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By Ezra Haganez
KOTA KINABALU:A consortium of three NGOs will be holding a one-day National Conference on Human Rights and the Future of Marginalised and Minority Groups in Malaysia on January 23, 2011.
HINDRAF, Common Interest Group Malaysia (CigMa) and the newly formed London-based Human Rights Foundation Malaysia are collaborating on the first national conference on the topic planned to be held at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur.
In a joint statement, the trio issued an invitation to concerned individuals and societies, both in West and East Malaysia, to participate, co-host or present papers at the conference.
R. Shan, HINDRAF International Coordinator (New York), and Kanul Gindol, CigMa Secretary, in a joint statement, said they are inviting all minority or marginalized groups including minority ethnic groups, indigenous peoples, union workers, plantation workers, disabled groups, environmental groups, animal rights group, religious groups or any other such aggrieved minority and/or marginalized groups.
"The existing political parties from both side of the equation do not have yet the political will in addressing real issues relating to the rights and interests of the minority and marginalized groups and communities in Malaysia.
"There is not yet a concrete and comprehensive attempt in either BARISAN NASIONAL or PAKATAN RAKYAT’s blueprint for the protection and development of minority and marginalized sections of our society," they claimed.
Kanul said the conference should be seen as a help to those interested to hear more from the affected groups rather than brushing it off as a futile exercise.
"This Conference should be an eye-opener for all. We are working to compile a good report for all later on what are the aspirations of these groups, the challenges they faced and how best to address problems afflicting them," Kanul further said.
It is a good Conference.. Will be there !
ReplyDeleteYes a good one. We need stand up together for our rights as citizens of Malaysia. Time to assert our rights. But please don't turn this beautiful conference into an ugly BN-whacking events per se... The orgnisers must look beyond party politics...
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