I think, that this is a great forum. Very intresting and useful.
But I can’t find the search function, cause I want faster find the topics that could be intresting for me to express my opinion…
Please help me with search function on this forum!

we do try our best to get our msg of positivity out there. access to media is a major problem for us, so even if our leaders repeat the msg everywhere they go as they have been, we don’t always reach enough ppl :(

you’re right that we can do more, we can always do more, even with limited resources and lots of sekatan. as soon as i can catch my breath, will attempt to put better mechanisms in place :)

hopefully next year, we’ll have better mechanisms in place to engage kind souls like yourself who might be able to help spread the msg of positivity!

Thanks for your quick reply. I have no issues with you posting my comment; but I’d like to remain anon. (

Now, why does your response sound so very similar to your party’s ‘official’ response? Highly defensive.

Instead of being or sounding Malay or Non-Malay enough, I think you should become or sound what PKR claims to stand for, as stated here: http://www.keadilanrakyat.org/index.php/content/view/38/21/ (which in my opinion is a good document, minus the word “bumiputera” [Point 10], which is UMNO-speak and anti-Malaysian).

I think what we want to hear – again, and again – is that Malaysia is for all Malaysians. We all have to work shoulder to shoulder with each other, where the fruits of our labour are distributed equitably to all without punishing initiative, so that we and our children and their children can live in a prosperous and just Malaysia. And, similarly, we also want to hear reassuring and promising words on heathcare, education, crime prevention, and general governance matters.

Too much negativity is not going get us anywhere. We want positive messages. Attack, by all means attack UMNO/BN’s ways and record, but please also suggest alternative policies/proposals for the public to consider.

Engage the NGOs – of all stripes (not just those left-leaning, rabble rousing ones) and explain your stand on issues and your programmes for change; of course, use that occasion to learn their concerns – what’s participatory democracy if not this? Democracy isn’t about winning elections, right?

My two cents-lah!

it’s a busy day for us, but will try my best to answer at least a little bit.

i do accept your criticism, as it seems more sincere than most :)

i was just discussing with my colleague this morning that the fact that malays accuse us of not being malay enough, while non-malays accuse us of not being non-malay enough probably means we’re at least close to doing the right thing.

obviously, we can’t please everyone. but we try our very best to stick as close to the middle ground as principles and integrity allow.

the party has come under serious, serious fire for even suggesting that the NEP needs to be reconsidered. the kind of fire that loses us elections. but we’re sticking to our position on this through and through.

of course, we cannot go as far as dap. quite simply because we are more mulitracial than dap. dap can only say what they say because they never worry about the malay vote. but for that exact same reason, they alone will never be able to implement any of the changes they are championing.

what i was trying to say at the forum was that this is what it comes down to – how much we are willing to compromise for change.

i don’t think it’s true that keadilan never stands up for minority rights, i think that’s quite false actually (and half our elected representatives are non-malay :P :)

we will never be able to satisfy people who talk only about non-malay rights day and night, in the same way that we will never be able to satisfy people who talk about malay rights day and night. this is because our commitment is to moderation, and choosing the path that will finally and realistically lead to meaningful change.

i tried to say many times that night, i know as well as (or more than) anyone that the party is not perfect and needs a lot of fixing, but it has its heart in the right place, and it has what it takes to bring about a new dawn for malaysia.

phew, ok, i better get back to work :P

now that i’ve written all this, i thought i’d request: is it ok to paste your e-mail as a comment on my blog? then i can paste this as a reply? i’m more than happy to use an anonymous name for you if you like :)

ok for now, back to work! thanks so much for all your support and concern, we really appreciate it :)

warmest,
nat :)

Your presentation the other day was excellent! I more or less agreed with all the points you put forward.

However, I found the answers you gave during the Q&A somewhat wanting. You were … hmm, let’s just say … overly defensive of PKR – which I am supportive of, possibly because it is the only other alternative to UMNO that we have – and your attempts to whitewash the party’s faults, its limitations, and racist leanings, didn’t sit well with the comments you so eloquently put forward during your earlier presentation.

PKR claims to be above the race equation peddled by UMNO/BN; yet, their actions too often mirrors that of UMNO. Perhaps in the earlier days they could say, well, after all we were once part of UMNO … so give us time, etc. But even after eight long years, that also saw a merger exercise with PRM, I still don’t see much change. Take your representatives (there are two of them, I think) in Parliament: how many times in the last three odd years have they stood up to defend minority rights, or any progressive agenda for that matter? They don’t even come in defence when the DAP takes up matters affecting the minorities. I wish PKR had done some serious soul searching after its defeat in Ijok. Of course that never happened. As usual, they blamed (it appeared to me from the outside) everyone else except themselves, their machinery (or its non-existence), and their strategic decisions.

Well, keep in touch. Meanwhile, salam perjuangan!

Any way to know of future forums like this?

I m going to be there

Thanks

nat: a good place is either this blog or bangkit.net. Thanks!

thank YOU for understanding!!! the majority in there are the most racist bigots ever. so so malu that these people actually represented the kaum.

It was a good forum to be in, though it was kinda sad that some of the speakers couldn’t turn up — for obvious reasons.

It was nice to see you in the flesh, and get to know some others who are passionate about their ideals as well.

Stay well, and happy belated birthday, Nat!