PopTEEVee

Hi gang,

This week, we speak with Balinese activist Termana Ngurah about the reformasi of the late 1990s, and its continued effects on the student and civil society movements in Indonesia. Check out the episode at: http://popteevee.popfolio.net/default.aspx?e=50

Termana took part in the recent REFORMASI'LAH! - Membincangkan (lagi) 10 Tahun Reformasi Malaysia dan Indonesia forum, comparing the different trajectories of the Reformasi in both countries. He shares with us how Indonesians became quickly disillusioned after the initial euphoria of ousting President Suharto, and decided to focus on building local communities and fighting against the State's interference in their personal lives and local politics. Lots of interesting parallels to consider for Malaysians.

Termana Ngurah is an activist with the Taman 65 collective in Bali, Indonesia. He is in KL for 2 months with the Strategic Information and Research Development Centre (SIRD).

Download, forward, embed!

Mark Teh (producer of Fahmi Reza's Revolusi 48)

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEBATE DEC 2008

People,

Bar Council is organizing its inaugural HR Debate for participants next week!!!! FREE to watch and to see the fireworks!! This should be verrrrrrrrry EXCITING! So, do make time to go.

Unfortunately, no public transport to KDU College--you will need car or cab to get there--but can take LRT to Central Market or Masjid Jamek and walk to Bar Council Office, no problem. Very near both LRT stations.

For full info, please go check out: http://hrdebate08.wordpress.com/

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Topics will be given on the day itself so it will be a surprise!)

a) Day one (9 December 2008):
At Bar Council, 13, 15 & 17 Leboh Pasar Besar, KL
8 - 11 a.m. Opening ceremony

b) Day two (10 December 2008):
All events at KDU College , PJ Campus

10 - 11 a.m. Round one
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Round two
2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Round three

c) Day three (11 December 2008):
All events at KDU College , PJ Campus
10 - 11 a.m. Round four
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Round five
2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Quarterfinals

d) Day four (12 December 2008): Venue as specified below
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Semifinals (Debate Category) @ KDU College
2 - 3 p.m. Public Speaking Preliminary/ Semi-Final round @ KDU College
8 - 11 p.m. Grand Finals & Closing @ Bar Council, 13, 15 & 17 Leboh Pasar Besar, KL

Bicycle Campaign

1.0 Introduction
Oppressed People’s Network (JERIT) has initiated a nationwide cycling campaign that carries the theme of ’Rakyat Pengayuh Perubahan’ which explains the rakyat drives the change. The participants for this campaign comes from various background such as from plantation workers support comittee, industrial workers’ coalition, farmers, urban pioneers, students and youth groups.

Other NGOs, trade unions, human right groups and political partys also will be a part in this campaign. The idea of this campaign is to reach the public by cycling to city and main town in Malaysia whilst spreading awareness on the issue that affects them extremely such as oil price hike, draconian laws against people, global issues i.e. food crisis and dying planet.

This core issues has been overshadowed by the twisted political scenario and economical that takes away rakyat’s mind and focus from the real problem their are facing daily.

Therefore, the cycling campaign would be a great move to empower the rakyat to focus on their real life issues and demand for change.

Main Objectives

1. To increase awareness to rakyat on their real problems and solutions.
2. To increase awareness among rakyat to be enviroment friendly to save our dying earth.
3. To popularise JERIT’s main demands amongst the people

• Enact Minimum wage Act
• Abolish draconian laws
• Adequate housing for all
• Controllled and affordable goods’ price
• Revive local municipal council’s election.
• Stop privitisation of public services such air water, hospitals and education.

Campaign Duration
The campaign will be tentatively launched on the 22nd of November 2008 and continues for three weeks.

Work Plan

1. 150 cyclist will cycle through at least to 50 state’s main town and city whistl distributing pamphlets.
2. Programmes like speeches, street dramas or carnival will be arranged and participated by the local people at the each stop in states.
3. A memorandum will be handed over to the Menteri Besar of each state during the cyclist tour in the respective state in order to get their support and endorsement on the JERIT demands.
4. The campaign will kicks of from three points of the country as mentioned in the route below :

• Northern Malaysia: Perlis-Penang-Perak-Selangor-Kuala Lumpur
• Southern Malaysia: Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur
• Eastern Malaysia: Kelantan , Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur

Highlight of the Campaign
The cyclist will be arriving in Kuala Lumpur and the highligh event will be the handing over memorandum to the Prime Minister at the parliament. This event will be witnessed by approximately 1000 people from the Coalition and partners in this campaign.

Expenditure
The total cost of the campaign is estimated to be around RM270,000.

Amnest-DEMA Human Rights Camp Penang

Calling all youths out there!!

Amnesty International Malaysia and DEMA will be organizing a 3-day Human Rights Youth Camp for the first time in Penang from 29th Nov - 1st Dec.

Come and learn about fundamental human rights, the Malaysian human rights realities, movies, games, exposure trip to see and speak to human rights victims and how they stand up for their rights, as well as discussions, sharing sessions with human rights activists and many more!

Fees: RM30 (inclusive of meals, accomodation, transportation for the exposure trip)

Venue: Yayasan Aman, Permatang Pauh, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Hurry! Register quickly as we have limited places!

For more information, please contact Yohen at 03-79552680 or Ti Hui at 017-6663855.

Itineraries:

Saturday
9-10am - Registration
10-11am - Ice breaking / introductions/ expectation checks
11-1pm - Introduction to human rights
1-2pm - Lunch
2-4pm - Analysis of Malaysian Human Rights Situation
4-6pm - Sex and Gender
6-8pm - Bath/ Dinner
8-830pm- Exposure Trip briefing
830-11pm - Human Rights Movie sharing
11pm - supper / end

SUNDAY
8-9am - Breakfast
9-4pm - Exposure trip to 4 different issues locations
4-6pm - Group discussion and preparations for presentation
6-7pm - Tele-match
7-830pm - Bath / Dinner
830-11pm - Group presentations
11pm - Supper / end

MONDAY
730-830am - Breakfast
830-11am - Case Study
11-1230pm - Activist Sharing session
1230-130pm - Lunch
130-3pm - Youth participation session
3-330pm - Introduction to AI + DEMA
330-4pm - Conclusion / end
4-5pm - Tidy up / Depart

*Issue and locations of the exposure trips will be informed to the participants at the venue itself.

Race matters in Obama's appointment

BY A. ASOHAN

"According to exit polls reported by the BBC, Obama got only 43% of the white vote compared with the 55% his opponent John McCain got. When it came to Hispanic votes, Obama scored 66% to McCain’s 31%.

But it was the black vote that was the most telling – McCain managed only 4%, while Obama scored a resounding 95%.

...

But the world’s declaration that America has looked beyond race in electing Obama is naive.
It is an important first step, sure, but America will only have transcended race when a white man votes for a black man, and a black man votes for a white man, without giving a damn what his skin colour is. "

Read more here.

Bangsa Sendiri than Bangsa Malaysia

I can go on and on about Bangsa Malaysia but what attracted me was the lecture given by Tun Dr. Mahathir. Impressive !

Bangsa Malaysia. I think first we have to understand the meaning of the word Bangsa Malaysia. Bangsa Malaysia may have many interpretations and i define is as, I race where there is no discrimination between inner ethnicity, gender age and etc. Being as one for fight for what is believed to be good and profitable to many people. Have concern and care for the unfortunate with out seeing difference. Have a proper political system and no barrier between the ruling class. I think that is a part of what I think is Bangsa Malaysia.

I think that Malaysia is not really to have a Bangsa Malaysia. There are problems that has to be faced first before this new rage of Bangsa in being introduced. we have to ask ourselves why. Look around! What do we see?

This is what I saw: A Chinese boy was having tea with Malay.I will call them A and B. They looked like friends.A and B were have a normal conversation and joking to each other. Both of them don't hate each other. They don't feel hatred towards the opposite race. That's good. Then after sometime both of them went back. While on the way back he met with a racist Malay and that gave hatred in him saying that " Malays are racist" So I will be racist. This effected A and B's friendship.... The moral of the story is, no matter how happily a person is with another race but there will be discrimination among other races.

Let me prove something. There are a large group of Malays will not be satisfied is any benefit is given to other races. Simple, UITM case. Having a mix student population is good but looks like the Malays see education as religion. UITM is for us not for others. So we are nowhere to Bangsa Malaysia.

The Chinese, Haha. Quite a number of Chinese will only go on to fight or support something only if it has to do with Chinese. You name it, Chinese schools, poverty, culture, language and etc.If there is no effects to the Chinese community, sorry to say there will be no support from the Chinese. They are united but among themselves. I have seen cases where a particular community held a protest against the ruling government.This incident happened late September 2007 They protested not to close a Gas station in Kepong. The station belonged to a Chinese man. It was a "Caltex" Gas station beside it was Petronas Gas station. Dunno what is wrong with the gas station, the government ordered it to be closed.

Personally I think the reason for the government wanted to close the gas Station was because there was a Chinese school just beside the premise. Just beside it. Maybe government takut, nanti Station blow the School students also blow. I don't really know. But during the protest, there were parents who brought their children to protest together as if like there is no other Gas station or maybe their kids are in need of gasoline. The scene was so funny. Oh yea, those kids i told, they were from the school beside the Gas station. With uniforms they were brought to the protest. Was a sunny day and kids who are suppose to be studying and leaning were out on the roads with parents in the name of supporting. United to the extreme. I think that what they did was wrong! Protest for a wrong purpose and using the wrong idea.

Land problems are between the person and the government/land office. There is no need to have a protest. Is this what we call as Bangsa Malaysia?

Indians. Please lah. Let me keep it simple. Indians will give a helping only if there is any reward. Not all there are a number of them and Indians are very good in influencing other Indians do do something if they have reward. Sorry. Im an Indian and I have seen a lot of this "bs" so don't come and bull with me.

In short we cant be going to Bangsa Malaysia if we are only back up our own race. Race based party should be abolish first of all. I think for now we can do that. They are not serving the purpose but they are just there flashing their flags and banners. Abolish alone will not do. There has to be parties where it is multiracial or else die,,, Some are out there just to find fault and to create chaos. They are able to input wrong information into our brains. " This party is 1 race based. They will not fight for our rights. " Bla bla bla. I think that race is not a factor to have leaders . Why? If a country is being run by all Chinese, I don't think there will be a problem as long as they are able to relate and understand the peoples needs and not being favorable to on particular race.

We are progressing but to reach Bangsa Malaysia, still far way to go. What we can do is speed things up. Speeding in a civilized and manned way. We don't want to be called baboons or monkey as they breed in the Malaysian Parliament.

Revolusi Jakarta 98

The year 1998 was a chaotic year for Indonesia. The nation which was ruled by Suharto faced financial crisis and Suharto's government was full of corruption. University students and other who were dissatisfied had held massive protests against the government. The nation was at the state of war when military forces were brought in to handle the situation.

There was massive killing done by the army and there were 3 major incident which had cause the revolution of Indonesia.
1)Tragedi Trisakti
2) Tragedi Semanggi 1
3) Tragedi Semanggi 2

Students very much like us, fought against live bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas just for changes.They fought so that they and the future generation can have a better life. There has to be sacrifices in order to gain or achieve something. Taken example from Indonesia, from May till December 1998, thousands of students died but the struggle did not stop. Students like you and me, not poor either rich wanted a fair and balanced government, a government which will fulfill all their needs.After reading and knowing about what happened in Indonesia, Malaysia shares similar situations but jut not that bad but if no actions are taken I think Malaysia will be at state of war. Students as well as everybody else can make changes to have a better life but it takes courage and the will power to stand together and fight. There has to be unity among all ethnicity. Below are some links which tells and explains what happened in 1998 in Indonesia.

Links:

http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedi_Trisakti

http://www.insideindonesia.org/edit58/brown.htm

http://jakarta.indymedia.org/index.php

http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedi_Semanggi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta_riots_of_May_1998

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Revolution_of_1998

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia_1998_riot

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/jan-june98/indonesia_5-14.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/jan-june98/indonesia_5-14a.html

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9802/12/indonesia/index.html

POSTMODERNISM

Do you know this term? No doubt some of you do, but do you really understand the meaning of it?

The term postmodernism was coined by a Frenchman Jean Francois Lyotard (1924 - 98). It is a new approach to thinking about the world. Some call it an ideology. Postmodernism is not primarily political. Although postmodernism is not generally thought of as an ideology, let alone a political ideology, it can lead to a position that asserts with absolute certainty that there is no truth. This crude form of postmodernism can sometimes look a lot like an ideology, but most postmodernist take a different position, arguing that truth depends on where you stand.

In this form, postmodernism has potential for undermining belief in any ideology because ideologies have traditionally claimed to have the singular truth, to be universal. Today, influenced by postmodernism, we in the 21st-century are much more aware of the local and contingent, and if the standpoint is ideological, postmodernism can be seen as actually reinforcing ideologies rather than undermine them. Each ideology is now probably best thought of as composed of subsets of closely related ways of viewing the world.

A complication for most of us is that we stand in more than once place. We view the world through lenses provided by ideology, gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and so forth. For many people, one of these will dominate, but others look through different glasses at different times regarding different issues. Most of us manage this shifts in perspective without conflict, often without even realising that we are doing so. We see ourselves as a whole rather than as multiple selves.

I'm thinking of writing about anarchism next. Any suggestions of would be welcome.

Reformasi'lah!

Membincangkan (lagi) 10 Tahun Reformasi Malaysia dan Indonesia
Discussion on 10 Years of Reformasi in Malaysia and Indonesia



REFORMASI Sebuah kata yang banyak didengungkan, bergema di Malaysia dan Indonesia. Puluhan ribu hingga jutaan orang turun ke jalan meneriakkan REFORMASI menuntut adanya perubahan.Sepuluh tahun telah usianya, adakah perubahan itu?Apakah reformasi sekarang hanya menjadi sebuah kata tanpa makna? Apakah reformasi masih merupakan sebuah gerakan yang patut diperjuangkan?Atau hanya menjadi slogan yang menyimpan kisah-kisah heroik para pejuangnya? Lalu bagaimana dengan masa depan reformasi?

REFORMASI is a word that is frequently being bandied about, resonating in Malaysia and Indonesia. Thousands, if not millions of people flood the streets roaring 'REFORMASI' and demanding CHANGE. Already a decade old, but has there been CHANGE? Or, has REFORMASI now become a meaningless word? Should we continue with the struggle for REFORMASI? Or, is REFORMASI just a slogan that conjures images of the heroics of REFORMASI fighters? So, what now? Is there a future for REFORMASI?

Panelis:
1. Sdr. Amirudin Shaari | ADUN Batu Caves, Selangor
2. Sdr. Fathi Aris Omar | Pengarang Berita Malaysiakini (Edisi BM), Penulis Buku "Patah Balek"
3. Sdr. Hishamuddin Rais | Pengarang Buku "Pilihan Raya atau Pilihan Jalan Raya", "Keganasan, Penipuan & Internet"
4. Sdr. Ngurah Termana | Aktivis Komunitas "Taman 65" Bali, Indonesia
5. Sdr. Yoshi Fajar Kresno Murti | Aktivis Kampung-Kota Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Moderator:
Faisal Mustaffa

Tempat | Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Selangor & Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Maharajalela Kuala Lumpur
Hari bulan | Khamis, 13 November 2008
Waktu | 8 - 11 pm
Pertanyaan | Zulhabri: 019 389 3804

Saksikan juga pemutaran filem 9808!

http://9808films.wordpress.com
http://www.gerakbudaya.com

Mr. Chong Ton Sin
Pengarah Eksekutif, SIRD

The Global Financial Crisis & Implications for Malaysia Forum

Date:	12 November 2008
Time:	18:00 - 20:00
Location:	Dewan Kuliah 3, Faculty of Business & Accountancy, Universiti Malaya
	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2008 has seen the United States experience one of the worst economic crises in two decades, disasters in its subprime market leading to housing foreclosures, and the complete disintegration of the banking and financial system. America and other European governments have stepped in to bail out companies suffering from tremendous losses, whilst the stock markets around the world have plunged to dangerous levels.

The Asian markets are not spared: Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia have and will continue to experience shocks. RM33 billion has been wiped out of the Malaysian stock market in the past two weeks. The world is one global market; hence no one country is excluded from the negative impacts reverberating on foreign shores. Analysts have predicted an impending global financial crisis worse than that witnessed in the 1997 crisis, reminiscent of the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

It is therefore necessary to discuss the impacts such a Global Financial Crisis will have on Malaysia in an open and transparent manner. The CPPS brings together economic experts to raise real issues and how Malaysians will be affected. Speakers will also discuss those most badly affected from different spectrums of society: small businesses, low-to-middle income groups, and the average citizen. How resilient really is the Malaysian economy to weather external storms and shocks? How sufficient are Malaysian reserves, especially as the government embarks on continued pump-priming measures to stimulate growth? What are some steps that should be urgently taken as alternative means?

Join us as we bring together experts to engage in dialogue with members of the public.

Programme
6.00pm:Welcoming Remarks, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Chairman, Centre for Public Policy Studies

6.15pm: Panel Discussion
• Dr. R. Thillainathan, Former Advisor, Genting Bhd.
• Prof. Dr. Sieh Mei Ling, Adjunct Professor, Universiti Malaya
• Dato' Syed Amin Aljeffri, President, KL Malay Chamber of Commerce*
• Teh Chi-Chang, Economic Advisor to Democratic Action Party Secretary-General
• Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, SUHAKAM Commissioner, SUHAKAM
• Stewart Forbes, Executive Director, Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry. *

Moderator: Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Chairman, Centre for Public Policy Studies

* = unconfirmed speakers

7.00pm: Interaction with the Floor/Open Roundtable Discussion

8.00pm: Forum Ends

For further information, please contact Noel at (03) 20934209 or via email at noel@cpps.org.