(I have been so pressed for time, I did not get the chance to update this blig as regularly as I would like. Many apologies)
IDEAS was officially launched today at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial. Some initial press coverage can be found below, but obviously the online media is quicker to publish than printed ones.
Report 1:
In new think tank, the Tunku’s vision is channelled”
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Muhriz remembers the story of how the country’s first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, had stopped “Umno ultras” from burning the Royal Lake Club here “for being too white.” The Tunku had prevented its destruction by appointing himself as the club’s president, he said at the launch of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), a new think-tank set up by him to promote democratic ideals and rooted in the Tunku’s vision for the country. Today was chosen to launch Ideas to coincide with the Tunku’s birthday
Report 2:
Razaleigh to Umno: Don’t compromise on democracy
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 8, 2010): Veteran politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has warned Umno that the party risks losing its grip on power if it fails to live up to democratic ideals as laid out by the founding fathers. “My concern is that Umno will be booted out of power … and I don’t want to see that,” said Razaleigh after launching a new think-tank called IDEAS (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs) at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial in Jalan Dato Onn this morning.
Report 3:
Tunku would have been a blogger
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — If Tunku Abdul Rahman were still alive he would not only be 107-year-old but a blogger too, said his grand daughter Sharyn Lisa Shufiyan today. “He had a vision of a different Malaysia and if he were alive he would take up blogging.” said the 25-year-old programme coordinator with Wild Asia, referring to the online journal popular among the younger set. She pointed out Tunku had always been vocal and even after he resigned as prime minister, he didn’t stop. “He had a column in the Star and is famous for criticising Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed”. Sharyn who was among three generations of Tunku’s family at the launch of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, at his memorial in Jalan Dato Onn, pointed out he was a proponent of “unity and racial acceptance.”
Report 4:
Ku Li says Malaysia is a sham democracy
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (picture) called Malaysia a democracy which only existed in name only, and said that reforms could not be expected from the incumbents in power, in an apparent attack against Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN). “To modify Tunku’s words, we now have a democracy existing in name, but grievously compromised in substance, reality and fact,” Tengku Razaleigh said today when launching Ideas, a new think-tank set up to promote democratic ideals, at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial today.
Report 5:
New Think Tank IDEAS Launched on Auspicious Day
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 FEB, 2010: A new think tank called the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) was launched today rightfully on Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Memorial Day. IDEAS is to replace Malaysia Think Tank and is Malaysia’s first think tank dedicated to promoting market-based solutions to public policy challenges. The main purpose is to advance market-based principles without being bound by race or religion.
Filed under: Freedom & Liberty, Malaysia
“…without being bound by race or religion.”
Hail the new God!
salam junior,
thanks for sharing.
[...] more about IDEAS here and [...]
Noble ideals come from minds/hearts that have conquered fear!
Wan, Pls call when able?
Dato Radzi 0192323888
1Malaysia International Business Foundation
salam,leh dapat no contact firdaus tak?sy mmbr dia skali nadwah kepimpinan islam dulu..