社員林志翰博士昨天晚上（9月13日）在隆雪華堂民權委員會舉辦的《509後，朝野下一站在哪？》講座里，發表的演說講辭：
《509後，朝野下一站在哪？》是今天的主題。
起初我還沒成為主講人之前，我乍看題目，覺得有一點不對勁…我想，除了要考慮朝野的下一站，到底公民社會或者我們人民現在在哪輛列車，能不能下站決定自己要去哪裡？剛才聽了書琪和健南的分享，我還不清楚朝野的下一站到底要去哪裡。
我不在朝也不在野，我第三個主講，不想談政治博弈，而是想要大家把關注點拉回到公民社會的政治參與。
Thursday, September 13, 2018
《509後，朝野下一站在哪？》講辭
起初我還沒成為主講人之前，我乍看題目，覺得有一點不對勁…我想，除了要考慮朝野的下一站，到底公民社會或者我們人民現在在哪輛列車，能不能下站決定自己要去哪裡？剛才聽了書琪和健南的分享，我還不清楚朝野的下一站到底要去哪裡。
Friday, April 20, 2018
BN Manifesto: The Promise of a Dim Future of Divided Society, Dysfunctional Nation and Flight of Human Capital
Press Release by Agora Society in Kuala Lumpur on 20 April 2018
The newly released Barisan Nasional Manifesto for the 14th general election on 7 April 2018 is a great disappointment for Malaysians. As this election is supposed to be a close contest between the ruling and the opposition parties since independence, the reluctance of BN to directly tackle political and social turmoil plaguing the country suggests that BN is either incapable of overcoming these problems or there are benefits to be gained from perpetuating these problems.
The BN manifesto promises Malaysians status quo, as it offers very little significant improvement in governance. Instead it is embellished with distracting election goodies. This raise the questions about effectiveness of the government transformation programmes and economic transformation programmes that have cost Malaysian tax payers millions of ringgits. Have these programmes failed to deliver what they were designed to do? Where will TN50 actually lead the country, with policies which do not deliver results?
The newly released Barisan Nasional Manifesto for the 14th general election on 7 April 2018 is a great disappointment for Malaysians. As this election is supposed to be a close contest between the ruling and the opposition parties since independence, the reluctance of BN to directly tackle political and social turmoil plaguing the country suggests that BN is either incapable of overcoming these problems or there are benefits to be gained from perpetuating these problems.
The BN manifesto promises Malaysians status quo, as it offers very little significant improvement in governance. Instead it is embellished with distracting election goodies. This raise the questions about effectiveness of the government transformation programmes and economic transformation programmes that have cost Malaysian tax payers millions of ringgits. Have these programmes failed to deliver what they were designed to do? Where will TN50 actually lead the country, with policies which do not deliver results?
Saturday, March 31, 2018
The Constituency Redelineation Exercise is Opaque and Undemocratic
Press Release by the Agora Society on 31 March 2018
The Agora Society condemns the recent redelineation exercise undertook by the Election Committee, and passed by the Parliament that further aggravate the malapportionment and gerrymandering of electoral constituencies in our country. Similar malpractices in the past has essentially tilted the scales of our election in the GE 13 where the popular votes won by the Pakatan Rakyat failed to translate into a majority in the parliamentary seats. It is extremely sad to see that the new redelineated electoral boundaries were already gazetted with an unprecedented speed yesterday.
The redelineation exercise is opaque and undemocratic. Despite many valid and fair objections, as well as constructive counter-proposals have been raised by our civil societies, especially by Bersih 2.0, the EC had decided to turn a deaf ear and submit a flawed amendment to the parliament nonetheless. This decision had necessitated multiple corrections subsequently.
The Agora Society condemns the recent redelineation exercise undertook by the Election Committee, and passed by the Parliament that further aggravate the malapportionment and gerrymandering of electoral constituencies in our country. Similar malpractices in the past has essentially tilted the scales of our election in the GE 13 where the popular votes won by the Pakatan Rakyat failed to translate into a majority in the parliamentary seats. It is extremely sad to see that the new redelineated electoral boundaries were already gazetted with an unprecedented speed yesterday.
The redelineation exercise is opaque and undemocratic. Despite many valid and fair objections, as well as constructive counter-proposals have been raised by our civil societies, especially by Bersih 2.0, the EC had decided to turn a deaf ear and submit a flawed amendment to the parliament nonetheless. This decision had necessitated multiple corrections subsequently.
Monday, March 26, 2018
公民社会呼吁恢复地方议会选举
（请大家点击阅读3月23日政策改革讨论会所通过的26个提案）
公民社会政策改革连线新闻稿，2018年3月26日
第14届大选来临之际，一群公民呼吁联邦政府和所有州政府恢复地方议会选举，归还人民的第三票。
他们强调，地方议会是与一般人民最息息相关的政府机构，人民能否遴选符合资格和有能力的代表服务人民，这非常重要。不幸的是，联邦政府于60年代剥夺人民遴选地方议会代表的权利。
“目前的市议员委任制缺乏问责精神，因为被委任的市议员不必面对社群的不满与压力，若市议员表现差劲，当地的居民没有办法可以制衡他们。纳税人也无法决定地方的策划与发展，这对他们极不公平。”提呈议案的隆雪中华大会堂青年团代表李淑炜说。
Saturday, March 17, 2018
希盟族群化改革议程 促设转型正义委员会
群议社文告，2018年3月17日
群议社恭贺希望联盟公布其大选宣言《希望之书》。我们正面肯定《希望之书》内倡议的重要改革如下方联邦政府的权力、废除恶法、选举改革、推出妇女公积金和反性骚扰法案等等。
然而，我们遗憾地注意到，《希望之书》拥有民粹主义、福利主义、改革主义和种族主义的混合性格，并在所有政策中将人民分割成不同的族群。在203页的《希望之书》，提及25次土著、35次马来人、5次华人、48次印度人和24次原住民，并公开注明许多针对土著的社会经济差别待遇政策。
反之，2013年大选民联推出的《橙皮书》却呼吁将政策焦点从增加土著股权，改成增加所有大马人的家庭收入。《橙皮书》也强调，扶弱政策应该根据需求而非族群身份。虽然《橙皮书》捍卫宪法的保障条款如伊斯兰教、马来语、马来人特别地位和皇室，大多数政策是根据全民的普世权利和阶级来制订。
群议社恭贺希望联盟公布其大选宣言《希望之书》。我们正面肯定《希望之书》内倡议的重要改革如下方联邦政府的权力、废除恶法、选举改革、推出妇女公积金和反性骚扰法案等等。
然而，我们遗憾地注意到，《希望之书》拥有民粹主义、福利主义、改革主义和种族主义的混合性格，并在所有政策中将人民分割成不同的族群。在203页的《希望之书》，提及25次土著、35次马来人、5次华人、48次印度人和24次原住民，并公开注明许多针对土著的社会经济差别待遇政策。
反之，2013年大选民联推出的《橙皮书》却呼吁将政策焦点从增加土著股权，改成增加所有大马人的家庭收入。《橙皮书》也强调，扶弱政策应该根据需求而非族群身份。虽然《橙皮书》捍卫宪法的保障条款如伊斯兰教、马来语、马来人特别地位和皇室，大多数政策是根据全民的普世权利和阶级来制订。
Racialisation of Pakatan Harapan
Press Statement by Agora Society on 17 March 2018
Agora Society congratulates Pakatan Harapan for releasing the GE14 manifesto Book of Hope that embodies significant reforms such as the decentralisation of federal power, abolition of draconian laws, electoral reforms, introduction of EPF for housewives and anti-sexual harassment bill.
However, we regret to note that the Book of Hope also shows complex characteristics of populist, welfarist, reformist and racialist that compartmentalise Malaysians along racial lines. The 203 pages of manifesto has mentioned in total 25 times the term Bumiputera, 35 times Malays, 5 times Chinese, 48 times Indian and 24 times Orang Asal. Many preferential social and economic policies for Bumiputera were openly stated.
On the contrary, the PR’s Orange book back in 2013 vowed to shift the focus of the government policies from ones that are based on Bumiputera equity to ones that aim at the increment of household income of all Malaysians. It also stressed that affirmative actions should be need-based rather than race-based. While the Orange Book also upheld the constitutional protection of Islam, Malay language, special position of Malays and the Monarchy, most of its policies were based on universal rights for all citizens and classes.
Agora Society congratulates Pakatan Harapan for releasing the GE14 manifesto Book of Hope that embodies significant reforms such as the decentralisation of federal power, abolition of draconian laws, electoral reforms, introduction of EPF for housewives and anti-sexual harassment bill.
However, we regret to note that the Book of Hope also shows complex characteristics of populist, welfarist, reformist and racialist that compartmentalise Malaysians along racial lines. The 203 pages of manifesto has mentioned in total 25 times the term Bumiputera, 35 times Malays, 5 times Chinese, 48 times Indian and 24 times Orang Asal. Many preferential social and economic policies for Bumiputera were openly stated.
On the contrary, the PR’s Orange book back in 2013 vowed to shift the focus of the government policies from ones that are based on Bumiputera equity to ones that aim at the increment of household income of all Malaysians. It also stressed that affirmative actions should be need-based rather than race-based. While the Orange Book also upheld the constitutional protection of Islam, Malay language, special position of Malays and the Monarchy, most of its policies were based on universal rights for all citizens and classes.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Citizens Call for Restoration of Local Council Election
As the 14th General Election is looming, a group of citizens called upon the federal government and state governments to restore local council election and return the third vote to the people.
They argued that the local council is most relevant to the daily life of ordinary people, it is crucial for a community to elect qualified and competent representatives who can serve the people.
Unfortunately the right to elect people’s local representatives was usurped by the federal authority in 1960s.
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