www.wansaiful.com

The Conservative Muslim Forum is organising a series of Policy Roundtables to look at various issues. Our aim is to produce a short Policy Briefing for the Party following each Roundtable. We therefore expect the Roundtables to be ‘learning dialogues’ in which we hope participants will actively join in the debate and contribute ideas to the discussion.

Places for all Roundtables are strictly limited. To attend, please register your interest by sending your details (name, occupation, contact details) to me via email wansaiful@gmail.com. Please register your interest early so that we can confirm your seat allocation.

Theme: Is it possible to have unity in a diverse society? A case study of Malaysia
Date: Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Time: 6.00pm for 6.15pm start, to 7.45pm. Please allow 20 minutes to pass security
Venue: House of Lords, Westminster, London.

Background: Malaysia’s is a diverse population. Ethnically, it comprises of Malays, Chinese, the indigenous people, Indians, and various tribes in the Borneo island. Religiously, the proportion of Muslim to non-Muslim is almost equal, with a healthy number of Christians, Buddhists and Hindus. The country has been working hard to maintain harmony between the different groups. With Britain becoming an increasingly plural society, what can British policy-makers and the Conservative Party learn from the experience of its former colony, Malaysia? How can we ensure unity in the increasingly diverse British society? Dr Ooi Kee Beng, Fellow, Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS) and an expert commentator on the sociopolitics on the South East Asian region will present his thoughts. Join us to discuss this important issue.

This event is jointly organised by the Conservative Muslim Forum and the Malaysia Think Tank London.

To attend, please send your name, occupation, and contact details to me via email: wansaiful@gmail.com

Abidin Muhriz wrote an excellent piece which can be found here.

Report published in Harakahdaily .

Pergerakan Islam antarabangsa kagumi kejayaan PAS
Anis Nazri
Wed | Jun 04, 08 | 11:43:57 am MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Jun (Hrkh) - Kemenangan PAS dalam pilihan raya umum ke-12, 8 Mac lalu mendapat penghargaan, selain berjaya menyuntik semangat baru kepada pejuang Islam di seluruh dunia daripada wakil-wakil gerakan Islam antarabangsa.

Penghargaan tersebut dinyatakan kepada Presiden PAS, Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, ketika beliau menghadiri Kongres Antarabangsa Gerakan Islam Sedunia, di Istanbul, 29 hingga 30 Mei lalu.

Ustaz Hadi turut diberi penghormatan menjadi tetamu kehormat kongres itu, selain memberikan ucapan di majlis pembukaan kongres yang dianjurkan Parti Saadet, pimpinan bekas Perdana Menteri Turki, Dr Necmettin Erbakan.
(more…)

At lunch on Friday, 16 May 08, YB Dr Syed Azman and YB Dato Kamarudin Jaffar - both of whom were in London - asked if I could arrange a meeting with Waytha Moorthy, chairman of Hindraf. A quick phone call later, the meeting was set in West London at 5pm. It was a good, cordial meeting. I don’t think I should disclose the content of the discussion, but I am sure an official announcement will be made in Harakahdaily very soon.

In any case, I asked Waytha a question that has been burning in my mind - since Hindu Rights Action Force is an ethno-religious grouping, is he not taking Malaysia a step backwards? Waytha, in his usual calm manner, provideed an answer that helped me to understand why things are the way they are. I personally would not do it that way, and I told him that. But at least I understand.

Some pics of the meeting:

And then, on Saturday evening, we had dinner at Ibrahimsa’s house. Joining us was the legendary Brother Faruqi, editor of Impact Magazine.

In September 2004, in his closing speech at UMNO’s general assembly, Datuk Seri Abdullah said “They wanted to know that since Tunku Abdul Rahman has been given the title of ‘Bapa Kemerdekaan’ (Father of Independence), Tun Razak ‘Bapa Pembangunan’ (Father of Development), Tun Hussein Onn ‘Bapa Perpaduan’ (Father of Unity), Dr Mahathir ‘Bapa Pemodenanan’ (Father of Modernisation), what title is to be given to Pak Lah? Pak Lah wants only to be known as Pak Lah. I will carry on my own way,”

I have a different suggestion here: www.malaysiathinktank.org

Two events in Singapore and Malaysia. Please follow these links for further info:

1. Singapore event with ISEAS.

2. Malaysia event with MPF.

For further details of the book, visit www.my-islamic-state.com

Reflections on Malaysia’s Checks and Balances
The Role of the Press

The Malaysia Think Tank London released a report – Press Freedom in Malaysia – in early March. Contributors include Datuk Azman Ujang, Prof Madya Dr Azmi Sharom, Sonia Randhawa, and ‘Abidin Muhriz. The report is available for free download from www.malaysiathinktank.org

How has the mainstream press changed since 8 March and how will it evolve? What are the challenges to the press as democratic space increases? Will greater press freedom facilitate cooperation or foster conflict with bloggers? Join us in this special event to examine the role of the press as one of the check and balance institutions in a liberal democracy.

Date: Saturday 12 April 2008
Time: 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Bilik Etika, Institut Integriti Malaysia, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 KL

Chair: Datuk Azman Ujang, Chairman, Malaysian Press Institute and General Manager, Bernama

Speakers:
Zanon Ahmad, Political Editor, theSun
Karim Raslan, Group CEO, KRA Group
S Vicknesan, Editor, Malaysiakini.com

To attend, please register by sending an email to register@malaysiathinktank.org

Co-organised by the Malaysia Think Tank London, the Malaysian Press Institute, and the Malaysia Institute of Integrity

Apparently Ahmad Said will start his job as Terengganu MB regardless (Malaysiakini).

My opinion on this issue:

1. The Sultan should have accepted Idris Jusuh. He commands the support of the majority of BN ADUNs. But there is no point discussingthis now because the Sultan has decided to stick to his (royal highness) gun.

2. Those parties that are supporting the Sultan should remember that this case is setting a precedence. What if in the future a Sultan does not like the state head of PAS or DAP or PKR?

3. And, somehow, I have a feeling that someone else, a third person, will be the beneficiary of this crisis. If the PM and the Sultan want a compromise, they would choose someone other than both Ahmad and Idris. I wonder who that might be?

5. And, why in the world does the PM not go and talk to the King?

Hmmmm….. will direct election of PM and MBs solve the problem?

VISIT www-my-islamic-state.com FOR FURTHER DETAILS

Malaysiakini reports of protests around the country following the announcement by Penang state government that they will not abide by the practices of the NEP.

UMNO Penang even held a demonstration.

To those who kept on defending the NEP, please read the report below from Bernama. Even the Prime Minister has declared that the NEP has ended.

(more…)