THE MERDEKA CELEBRATION: Diary

Dialogue Hidup tanahair ku!

You are all invited to the above Dialogue (details below) to be held in Petaling Jaya. It will be great if you could publicise the event at your respective blogs as well as other web (and offline) channels. Also, please feel free to forward it to your friends. We look forward to your participation at the event, particularly with the line up of eminent speakers.

50 years ago, we were promised democracy. We were promised justice. We were promised equality. We were promised to be treated with human dignity. We were promised freedom.

In 1963, we became Malaysians and the notion of a Bangsa Malaysia was born. This was given form and substance by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his
Vision 2020 that set out 9 challenges for Malaysians to achieve a developed country.

No mention is made of Bangsa Malaysia by the Abdullah Administraton. Is the concept of Bangsa Malaysia still important or relevant in the light of failed promises in our original
social contract?

The DAP is holding a Dialogue in conjuction with the 50th Merdeka Anniversary celebrations this coming weekend.

Date: 19 August 2007 (Sunday)
Time: 2.00pm
Venue: Crystal Crown Hotel, Petaling Jaya

The panel of distinguished speakers include:
- Y Bhg Tunku Abdul Aziz, former President, Transparency International Malaysia
- Datuk Param Cumuraswamy, former Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, United Nations
- Mr Yeo Yang Poh, former Malaysian Bar Council Chairman
- YB Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader

Following the session, a dialogue will be conducted with the participants hosted
by another distinguished panel (subject to change):
- M Manogaran, President, Malaysian Tamil Education & Research Foundation
- Haris Ibrahim, Human Rights Lawyer ( harismibrahim.wordpress.com)
- Jeff Ooi, Prominent Malaysian Blogger ( www.jeffooi.com)
- Dr Oh Ei-Sun, East Malaysian Socio-Political Analyst

To ensure sufficient seats allocation, please register in advance with Lim Swee Kuan (03) 79578022 or via email at limsweekuan(at)gmail.com.

At the same time, the Party will take note of the views and opinions of the participants in formulating our vision for Malaysia, more pertinently, in preparation for the upcoming general elections. ;)


Bangsa Malaysia Merdeka Get-together
'Bangsa Malaysia : The Way Forward'

Date : 25th August, 2007
Time : 5.30pm (Forum) 8.30pm (Get-together)
Venue : Blog House ( home of Malaysian All Blogs )
No.66, Lorong Setiabistari, Damansara Heights, KL.

Confirmed speakers for the forum are :
1 ) Dato Zaid Ibrahim
2 ) Zorro Unmasked (Bernard Khoo)
3 ) Jayanath Appudurai
4 ) Rocky's Bru (Ahirudin Attan)
5 ) Malik Imtiaz Sarwar
6 ) Azmi Sharom

The 8.30pm Get-Together event can only accommodate 200 people due to space constraints, and attendance is by invitation. There will be no charge, however, light refreshments will be served.

For details, go to http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com to register for a invite.


Forum: INDEPENDENCE DURING EMERGENCY

29 August 2007

8 pm - 11 pm

Selangor Chinese Assemble Hall,

Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur.

History is often be written from the eyes of the victors. Interestingly
enough the independence of Malaya on 31 August was declared when the country
was still under the state of emergency. This emergency was withdrawn on 31
July 1960 and the Internal Security Act (ISA) was put in place the
following day.

Why is that the independence of 1957 was declared during the period of
emergency? What was the actual situation of the country at that point in
time? So what really happened before the independence? Who was the leaders
or leading patriots who fought for independence who were eventually
sidelined and what was the nature of the peoples' movement that existed
during that time.

Now we are celebrating the 50th year of independence. What does this
independence mean. These are the issues that will be highlighted and be
presented by well known speakers in the forum.

Chaired by :

Dr. Rohana Ariffin- Researcher & Social Activist

Ahli Panel

Said Zahari -

Former Editor of Utusan dan Leader of Partai Rakyat Singapura

Chen Jian -

Independent Researcher of the Malaysian Left Movement

Fahmi Reza-

Director of Documentary - 10 years before Merdeka

S.Arutchelvan

Secretary General , Parti Sosialis Malaysia

Organised by :

Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Tel: 03-22747791 , 019-2537791. email - psmhq@tm.net. my


50th Merdeka Anniversary Nation-Building Dialogue
50 Years in History: 1957 - 2007
–

Date: August 30, 2007 – (Thursday)
Time: 9.30am
Venue: Auditorium 7, SUNWAY University College, Bandar Sunway

Special Addresses: Experiences, Struggles and Lessons from the Past

1 ) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, former Prime Minister of Malaysia
2 ) Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, former President of MCA and Parti Gerakan

Moderator:
Dato' Dr Michael Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI)

Question & Answer Session:
Dialogue Session on Building a United Malaysian Nation

Special Panel Discussants:
1 ) Dr Chandra Muzaffar, President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
2 ) Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Simon Sipaun, Vice-Chairman, SUHAKAM and former Sabah State Secretary
3 ) Reverend Dr Hermen Shastri, Secretary-General, Council of Churches Malaysia.
4 ) Mr Ragunath Kesavan, Vice-President, Malaysian Bar Council
5 ) Toh Puan Uma Sambanthan, Wife of former MIC President, Tun V. T. Sambanthan

Moderator:
Dato' Dr Michael Yeoh

The event is jointly organised by Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) and Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS). Refreshments will be served.

For details, please call 03-20932820 (Jessica or Tricia).

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 8/16/2007 12:16:00 pm ...