Posted in ASEAN, Liberty on March 8th, 2013 No Comments »
I have a fundamental objection to the Sulu and the Philippine claims of Sabah. Calling it the claim of Sabah is somewhat inaccurate because if the Philippine claim is wholly based on the Sulu claim, then by right the claim only covers roughly the eastern half of Sabah. Nevertheless, the objection that I have is [...]
Posted in Economics, Politics & government, Society on November 9th, 2012 No Comments »
The implementation of the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) is proving to be so controversial that even federal backbenchers are joining the federal opposition in criticizing the system. For the uninitiated, the AES is a privately-financed and operated system of speed traps under the purview of the Road Transport Department (JPJ). It has two functions: catch [...]
Posted in Economics, Politics & government on June 26th, 2012 No Comments »
I understand the case for the breaking up of the Eurozone. I do appreciate the virtue behind a flexible exchange rate, especially for cases like Greece. There is a need for rebalancing that a monetary union cannot provide. Yet, I am uneasy at the suggestion of a break-up, of Grexit, because deep inside of me, [...]
Posted in Politics & government, Society on April 24th, 2012 No Comments »
I have been accused as a purist when it comes to defining the term liberal. I subscribe to a specific definition of the term liberal that will disqualify many other self-proclaimed liberals quickly. By specific, I am referring to libertarianism. Others prefer the term classical liberals and I find it hard to really differentiate the [...]
Posted in Politics & government on March 5th, 2012 1 Comment »
Ceciro spoke eloquently, against Catiline’s betrayal, will libertarians protest fully, against Koch’s betrayal?
Posted in Conflict & disaster on February 6th, 2012 No Comments »
I know I said no to foreign military intervention in Libya when its civil war erupted. I reasoned that such intervention would rob legitimacy from any success out of the rebellion against the Gaddafi administration. In retrospect, I vastly underestimated the popularity of the rebellion. Foreign intervention did not matter much in determining the perceived [...]
Posted in Politics & government on November 26th, 2011 1 Comment »
In our modern Malaysia, one can hope that government policy comes about through the general will of the people peacefully through democratic means. One can further hope that this mean not merely crass majoritarianism but that which is respectful of individual rights. After all, the government and the state derive its legitimacy from the people, [...]
Posted in Conflict & disaster, Personal, Society on September 11th, 2011 1 Comment »
I have told this story many times to friends. I just woke up from sleep. It was sometime between 8AM and 9AM. My first semester at Michigan. The first or the second week of class. Chemistry class was due at 10AM. Or really, ten after ten. It was Michigan time, you see. I needed to [...]
Posted in Society on September 5th, 2011 No Comments »
When parties voluntarily enter into an agreement, there is a minimum of what is expected of them. In the case of Petknode, the customers pay the company RM3.95 per night. In return, Petknode will provide care for the customers’ cat pets. Simple and uncontroversial responsibilities. Many would take that for granted. I would. Those responsibilities [...]
Posted in Liberty, Society on July 26th, 2011 1 Comment »
I am a secularist. I strongly believe in the separation of the state and religion. At the very least, the state should not interfere in personal belief within libertarian constraint and religion should not influence the state to the extent that it transgresses individual liberty. Although there are other concerns I have written throughout this [...]
The name is Hafiz Noor Shams.
For more about me, please go here.