About Unscientific Malaysia

[This about page has not been changed since 2009. We will be updating it shortly in conjunction with our second anniversary. Stay tuned.]

What is Unscientific Malaysia?

Unscientific Malaysia (short: UnMsia or UM) is a Malaysian community that promotes science, scepticism & free-thought. We cover issues of science, religion, superstitions, civil rights, supernatural hogwash and other poppycock.

Besides that, we are also on Facebook and Twitter (@unmsia); where we function as news aggregator and a place for our fans to discuss issues they cannot anywhere else.

We aim to gather as many rationalists, humanists, freethinkers, secularists and/or sceptics as we can find in Malaysia.

Why start Unscientific Malaysia?

We find Malaysia under a double threat:

1. The culture of ignorance: As a result of a dismal education system, most Malaysians are prone to explain things away with superstitions and religion when a more rational thinking is required. Constant consumption of and feeding by mindless media has resulted in the dumbing down of society. Malaysia is still knee-deep in scientific illiteracy.
2. Unscientific status quo: By reasons unknown, secular Malaysia is being led by religious authorities (specifically Islamic). They play a big role in our governance: influencing our policies, policing citizens on dubious moral standards and see themselves as the gatekeeper to truth. Seemingly backed by God, they feel invincible and this does not bode well for our country.

We say “no more”!

The only way to advance Malaysia and combat these threats is to hold fast to our creed:

QUESTION EVERYTHING.

And that is why we started this blog.

When was Unscientific Malaysia started?

Our first post was back on 22nd September 2009.

We started our Facebook page the month after that, and started tweeting on 22nd December 2009:

Dr Tang & Dr Cheng from UIA blasted JAKIM & PPIM's Datuk Dr Maamor Osman's statement on bak kut teh's "halal... http://bit.ly/4Q3tQo

23/12/2009 1:05 AM via FacebookReplyRetweetFavorite

@unmsia

UnscientificMalaysia

Where did you guys get the name Unscientific Malaysia?

We stole borrowed it from Unscientific America, a book about scientific illiteracy in USA, one of the most religious country in the world. This same epidemic runs in Malaysia.

To Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum, we hope you guys do not mind us borrowing your style. After all, we are on the same boat.

Who are the guys behind Unscientific Malaysia?

We are a loose coalition of friends and thinkers that includes:

• Zurairi AR (@zurairi)
  Editor, Founder
• Ashrel (http://ashrel.deviantart.com/)
  Graphics Designer
• Hawa O (@hawayou)
  Writer, Co-founder
• Zeffri Yusof (@zeffri)
  Writer
• Colin Shafer
  Writer
  
• Shawn Shim (@tetchon)
  Contributing Sub-Editor
• Darrick Lim
  Writer
• Rewarp (@thestrayworld)
  Writer

How do I contribute to Unscientific Malaysia?

Send your articles (or stuff) to this email address: unscientific [dot] msia [at] gmail [dot] com.

We are also looking for people willing to work their asses off for free. Apply to the same email address.