www.projectmalaysia.org

A site called www.projectmalaysia.org was launched at midnight one hour ago.  One of the founders, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, tells me that this site will run for one year during which 12 core Malaysian themes will be explored through comprehensive no holds barred critical discourse in which all stakeholders have a chance to put measured views across.  The aim is to find solutions for a better nation and craft a blueprint for the future.

I think this is an excellent "Merdeka" project.  We all need to find our identities as Malaysians.  Ours is a nation in transition going through tremendous changes as the GE2008 and PP have shown us.  A large part of the political tsunami can be attributed to the power of the alternative media affording Malaysians today the chance to access alternative, honest, truthful and critical news and discourses on the state of the nation.  In Indonesia, the press is enjoying real editorial freedom, and this freedom of information is propelling the democratic changes in Indonesia that we can only dream of in Malaysia (For example, do you know that there are direct elections in Indonesia for the Governors, Bupatis (district administrator?) and Walikotas (Mayors)?).  We all know that there is no editorial freedom in Malaysia.  For example, at our Press Conference on 29 July 2008, the reporters from the Star and NST and other major newspapers agreed with our stand, but they tell us frankly that they do not know whether their editors will allow our press statement to be published.  Well, it was worst.  The NST totally twisted the reporting on the press conference.  Ultimately, our press statements had to be carried by the foreign press (BBC News and The Straits Times Singapore).

Where we as a nation ends up depends very much on our willingness to stand up and speak up.  Therefore, we urge all to extend your support to Project Malaysia, for Malaysia belongs to us.  The first topic is The Politics of Race.  I say, let all races have a common Malaysian identity.  We in the MCA supports the notion of Ketuanan Rakyat!  MCA Leaders, its time to rename MCA the Malaysian Citizens Association. Begone, UMNO, with your divisive racial politics!

Peter Chen

Legal Adviser

MCA74justice