Lim Kit Siang

‘Reject Violence, Advocate Peaceful Dialogue’

Kit

By Advocates for Peaceful Dialogue

Last week a draft statement calling on leaders and rakyat of Malaysia to condemn violence and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve current ethno-religious issues was circulated.

It is indicative of the dangerous times that Malaysians are presently living in that the draft quickly drew a strong response. More than 200 academics, thought leaders and civil society organizations from Malaysia and abroad, all of whom want to see the country thrive and fulfil its full potential, wrote in support of the statement.

The campaign reminding the country’s leaders – and in fact all citizenry – to stand firm against intimidatory acts and violence needs to be sustained.

To ensure that the campaign reaches far and wide as well as serves as a wake up call to the Government of the day to live up to its political and moral responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all Malaysians, the petition has been made available for access and endorsement through the following links:

Advocates for Peaceful Dialogue (APD)

The contents of the petition are also reproduced below, as are the names of key academic signatories and civil society organizations from home and other countries of the world concerned about the future of Malaysia

“We, the undersigned, are individuals and organisations, both in Malaysia and abroad, with a deep interest in seeing the nation pursue a path of development that is based on diversity, mutual respect, and peaceful progress.

However, developments in the country, especially since the 13th general elections, are a serious cause for concern.

We are particularly concerned by the threat of violence by various irresponsible organisations and individuals in response to racial and religious issues. This threat is all the more palpable because of the failure of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his ruling coalition government to stand up to elements in society that are bullying or intimidating other Malaysians and advocating a ‘might is right’ approach to resolving societal differences.

We urge all Malaysians to condemn the use of intimidation and violence by any individual, organisation or institution as a means of resolving differences.

We urge the Najib administration, the opposition, civil society movements and organisations, and most importantly, all Malaysian citizens, to speak up against intimidatory acts and the use of violence to resolve differences.

Finally, we urge those in leadership positions – at all levels of government and society – to work together to develop new initiatives that uncompromisingly reject violence and promote peaceful dialogue.

All Malaysians and their elected representatives should take a united stance against allowing these violent elements to tear the Malaysian house asunder.”

`Tolak keganasan, syorkan dialog aman’

Satu draf kenyataan yang menyeru pemimpin dan rakyat Malaysia supaya mengecam keganasan seraya berusaha menjalankan dialog aman untuk menyelesaikan isu-isu etno-agama semasa telah diedarkan kepada awam pada minggu lepas.

Kenyataan kami itu dengan cepatnya mendapat perhatian lebih daripada 200 orang ahli akademik beserta para pemimpin beberapa badan dan pertubuhan yang mencorakkan pemikiran masyarakat. Sambutan terhadap inisiatif kami oleh orang Malaysia yang berada di dalam dan di luar negara menunjukkan keprihatinan warga dalam saat-saat genting di negara kita. Maklum balas yang memaparkan sokongan padu kepada seruan untuk menolak keganasan membayangkan bahawa rakyat Malaysia menginginkan negara kita maju dan memenuhi potensi perkembangannya.

Kempen mengingatkan pemimpin-pemimpin kita dan termasuk juga semua khalayak umum agar berdiri teguh terhadap perbuatan menggertak dan mengganas oleh anasir-anasir anti-perpaduan perlu dikekalkan momentumnya.

Bagi memastikan mesej kami akan sampai ke seluruh pelusuk ceruk rantau dan juga berfungsi sebagai peringatan kepada pihak kerajaan akan tanggungjawab politik dan moralnya untuk menjamin keselamatan dan kesejahteraan semua rakyat Malaysia, maka petisyen kami telah dimuatnaik ke laman-laman berikut supaya kalian boleh membacanya serta menyatakan sokongan anda.

Pautan-pautan ‘Tolak keganasan’:

Kempen oleh Advocates for Peaceful Dialogue

Turut diulangsiar di bawah ialah isi kandungan petisyen dengan nama-nama tonggak (senarai tandatangan ahli akademik orang tempatan dan asing) yang mengambil berat tentang masa depan Malaysia.

Kami, nama-nama tertera di atas, merupakan individu-individu dan organisasi dari dalam dan luar Malaysia yang ingin melihat negara ini maju dengan asas-asak yang kukuh dari segi kepelbagaian budaya, saling hormat-menghormati di antara kaum dan agama dan perpaduan yang menjadikan kita semua boleh hidup aman damai.

Namun begitu, perkembangan semasa dalam negara, khususnya selepas Pilihanraya Umum ke-13, memperlihatkan tanda-tanda yang amat membimbangkan pencinta keamanan.

Kami amat khuatir terutamanya akan ancaman keganasan oleh sesetengah organisasi dan individu tertentu ekoran kemelaratan isu kaum dan agama. Tindakan balas mereka jelas amat tidak bertanggungjawab.

Ancaman ini dirasakan lebih serius memandangkan kegagalan Perdana Menteri Najib Razak bersama barisan anggota kerajaannya yang gagal menangani kejadian membuli dan menakut-nakutkan warga Malaysia yang lain. Golongan yang segelintir ini mengambil pendekatan ‘Yang Kuat itu Benar’ (Might is Right) sebagai kaedah penyelesaian bagi mengatasi perbezaan dalam masyarakat.

Justeru itu, kami menyeru agar semua warga Malaysia mengecam pendekatan mereka-mereka yang mengancam dan mengganas terhadap ahli-ahli masyarakat lain yang tidak sehaluan.

Kami juga menggesa pentadbiran Najib Razak, pihak pembangkang, gerakan dan organisasi masyarakat madani, serta yang paling penting setiap warganegara Malaysia yang bersikap moderat untuk bersuara demi membantah tingkahlaku puak yang menganggap bahawa kerja mengancam dan mengganas adalah cara paling berkesan untuk meleraikan kekusutan.

Akhir sekali kami ingin mengajak para pemimpin di setiap peringkat dalam kerajaan dan masyarakat untuk berkerjasama dalam membangunkan inisiatif baru serta menolak segala bentuk keganasan seraya menyokong usaha dialog secara aman.

Semua warga Malaysia bersama-sama wakil rakyat yang dipilih mestilah bersatu mengambil pendirian menentang unsur-unsur keganasan yang kian merosakkan perpaduan dan keharmonian yang dicapai kita di Malaysia.

Academics/Ahli Akademik

No Name Institution
1 Professor Abdul Rahman Embong Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2 Professor Alberto Gomes La Trobe University
3 Dr. Amanda Whiting University of Melbourne
4 Professor Amarjit Kaur University of New England
5 Associate Professor Andrew Aeria Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
6 Professor Andrew Harding National University of Singapore
7 Emeritus Professor Anthony Reid Australian National University
8 Associate Professor Ariel Heryanto Australian National University
9 Dr. Arnold Puyok Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
10 Dr. Asma Abdullah Universiti Putra Malaysia
11 Associate Professor Bridget Welsh Singapore Management University
12 Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr. C.P Ramachandran Ex-Universiti Sains Malaysia
13 Dr. Charis Quay Huei Li Université Paris-Sud
14 Dr. Christopher Chong
15 Charles Sullivan University of Michigan
16 Emeritus Professor Clive Kessler University of New South Wales
17 Dahlia Martin
18 Professor Donanld M Nonini University of North Carolina
19 Professor Francis Loh Kok Wah Universiti Sains Malaysia
20 Professor James Chin Monash University (Malaysia Campus)
21 Dr Julian Hopkins Monash University (Malaysia campus)
22 Dr Khoo Boo Teik Institute of Developing Economies
23 Melissa Yoong University of Nottingham (Malaysia campus)
24 Dr Rosli Omar Ex-Universiti Malaya
25 Dr. Patricia Martinez
26 Dr. Pauline Eadie University of Nottingham
27 Associate Professor Rueban Balasubramaniam Carleton University and Jurist Malaysia Initiative
28 Dr Sumit Mandal Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
29 Professor Terence Gomez University of Malaya
30 Dr. Terence Lee National University of Singapore
31 Associate Professor Thomas Pepinsky Cornell University
32 Associate Professor Timothy Daniel Hofstra University
33 Professor Wan Abdul Manan b Wan Muda Universiti Sains Malaysia
34 Dr Yaso Nadarajah RMIT University
35 Professor Zahrom Nain University of Nottingham (Malaysia campus)

Civil society

No Name Organisation
1 Dr. Ahmad Farouk Musa Islamic Renaissance Front
2 Ambiga Sreenevasan
4 Andrew Foong Global Bersih
5 Anil Netto Aliran
6 Anthony Wee Archdiocesan Office for Human Development
7 Arlene Tan Projek Dialog
8 Azrul Mohd Khalib
9 Bala Chelliah Global Bersih
10 Bishop Paul Tan SJ Catholic Church, Diocese of Melaka-Johor
11 Carmelo Felito Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)
12 Charis Quay Global Bersih
13 Chong Pin Lim Global Bersih
14 Clement Ong Institution For Leadership and Development Studies (IDEAS)
15 Colin Rajah Global Bersih
16 Daniel John Jambun Common Interest Group Malaysia
17 David Teoh Global Bersih
18 Dina Zaman
19 Ivy Josiah Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
20 Kanul Gindol Borneo Rights International
21 Kean Wong Global Bersih
22 Kevin Bathman Global Bersih
23 KJ Abraham Oriental Heart and Mind Study Institute
24 Dr. KJ John Oriental Heart and Mind Study Institute
25 Lydia Chai Global Bersih
25 Marina Mahathir Sisters in Islam
26 Noor Amin bin Ahmad Institute for Leadership and Development Studies (IDEAS)
27 Praveen Nagappan Global Bersih
28 Professor Wan Abdul Manan b Wan Muda Malaysian Academic Movement
29 Rev Dr Herman Shastri Council of Churches Malaysia
30 Robert Foo Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia
31 Sharmini Darshini Amnesty International Malaysia
32 Sivin Kit
33 Sonia Randhawa
34 SV Singam Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia
35 Tong Soo Tim Malaysian Bar
36 Tricia Yeoh Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)
37 Uthaya Shankar SB Kumpulan Sasterawan Kayvean
38 William DeCruz Global Bersih
39 Yoland Augustin Global Bersih
40 Yu Ren Chung Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)