FORUM ON URBAN POVERTY & INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA: WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF COMMUNITY & NATION

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF COMMUNITY & NATION

Participants at the June 2, 2013 afternoon discussion

Thirty five people met on Sunday afternoon to discuss the theme of inclusive development and the Indian community. This was a civil society discussion hosted by the Institute of ethnic studies, UKM

It was unique because we had people from the political divide, cross section from various NGOs and also from academic institutions

The discussion was moderated by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria with the support of Datuk A Vaithilingam and Dato Siva Subramaniam

In the welcoming note Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria highlighted the need for a discussion which moved beyond the political divide. The focus was not to find fault with any individual or group but to recognise how best we can work together for the common good.

It was a very fruitful discussion. There was open and frank talk in an atmosphere of mutual respect without one trying to run the other down but recognising the socio-political realities of Malaysian Indian society.

We discussed many things but five key dimensions emerged as dominant.

First, all recognised the fact how divided and fragmented our community has become and how these divisions are being exploited especially in a political world dominated by power relations. However in this context the group also confirmed that this is the reality and agreed to find common denominators for friendship, partnership and collaboration for the growth and development of the Malaysian Indian community.

Second all affirmed that each one of us has a place in Malaysian society irrespective of our political, sub ethnic, religious and class affiliations. It was noted that although the group has diverse backgrounds but the group also shares some common challenges and interests as most are largely working among the bottom 40% who have been categorized as poor and low income.

Third, while there was discussion on a wide ranging issues and concerns, central are those related to socio-economic opportunities alongside human rights for civil and political action including participation.

These include education & training needs especially issues faced by drop outs; Tamil schools, Tamil languages and other community languages; access to income generating opportunities to move out of poverty; health and housing issues; job opportunities both public and private sectors especially the low ethnic representation of Indians, and issues pertaining to safety, crime, gangs etc.

In addition, the many unsolved religious issues including two different courts (Civil Court & Syariah Court), especially when the Police are unable to act with two contradicting court orders. There long delays in the proposed amendments to the Family Laws which requires attention to protect wives & children of converted husbands.

Fourth, while it was acknowledged that there are various initiatives by Federal and State governments but the group also noted the uphill struggles to access Federal, State and local government services. There is an urgent need for some coordinated effort to liaise with the relevant agencies. It was also noted that awareness, capability and capacity building and ultimately the mass mobilization of people though political activism is most essential

Fifth as concerned Malaysian Indians the group came to terms with the fact that we need to work together so as to enhance community solidarity for the common good. This does not mean mergers or formation of any umbrella body or council but ensuring that the conversations among us is open, transparent, frank, truthful.

It was agreed that we will work in specific areas of concerns pertaining to community needs of the bottom 40%. The task here is a monitoring and impact assessment role and not a delivery and implementation which will be the focus of voluntary organisations who could be enlisted as network partners in this process.

Specific forums and working groups will be organised with the view of gathering data, information for public awareness and dissemination on the one hand but also to monitor the effective and efficient delivery of all publically funded programs. In this context the approach will include field visits and grassroots discussion and meeting.

Some of the participants

Among those who participated in this discussion were YB Charles Santiago (DAP), YB Jeyakumar (PSM), YB Siva rasa (PKR), YB Rajiv Rishyakaran (DAP) and the special officer of YB Kamalanathan (MIC), Mr Dhinesh Thinakaren.

Also others participated are, Tan Sri Datuk Prof T Marimuthu(MIC), Prof KS Nathan (UKM), Prof NS Rajendran (PMO), Prof CP Ramachandran & UK Menon (Millennium Group), Dato Muthiah Alagappa (ISIS), Dato Hj Tasleem & Arun Doraisamy (NIAT), Siva Kumar (MIBA), K. Arumugam & Mr Uthayasoorian (Tamil Foundation), Ms Thanam Visvanthan (Jewel), Mr Dheer Singh (UPSO Foundation), Mrs Jasmine Adaickalam (C CODES), Dr Iyngkaran (CHILD) Ms Devakunjari Tun Sambanthan, Mr Lopez (MIYC) & Mano Manium (EPSM)

For a start in the networking and collaboration we will start with five Working Groups:-

Three days have been identified and a number of resource persons to provide some input and expertise to start the discussion on monitoring and impact assessment. Names suggested from those who came for the June 2, 2013 meeting.

All are invited to all the groups but knowing the time constraints of people I would recommend each person focus in one area or at the most two.

For each group the following outline is provided so that there is commonality of working among the groups. Please remember the task is a monitoring and not a delivery one. Delivery of services and programs must be the focus of individual voluntary organisations.

Listed below a framework for the working group

·         Can the working group identify the key issues and concerns including a brief analysis of the theme of the working group? Where possible there should be a documentation of data and statics in the specific area

·         Can the working group identify all the provisions and programs currently provided by Federal, state and local government which should be accessed? Including noting which agency is providing this.

·         Can the working group identify voluntary organisations/NGOs undertaking these including subject experts and resource persons who can provide expert and professional input.

·         Can the working group set specific targets (Short-term, medium-term and long-term) for the period June 2013 to May 2018 (over a five year period)

·         Can the working group draw up an action plan for monitoring especially to ensure that the intended target group is receiving the assistance which should empower them

Schedule & Details of meetings

Please note changes to the earlier emails. The venue for the meetings is at the Global Indian International School at Brickfields, KL (242, Lorong Sultan Abdul Samad 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2273 0075

WORKING GROUP	THEMES	RESOURCE PERSONS**	MEETING DATE
WG 1	Crime, gangs & dysfunctional families	Dato Siva S Mr Victor Joseph Mr Dorairaja (Sup-R) Mr Arun Dorisamy Mr Lopez	June 23, 2013 (Sun) 2.30pm – 4.00pm @ Global Indian School Brickfield, KL
WG 2	Poverty & low income	Mrs Jasmine A YB M Jeyakumar Ms V Thanam Prof CP Rama Mr UK Menon	June 23, 2013 4.30pm – 6.00pm @ Global Indian School Brickfield, KL
WG3	Human rights and Democracy (including citizenship, religious concerns and issues with Police)	Datuk A Vaithilingam Mr K.Arumugam YB Sivarasa Dato Hj Tasleem Ms S Devakunjari	June 30, 2013 (Sun) 2.30pm – 4.00pm @ Global Indian School Brickfield, KL
WG4	Income generating opportunities & employment opportunities	Mr Sivakumar YB S Charles Mr Dheer Singh YB Rajiv Rishyakaran Mr Mano Manium	June 30, 2013 (Sun) 4.30pm – 6.00pm @ Global Indian School Brickfield, KL
WG 5	Education (Preschool-higher education including skills training)	Dr NS Rajendran Dr Iyngkaran Mr T Dhinesh Tan Sri T Marimuthu Mr Uthayasoorian	July 7, 2013 (Sun) 2.30pm – 4.00pm @ Global Indian School Brickfield, KL
WG6	Review Meeting to determine future course of action in monitoring & impact assessment *UKM team will be June 19 at 2.30pm at KITA-UKM. Others are welcomed*	Prof KS Nathan Mr Athi Sivam Datuk Dr Denison Ms Roova Mrs Jasmine A	July 7, 2013 (Sun) 4.30pm – 6.00pm @ Global Indian School Brickfield, KL

**Names identified are just a suggestion. One might not be a subject expert but to assist in thinking though the subject matter for monitoring and impact assessment. Please confirm if you can participate and play this role

Prepared by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria
June 10, 2013

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FORUM- URBAN POVERTY & INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

This Forum is a community project which has a strong focus on monitoring delivery and implementation.

The action research component is coordinated by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Principle Research Fellow, Institute of Ethnic Studies, UKM

A voluntary team including Datuk A.Vaithilingam, Dato Siva Subramanium, Prof KS Nathan & Mrs Jasmine Adaickalam are working together with a wider group of volunteers to ensure the sustainability of this initiative.

As a team we are non political and will work with all persons and agencies at a Federal, State and local government which have a public responsibility to serving the poor and low income families

We believe that all citizens are equal and have the same human rights and human responsibilities as defined in the Federal Constitution & Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

For further details contact:
Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria

Email: jayasooriadenison@gmail.com
or sms 019 3810914

Postal address:
P.O.Box S-15, Sentul, 51700 Kuala Lumpur

Declaration on the Rights of Ethnic & Religious Minorities

Article 1.1 States shall protect the existence and the national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of
minorities within their respective territories and shall encourage conditions for the promotion of that
identity.
.
Article 2:1 Persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities have the right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, and to use their own language, in private and in public, freely and without interference or any form
of discrimination.

For more details:
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuideMinoritiesDeclarationen.pdf

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Article 1:1. In this Convention, the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.

Article 1:4. Special measures taken for the sole purpose of securing adequate advancement of certain racial or ethnic groups or individuals requiring such protection as may be necessary in order to ensure such groups or individuals equal enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms shall not be deemed racial discrimination, provided, however, that such measures do not, as a consequence, lead to the maintenance of separate rights for different racial groups and that they shall not be continued after the objectives for which they were taken have been achieved.

For more details:-
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CERD.aspx