Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian Leader of the Opposition will deliver two public lectures in Australia.
The first, titled “Islam, Democracy and The Status of Malaysia’s Quasi-Secular State” will be delivered at The University of Sydney on 13 November 2010 (Details below).
The second, titled “Social Justice and Political Change: The Malaysian Experience” will be held at The Australian National University on 15 November 2010 (Details here).
Introduction to Anwar Ibrahim (from the organisers at the University of Sydney)
Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the Malaysian Leader of the Opposition in the opposition alliance called the Pakatan Rakyat (People Pact). He is currently the leader of the Parti KeADILan Rakyat (People Justice Party) of Malaysia. Anwar Ibrahim was Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1993-1998. He also served as Minister of Finance for Malaysia from 1991-1998.
During his tenure as Finance Minister, Malaysia enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and economic growth and joined the ranks of other Asian countries as an “Asian Tiger.” Anwar’s impact on the economy was immediate. In 1993, shortly after becoming Finance Minister, Euromoney named him as one of the top four finance ministers. In 1996, Asiamoney named him Finance Ministerof the Year.
In the midst of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, Anwar was credited with guiding Malaysia through this period of instability. He advocated greater accountability and refused to support government bail-outs to politically connected companies facing bankruptcy. He also instituted widespread spending cuts. These measures earned Anwar many accolades, including the title “Asian of the Year” by Newsweek International in 1998.
Anwar Ibrahim has worked tirelessly towards the ideals of Convivencia, the mutual coexistence of civilisations and the interplay of different social, cultural, and spiritual ideas. Between 1995 and 1998 he organised a series of conferences on the Asian Renaissance, aimed at crossing geo-political barriers between societies and nations and creating political structures to promote dialogue across cultures. He has also supported inter-faith dialogue to promote religious tolerance and understanding, working with among others, the World Council of Churches, the East Asia Christian conference, the World Federation of Buddhist Youth and the Hindu Youth Council. During this period, Anwar also co-chaired the Pacific Dialogue. The group, comprising leaders from various disciplines across nations on the Pacific Rim, addressed the many challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century, seeking strategies on how it might attain lasting peace and prosperity.
In 1989 Anwar was elected President of the UNESCO World Council and was also Chairman of the Development Committee of World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 1998. During his tenure, he strongly endorsed the initiatives of debt cancellation and reprieve for poor countries, particularly those in Africa. In March 2006 he was named the Honorary President of AccountAbility, an international think tank specialising in the development of innovative practices to promote accountability and good governance in the public and private sector. He has held lecturing positions at Oxford University, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Details about the Sydney event
Date: Saturday 13 November, 2010
Time: 2.00pm to 4.00pm (doors open 1.30pm)
Venue: Law School Auditorium 101, New Law School, Eastern Avenue,
Camperdown Campus, the University of Sydney
Cost: Free event but please rsvp online www.sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/ibrahim
Web: sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas
hey… does anyone know if there will be an option for donationes in the event of anwar ibrahim?? thank you!!
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In acknowledging Anwar role in the struggle for Democracy in Malaysia we should not lose sight of the 1970s Overseas-based Malaysian student movement who campaigned relentlessly for Democracy in their homeland in the face of severe repression from the ruling elite. Names like Tan Wah Piow and the “Singapore Eight”(1971), Khoo EE Liam(1974). H.T. Lee(1974), Peter Chandran, Wong, Hishammuddin Rais(1976) and Steve Chan…are some that spring to mind. The Eighties generation around Burma activist Debbie S…, OSS leaders like Eddie Chin and Krishnan and many others should be remembered for their role! Many contributed much to Australian and New Zealand political life as “exiles” as well and some remained here as citizens. Often as student activists they faced the same racism that an earlier generation of Overseas Students faced which culminated in the “Overseas Visa Charge” (our Tertiary Educatiuon” Cash Cow” that is coming home to bite us replacing the equally questionable concept of the Overseas Student receiving an Australian education as a form of “Foreign Aid” (legacy of “Columbo Plan”). Education should be free and universal!~ An investment in tomorrow’s citizens o0f the globe. Jefferson Lee is a columnist with and former student activist from the 1970′s.
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@ norizan.
The event is organised by University of Sydney and therefore, not to raise funds for Pakatan Rakyat.
However, if you wish to make a contribution, please contact John Khoo who has been organising fundraisers for Pakatan Rakyat through his Friends of Pakatan Rakyat Group.
John can be contacted at johnkhoo@mac.com
@Jefferson. Thanks for reminding us of all that have contributed in the long struggle to make Malaysia a functioning democracy.
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