Alwyn Lau | Opinion | Malay Mail

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said Bukit Aman is reviewing possible links to a wider drug syndicate after a Malaysia Airlines pilot was accused of carrying more than 70,000 ecstasy pills to Indonesia. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 7 h ago

Police seek KLIA CCTV in probe into Malaysia Airlines pilot accused of smuggling RM45m in ecstasy to Jakarta

Frequent afternoon rain has continued in parts of Malaysia despite the Southwest Monsoon. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Malaysia / 9 h ago

Hot mornings, rainy afternoons: Why Malaysia keeps getting thunderstorms despite the dry season

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state assembly is expected to clarify this week the status of an unnamed assemblyman reportedly declared bankrupt. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 5 h ago

Selangor assembly to clarify lawmaker’s status this week after reported bankruptcy, says Amirudin

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) has today reduced the price of its Axia model, Malaysia’s most affordable compact car model, by up to RM4,700, effective immediately. — Picture via Facebook/Perodua

Money / 4 h ago

Perodua slashes Axia prices by up to RM4,700, effective immediately nationwide

Thai immigration officers arrested a Malaysian man and a Vietnamese woman after they allegedly tried to bribe police to free three Chinese nationals detained without valid travel documents. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Malaysia / 7 h ago

Malaysian alleged human-trafficking ringleader held in Thailand after ‘coffee money’ bribe attempt

Is this a plate of happiness? Rumah Asap Kanid’s set meal, which includes rice drizzled with braised pork comes with tender, grilled Kanid’s 3 Layer Pork, Daun Ubi Tumbuk and two types of chilli sauces. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi

Eat-drink / 7 h ago

From Sarawak to Petaling Jaya: Rumah Asap Kanid brings Dayak barbecue to Damansara Jaya’s Restoran Ah Pei Char Siu

Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts gather at the Terengganu Motor Circuit in Gong Badak, Kuala Nerus, for RXZ Members 8.0, held from July 31 to August 1. — Picture via Facebook/rxzmemberofficial

Malaysia / 4 h ago

Terengganu police chief: Five deaths, 1,850 summonses and 222 motorcycles seized during RXZ Members 8.0 gathering

Lightning can occur even during light drizzle or strike up to 16 kilometres away from the centre of a thunderstorm. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 9 h ago

Protect yourself from lightning: MetMalaysia debunks dangerous thunderstorm myths

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has asked the Court of Appeal to admit three additional documents and recall a prosecution witness in her corruption appeal. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Malaysia / 5 h ago

Rosmah seeks fresh evidence in solar corruption appeal, claims witness was pressured to implicate her

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has revealed that some locals are believed to be protecting illegal immigrants, including Rohingya, making enforcement efforts more challenging. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 3 h ago

Selangor MB reveals locals shielding Rohingya, warns collusion obstructs enforcement efforts

Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said Kuala Lumpur needs greater cooperation with Selangor to develop more retention ponds as land in the capital becomes increasingly scarce. — Picture by Yusof Isa

Malaysia / 2 h ago

FT minister turns to Selangor for retention ponds as KL runs out of land

Lawyer Kitson Foong is representing the 15-year-old boy accused of murdering his schoolmate at a Bandar Utama school last year. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Malaysia / 2 h ago

Murder trial begins for 15-year-old accused of fatally stabbing schoolmate in Bandar Utama

Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof will undergo heart bypass surgery at the National Heart Institute, with his condition reported to be stable. — Bernama pic

Malaysia / 6 h ago

DPM Fadillah to undergo heart bypass surgery at IJN

Melaka Opposition leader Mohd Yadzil Yaakub and Parti Wawasan Negara president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in a photo dated February 27, 2026. Mohd Yadzil expects Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional leaders to hold talks soon over a possible electoral understanding ahead of the state election. — Picture via Facebook/mohdyadzil

Malaysia / 7 h ago

Melaka Opposition leader expects BN-Perikatan talks soon on state election pact

The licensed hunting team with the 18.7‑foot crocodile caught near Marudi bridge on Sunday. — The Borneo Post pic

Malaysia / 6 h ago

Sarawak hunters haul in record 18.7-foot crocodile, 10th catch along Baram River this year

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

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) today reaffirmed its commitment to supporting multi-agency efforts to safeguard Malaysia’s borders against illegal activities. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

3 m ago

MAHB pledges full support, vows tighter airport security after pilot’s Indonesia drug arrest

Firefighters work at the scene after a tree fell on a pickup truck along Jalan Janda Baik in Bentong, killing four people and injuring a child on August 3, 2026. — Bomba pic

18 m ago

Four killed, child injured after tree crushes Ford Raptor in Bentong

The United States (US) is committed to continuing to strengthen close ties with Malaysia, including in the defence sector, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. — Bernama pic

24 m ago

Defence Minister Khaled confirms US pledge to deepen Malaysia cooperation at military conference