Here I explain the background to the People’s Agenda and why the NGOs felt the need to come up with the five key points.
Basically, we felt that the political discourse was neglecting the many pressing social issues of the day in the run-up to the general election. We wanted the political parties and political leaders to focus on these issues in their campaigning rather than on the divisive issues of race and religion.
The five key points in the People’s Agenda:
- Uphold the dignity and quality of life of the people
- Promote equitable, sustainable development and address the climate crisis
- Celebrate diversity and inclusivity
- Save democracy and uphold the rule of law
- Fight corruption and cronyism
Check out the full People’s Agenda, which has been endorsed by over 50 civil society organisations.
If you belong to an NGO, and your NGO would like to endorse the People’s Agenda, please fill up this form to endorse.
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Continue to speak in English and your message will go nowhere in the intended BM audience. Already two generations of Malaysians are taught in BM, not English. Sadly, good intention but poor implementation. Need to engage bumi NGOs to reach the target audience. Otherwise it will be viewed as a non-bumi agenda.
Point taken.
The People’s Agenda in Bahasa:
https://aliran.com/aliran-csi/agenda-rakyat-peoples-agenda-tuntut-semula-negara-kita-reclaim-our-nation
Our press statement in Bahasa:
https://aliran.com/media-statements/tuntut-semula-negara-53-ngo-medukung-agenda-rakyat-bagi-pilihan-raya-umum
Yes, next for People Agenda to appear on our long dialogue sessions in Bahasa at TV1, TV3, Bernama and Astro Awani to engage the biggest voter group.
Thanks for the suggestion, we will trying and do our own webinars in Bahasa in the coming months.
To gain the attention of Malay audience, must get into the RTM’s Bicara Naratif program.
For Bernama TV, need to be interviewed by Sherkawi Jirim.
RTM’s Bicara Naratif with Sayed Munawar, TV3’s Soal Rakyat with Ally Iskandar, Astro Awani’s Agenda Awani with Nazri Kahar or Kamarul Bahrin Haron are the mainstream media’s influencers to largest voting group in Malaysia. Seek sessions with them, if possible, to gain “unreachable” audience to buy your viewpoints.
If not comfortable in Bahasa conversation, then approach TV1 (RTM) Terence DASS or Astro Awani’s Cynthia Ng besides Melissa Idris/Sharaad Kuttan.
All the best
Thanks for the helpful suggestions, PCH and others here. I will forward them to the team.
If local TV stations do not respond, try approaching Channel News Asia’s Malaysia correspondence Melissa Goh
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/author/melissa-goh
With respect, these are talk shows. In the era of social media and graphics (photos and clips), how many even understand complete sentences, or talk proper Malay? This is the deliberate result of the education system. Even for PE, someone commented that instead of going to the field, children use a PE workbook.
Tik Tok to present to views of People’s Agenda instead of outdoor crowd rally of the past?
Even in the era of social media and graphics, the influencers to heartland malays are not those in cyberspace but the traditional TV presenters like Sayed Munawar and Sherkawi Jirim, who speak proper BM they could relate to, not the lingo in youtube meant for entertainment.
Hearlanders cannot understand graphics and charts, but resonate with policies that offer protection and subsidies.
English minded folks when they cate to tune to above traditional TV Current Affairs programs can have big shocks as the mindsets of the invited local university Professors and Analysts are very different from that you read or hear in MalaysiaKini or the likes of Mariam Mokhtar , Bakri Musa & Siti Kassim.
Bernama TV Ruang Bicara is the currrent affairs program hosted by Sherkawi Jirim, can reach out to malay audience.
Sherkawi Jirim was a former football commentator. He later subscribed to national agenda to get tv audience to stick to nayional agenda. That’s the reason for his longetivity on national tv not many can sustain.
Need to embrace the Malay NGOs to appeal to Malays, but unlikely will happen as they thrive on R&R issues. Must overcome this obstacle given the demographic profile of Malaysia, else another self indulgence (syiok sendiri) event.
Hi Rocky, yes we must reach out to everyone to promote progressive ideas and inclusiveness and diversity. Each of us can do our part too, within our own circles/spheres of influence.
Yes, I will share the message to my friends and colleagues of all ages and races. Best of luck.
A breakthrough if TV1 and TV3 can give air time to this initiative.
PAS remains of the view that the unification of the Malay-Muslim community is of greater importance than the political alliances going into the next general election.
https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/620561
Diversity is not in their framework.
They could view your agenda the same way as ICERD? Thus they are very cautious?
If you can convince the NGO headed by Ayahanda Rani Kulup of Kipidap fame, then you could reach out to Malay heartland.
Assuming Parliment to be dissolved after the expiry of MOU in July, the likeky GE15 in Sep or October. So People’s Agenda must start to prepare for the national roadshows and may be need to seek public donations to cover the expenses.
On May Day, Singapore PM Lee highlighted:
“The fundamental solution… is to make ourselves more productive, to transform our businesses, to grow our economy, to uplift everyone, then our incomes can go up, and that can more than make up for higher prices of energy and food. Then we can all become better off in real terms.”
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/may-day-rally-sporeans-must-brace-for-more-economic-challenges-says-pm-lee
Key word on May Day address is to be Productivity. Somehow it is a taboo word in Malaysia. High pay must come with high Productivity, else inflation will erode any real wage hike.
This is the religion of growth and greed in disguise. It will destroy humanity.
Many still prefer lepak culture, senang lenang fed with subsidies, early withdrawal of EPF, worry not about tomorrow.
Kais pagi makan pagi
Kais petang makan petang
No growth and no neo Liberism then one can opt to settle in Kelantan and be assured by PAS for SOW (same old way) living!
Human population growth being curbed by Covid death. Humanity may await the arrival of next Messiah to unite people of different faiths?