I only went on the last day, in my capacity as a staff with ACMS, so am not able to say much on other days. I have to say that today's dialogue session went way beyond what I expected, having gone in with the expectation that it is just another boring social/rubbing shoulders event dressed as some media conference. However, I have to say kudos to the chair (Dr Andrew Taussig) and the speakers for having done a great job in trying to engage the audience. Unfortunately, only an articulate few spoke and less than few have anything much to say. I found it interesting that someone (can't remember who) brought out the fact that after so many years, Malaysia has always remain at square one. We have never progress in the way we provide media content and services. We are still ruled by two things, stupid outdated guidelines and lack of imagination, as well as the assumption that media should only cater to the person with Standard Six (equivalent of primary 6 or grade 6 ) level of education. We are also stuck in this tired argument of western acceptability and eastern primness. Come on, this old tired argument doesn't hang anymore. Have all the conference you want here, but as long as people are still stuck in the old mode of thinking and YET think they have progress far, we aint gonna get anywhere. Pay all those progressive liberals, media experts, whatever, to tell you and to "dialogue" with you. The persons holding the purse strings did not even bother to attend. They only want to rub shoulders with the high and mighty and be seen as "progressive" and "philanthropic" but do not like dialogue. I say, you do. That is the usual rule they work by. With such neanderthal level of intellect at that level, no wonder we never go anywhere. Buang masa aje (such a waste of time). Anyway, to those of you who are interested to get the papers presented, check out the AMS website in a few days time. Jeff Ooi has something to say about this (albeit a little) in his Screenshots It is interesting to note that very few journalists actually attended the final day event, which is free and is suppose to be for them. Many who reserved, didnt't come. Some didn't seem to know. Talk about wide dissemination of informtion.
I believe that these few articles merit a read. I might create a permanent link to them under my World View and Political Science page. for some of the more interesting e-journals or e-newsletters.
One of the many events that go notice by the media and propaganda machines of this world. Not as high profile as the Bosnia Herzegovina massacre and the invation of Kuwait. East Timor has not reached its 10th year of independence, but it is hopeful that they will be able to find the peace that has evaded them for so long and to build their country to enjoy the same kind of freedom that many of us who are blogging here could enjoy. Rwanda is moving towards that. It is definitely painful history for the Tutsis and even for the victimised Hutus. I have to admit, rather shamefuly, that I knew little about African history until interest in postcolonial writers of African extractions have rendered me slightly more educated on their issues. Therefore, I would like to ask all of you to join the Rwandans in their celebration for peace, harmony and forgiving of a painful recent past.
Here are some articles found on the net to remind us that atrocities can happen to us even as we least expect it. Do not taken the peace and harmony you have for granted, but think that you will lose it anytime. Many of us have very tenuous freedom and peace. Any of us can be victims at any point. Knowing this always rose me from being depressed just because life isn't going my way.
I never thought that I would experience this on 13th April 2004, circa 1:30 pm. That is to see a man fall/jump from a tall building just opposite the office block from where I am working.
I just finished my lunch of nasi lemak and chicken and was about to get back to some work, reading through a book when I heard a long shout/scream coming from just outside (his scream must be really loud for me to hear from inside the building). Next thing I knew, there was a thud on the ground and as I peeped out of the window, there it was, the body of an elderly man (this was established later) lying flat out on the ground. From my position on the 6th floor, I was not able to see his face or establish his race. I was shocked and it took a few seconds before I realised that I have just witness death firsthand caused by unnatural circumstances.
Calling a colleague who is working on the same floor, we looked out together and saw a window slightly ajar from a floor higher up than ours, though we are not certain that he might had come from there. We saw a shoe that had fallen off from his feet lying neatly on someone's carpark. His car is parked nearby.
Soon, crowds were miling around the body. The police were alerted, though it was a good 15-20 minutes before they came. In the meantime, some people had covered the body with some newspapers. As I went down to have a closer look, I saw his family members crying and sobbing around the body. Another lady came together with a car that rushed to the scene, and I assume that it must had been the other daughter (but turns out that it is the wife), as she hugged a young lady who called the dead man "ah pa".
As curious as I was, I thought it prudent and respectful not to try to find out too much now as the family members would still be in shock. I am most interested to see what news would be out by The Star tomorrow, seeing that this happened just right on their doorstep.
Now that the body is finally removed, about more than an hour since it hurtled to the ground, one can see the spot still stained with blood that had gushed out from the impact of the ground on his body. Crying could still be heard outside.
Death is an everyday occurance, but this is the first time I actually witness the event first hand, the scream and the loud thud that follows. Unfortunately, I did not see where he fell from.
Perhaps if he had just fallen, it might not had been much. But even now, I could still hear the scream ringing in my ears...
Upcoming programme for youths in Malaysia, 16-18 April 2004
JEMPUTAN MENYERTAI PROGRAM IKD
Berhubung dengan perkara di atas adalah dimaklumkan bahawa Institut Kajian Dasar akan menganjurkan program latihannya mengikut maklumat berikut;
Tarikh: 16 – 18 April 2004
Tempat: Kem Nur Lembah Pamgsun
Latihan tersebut tertumpu dalam menyedikan kepimpinan pelapis negara dan mengerakkan program yang dianjurkan oleh IKD. Oleh itu kami berbesar hati untuk menjemput saudar/saudari menyertai program ini.
Bersama ini disertakan jadual program untuk rujukan pihak tuan. Sila sahkan kehadiran dengan menghubunggi saya melalui
Telefon: 03 2283 2788 Hp; 019 391 7406
email: amirsari2003@yahoo.com
Segala kerjasama dan bantuan daripada pihak tuan amat kami hargai. Sekian terima kasih.
Amirudin Shari
Koordinator Program
Institut Kajian Dasar
Tentatif Program
16 April 2004
3.00 – 4.00 ptg - Bertolak dari Kuala Lumpur
4.00 – 5.00 ptg - Minum petang & Solat
5.00 – 6.30 ptg - Taklimat, Suai Kenal &
Pembentukan Kumpulan
7.00 – 8.30 mlm - Makan & Solat
8.30 – 9.00 mlm - Opening Ceremony
Khalid Jaafar Peter Schier 9.00 – 10.30 mlm - Forum: Aktivis Muda : Perjuangan Demokrasi dan
Kreadibiliti
Shazera Ahmad Zazwawi- Isrec
Yusri Mohamad – Abim
Mohd farid Shahran – UIA
10.30 – 10.45 mlm - Minum Malam
10.45 mlm - Rehat
17 April 2004
3.30 – 6.00 pagi - Rentas Hutan (Cari Harta Karun)
7.00 – 7.30 pg - Riadah Pagi
7.30 – 8.00 pg - Sarapan
8.00 – 10.30 pg - Permainan (In-door)
10.30 – 11.00 pg - Rehat
11.00 – 12.30 tghari - Ceramah : Civil society di Malaysia dan
Asia Tenggara
S. Sivarasa Rasiah
12.30 – 1.00 ptg - Kegiatan Kumpulan: Diskusi Orang Muda & Isu-isu
Semasa
1.00 – 2.00 ptg - Makan Tengahari & Rehat
2.00 – 3.00 ptg - Pembentangan
3.00 – 4.00 ptg - Bengkel: Mengendali program sosial
4.00 – 5.00 ptg - Pembentangan
5.00 – 5.45 ptg - Tayangan Video
5.45 – 7.00 ptg - Libur
7.00 – 8.00 mlm - Makan Malam
8.00 – 10.30 mlm - Forum: Gerakan Kebudayaan Abad 21
Mark Teh Hasmi Hashim Ho Yuhang 10.30 – 10.45 mlm - Taklimat War Game
Upcoming programme for youths in Malaysia, 16-18 April 2004
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Some more news!
When it rains, it pours..... Here it is for those of you who are wondering about the film scene in Malaysia Check out the Freedom Film Fest website. On the side of video, what about checking out the MVA Awards ?
While checking out the redhead's blog, I found this rather interesting blog by an American woman, Margaret Cho, that I would like to share you all. You can check out her website too.
I have been thinking hard as to what direction would I want my blogs to go. I haven't quite figure out what I will be doing with this particular section, though Clarissa's Blogs will always be dedicated to the egoist me. Should i keep this to merely news and updates, or should I expand it further. But that depends on how many people who bother to come to this site.
This is a message from Angela of KRYSS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ KRYSS (Knowledge and Rights with Young people through Safer Spaces) is planning to hold a pilot writing workshop (in English) with ten young women (between 18 and 30 years of age) to run for four weeks. We are open to including young men, but for the purposes of this pilot, our preference is for young women. We are hoping to hold it regularly for four weeks on a weekday rather than on the weekend. Currently, we are proposing every Thursday evening, beginning at 6 pm for 2.5 hours, on the 22nd of April until the 13th of May 2004. Venue is still being determined, but we will ensure that it's accessible via public transport. The lead resource person for this will be Beth Yahp, a writer (author of Crocodile Fury) and a fellow trustee of KRYSS.
The objectives of the workshop are:
1. To create a safe, supportive environment in which young people, especially women, feel free to express themselves and the issues which concern them, without fear of judgement or reprisal. To open up a space for discussion of their concerns. 2. To expose the group to readings and discussion of similar issues from other cultures & literatures. 3. To offer exercises in writing/literacy/'ways of seeing/experiencing'the world which are useful to spark off any creative endeavour. 4. To expose the group to a workshop process where equality and support is emphasised. To explore ways of expressing what's difficult or even unexpressible. 5. To work towards the creation of powerful, moving, fantastic stories/essays/ articles about the issues that concern young people. If the demand is high, we would have to go through a selection process, most likely inviting the potential participant to write a short essay, as we are only aiming for ten participants maximum.
For more information, please write directly to me at: angela@kryss.org or call me at: 012-3077091
So to you young ladies out there (from Malaysia) who have been waiting for an opportunity like this, quickly send in your application as there are only a few more places left!
Also, having heard of this particular bookshop during a tutorial class session and having visited it on my own, I would like to ask all of you to check it out on its website
