis, words of encouragement, and sharing how they too have embraced yoga in their lives. International Yoga Day, first proposed by India at the United Nations in 2014, has grown into a global movement encouraging people to discover the transformative power of yoga—not just as exercise, but as a holistic way of life. Koel's heartfelt message this year resonates with that very idea: that true fitness isn't just about the body, but about aligning the mind, heart, and spirit. And in her words, it's ultimately about choosing happiness.
Malaysiakini
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Education not prime focus of recent govts
YOURSAY | 'So, how can our students compete and become knowledgeable?' M'sia scores poorly on education rights, lags behind neighbours Koel: Are the Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry taking note of this very worrying report card? Please spare us the instant denials that follow these reports. Only the most gullible will buy it. A narrow agenda of several decades that has focused on 2R has meant that whatever resources we have are directed into the coffers of some of the most racist institutions in this country. Many have been sidelined, neglected or led into educational deprivation due to this agenda. Let's be very clear. These racist institutions are not serving the country. Their initiatives are politically linked to serve the interests of specific political parties. People need to come to their senses and start looking at the welfare of this educationally failing country. If a country has no education, they have have nothing. We are now lagging behind Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia according to this report. So congratulations, Malaysia. Pretty soon our children will be seeking jobs as domestic workers and labourers in these countries. The government keeps making the same mistakes! OCT: Almost every citizen knows our education system is in a rut, but the government refuses to admit it. There won't be any solutions as long as the government doesn't see that our education system and policies need to change. The government has stopped participating in the Programme for International Student Assessment challenge as the results have shown our students have failed miserably and have degraded. Yet, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek insisted that our university is on par with Ivy League universities. There are shameful incidents by our PhD professors who made fictitious claims just to be debunked by other experts with evidence. A recent survey has shown there are more religious classes than Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Stem) classes. So, how can our students compete and become knowledgeable? The government's main objective is to win votes so that it can remain in power. Malay-Muslims are the majority race, and Islam is the main religion. So the government has to implement education that is aligned with Malay-Muslims so that they will vote for the government. Education is not given priority. Students are collateral damage from ideology. MarioT: Our education system puts a lot of emphasis on religion rather than the basic 3Rs. So, if you were to take the quality of education into account, it is miserably below 50 percent. The earnest request for change continues to fall on deaf ears. Even the Malay-Muslims, for whom the system is mainly designed, prefer to send their children to Chinese schools to receive a wholesome education. Time to come, we will even fall behind Laos if we keep up with this racially inclined education policy. Ayam Kampung: Sad to see how far Malaysia has sunk on the regional and world stage. We have completely destroyed the solid educational foundation given to us by the British - ironically, a solid British-centric education system grounded in English is the biggest 'gift' we got from our colonial masters. Now, our young people can't even string together a proper sentence in English. What hope does this country have when our 'jaguh kampung' (someone who is successful in their local community) politicians continue to champion the national language above everything else, and our education continues to veer from a science- and culture-heavy focus into blind religious extremism? I see very little hope left for our country. Sad. BluePanther4725: It's no surprise. All this while, the government, whether it's BN, Perikatan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan, did not pay attention to education. They consistently appointed low-calibre education ministers to ensure there was no improvement in our education system. To add further damage, more attention is paid to religious education, like tahfiz schools. In national schools, the teachers and curriculum are paying more attention to religious studies. This is an insidious strategy by politicians to keep our people and young people lowly educated so that they will continue to believe in the lies of the politicians. The greatest fear of the politicians and religious authorities is that our youths become smart enough to reject them. TC: Many Malaysians are hired as professionals in Singapore and other countries. Just wondering how they beat the lower education system. Maybe the survey can be improved from generalisation to specification. The Illusion Of Choice: Our very smart education minister has proudly declared that our education system is on par with (and maybe even superior to) Singapore and Japan. This Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) study must be wrong. BusinessFirst: Of course, that goes without saying. We have the best prime minister in the history of all humanity naturally his personally appointed education minister must at least be the best in living memory. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
Malaysiakini
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Education not prime focus of recent govts
YOURSAY | 'So, how can our students compete and become knowledgeable?' M'sia scores poorly on education rights, lags behind neighbours Koel: Are the Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry taking note of this very worrying report card? Please spare us the instant denials that follow these reports. Only the most gullible will buy it. A narrow agenda of several decades that has focused on 2R has meant that whatever resources we have are directed into the coffers of some of the most racist institutions in this country. Many have been sidelined, neglected or led into educational deprivation due to this agenda. Let's be very clear. These racist institutions are not serving the country. Their initiatives are politically linked to serve the interests of specific political parties. People need to come to their senses and start looking at the welfare of this educationally failing country. If a country has no education, they have have nothing. We are now lagging behind Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia according to this report. So congratulations, Malaysia. Pretty soon our children will be seeking jobs as domestic workers and labourers in these countries. The government keeps making the same mistakes! OCT: Almost every citizen knows our education system is in a rut, but the government refuses to admit it. There won't be any solutions as long as the government doesn't see that our education system and policies need to change. The government has stopped participating in the Programme for International Student Assessment challenge as the results have shown our students have failed miserably and have degraded. Yet, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek insisted that our university is on par with Ivy League universities. There are shameful incidents by our PhD professors who made fictitious claims just to be debunked by other experts with evidence. A recent survey has shown there are more religious classes than Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Stem) classes. So, how can our students compete and become knowledgeable? The government's main objective is to win votes so that it can remain in power. Malay-Muslims are the majority race, and Islam is the main religion. So the government has to implement education that is aligned with Malay-Muslims so that they will vote for the government. Education is not given priority. Students are collateral damage from ideology. MarioT: Our education system puts a lot of emphasis on religion rather than the basic 3Rs. So, if you were to take the quality of education into account, it is miserably below 50 percent. The earnest request for change continues to fall on deaf ears. Even the Malay-Muslims, for whom the system is mainly designed, prefer to send their children to Chinese schools to receive a wholesome education. Time to come, we will even fall behind Laos if we keep up with this racially inclined education policy. Ayam Kampung: Sad to see how far Malaysia has sunk on the regional and world stage. We have completely destroyed the solid educational foundation given to us by the British - ironically, a solid British-centric education system grounded in English is the biggest 'gift' we got from our colonial masters. Now, our young people can't even string together a proper sentence in English. What hope does this country have when our 'jaguh kampung' (someone who is successful in their local community) politicians continue to champion the national language above everything else, and our education continues to veer from a science- and culture-heavy focus into blind religious extremism? I see very little hope left for our country. Sad. BluePanther4725: It's no surprise. All this while, the government, whether it's BN, Perikatan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan, did not pay attention to education. They consistently appointed low-calibre education ministers to ensure there was no improvement in our education system. To add further damage, more attention is paid to religious education, like tahfiz schools. In national schools, the teachers and curriculum are paying more attention to religious studies. This is an insidious strategy by politicians to keep our people and young people lowly educated so that they will continue to believe in the lies of the politicians. The greatest fear of the politicians and religious authorities is that our youths become smart enough to reject them. TC: Many Malaysians are hired as professionals in Singapore and other countries. Just wondering how they beat the lower education system. Maybe the survey can be improved from generalisation to specification. The Illusion Of Choice: Our very smart education minister has proudly declared that our education system is on par with (and maybe even superior to) Singapore and Japan. This Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) study must be wrong. BusinessFirst: Of course, that goes without saying. We have the best prime minister in the history of all humanity naturally his personally appointed education minister must at least be the best in living memory. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
