SIVAM BALAN - CONDOLENCE: A good man, a great loss to us all

-
ON Feb 28, Sivam Balan, the press secretary to Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, died in a road accident. He was 35.He was well liked, especially among the media fraternity. Wherever Dr Subramaniam was, Sivam was also present. Some had even mistaken him for Dr Subramaniam's son.Not many know that Sivam was known in the literary field, having written poems, short stories and essays.

He had also translated selected Malay poems and the Federal Constitution into Tamil. Sivam was from a humble background. His parents were rubber tappers. In Sivam's writings, he had always used his background as a platform to express the difficulties he faced in lifeHe also studied law at Universiti Malaya. While in university, he was active and was involved in numerous charitable works for the Indian community.

Sivam's death is a great loss to family, friends and society. We pray for his soul to rest in peace and hope that his family will cope in the face of this challenge.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Smart Security, Free Society: Malaysia’s Data Dilemma

-
In today’s digitally driven world, national security is no longer confined to borders or traditional threats. Cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and asymmetric warfare have become the new frontiers of conflict. Malaysia, strategically located in Southeast Asia and increasingly exposed to regional tensions and internal vulnerabilities, must strengthen its security apparatus. However, doing so must not come at the cost of civil liberties. Malaysia can enhance its security strategy by leveraging insights from advanced data platforms like those pioneered by Palantir Technologies, while maintaining strong democratic oversight to safeguard the fundamental freedoms protected by the Federal Constitution. Palantir Technologies, a U.S.-based company, gained prominence in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Its core software, Gotham, was designed to integrate fragmented intelligence and provide real-time, actionable insights to military and intelligence agencies. Over the years,...
Read more

Syringe Attacks in Malaysia and France: Random Violence or Terrorism? - Part 3

-
The syringe attack on the 12-year-old son of Pandan MP and former Economy Minister, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, has shaken Malaysia. What initially appeared as a rare and bizarre incident now echoes a disturbing pattern witnessed abroad, notably in France. In June 2025, during the Fête de la Musique festival, over 145 people across France reported being pricked with syringes in crowded public areas. In both cases, the weapon of fear was not a gun or bomb but a syringe. When viewed together, the Rafizi incident and the mass needle attacks in France reveal an alarming global trend of unconventional, psychological violence that leaves behind not just physical uncertainty but emotional trauma. The question we must now ask is: are these acts simply random criminality, or should they be treated with the gravity of terrorist attacks? A Pattern Beyond Borders In France, the attacks spanned multiple cities, with 13 confirmed cases in Paris alone. Victims included women, men, and even min...
Read more

Constitution of Malaysia: An Introduction Part 5

-
7 (1) No person shall be punished for an act or omission which was not punishable by law when it was done or made, and no person shall suffer greater punishment for an offence than was prescribed by law at the time it was committed. (2) A person who has been acquitted or convicted of an offence shall not be tried again for the same offence except where the conviction or acquittal has been quashed and a retrial ordered by a court superior to that by which he was acquitted or convicted.
Read more