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Towards a Cosmopolitan Multiculturalism: Intercultural Dialogue Without Guarantees

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:33:10 +0000

PUBLIC LECTURE

SPEAKER: Professor Ien Ang
DATE: Monday, 28 September 2009
VENUE: Lecture Theatre 3, Faculty of Economics & Administration
TIME: 5pm
ORGANISED BY: University of Malaya

ALL ARE WELCOME

Ien Ang is Distinguished Professor of Cultural Studies and Australian Research Council Professorial Fellow at the Centre for Cultural Research, University of Western Sydney. Born in Indonesia of Chinese parentage, she was educated in the Netherlands and has lived and worked in Australia since 1991. Professor Ang is a leading scholar within the discipline of Cultural Studies and her publications have dealt with important questions involving the issues of race, ethnicity and identity within the context of globalization and migration. Her most influential publications on identity politics include her book, On Not Speaking Chinese: Living Between Asia and the West (Routledge, 2001).

For further information, please contact Mr Terence Gomez (03- 7967 3725/ 017-2804591)

Launching of the Book “Anwar on Trial” on 14 September 2009

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:08:56 +0000

Gerakbudaya organized the launching of the book “Anwar On Trial: In the Face of Injustice” on 14 September 2009 at De Palma Hotel, Dataran Palma, Jalan Ampang, Selangor.

The book was written by lawyer Pawancheek Marican and officially launched by YM Raja Aziz Addruse, former Chairman of the Malaysian Bar Council. Pawancheek, Raja Aziz and Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim spoke during the function.

Anwar addressing the guests

Anwar addressed the guests on the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence, which he said, is a subject close to the hearts of not just politicians, lawyers or social workers but to every member of society. He went on to explain that the rule of law means the exercise of publicly justifiable power. Anwar emphasized the phrase ‘publicly justifiable power’ because, as he said, “not every law that comes out of Parliament is publicly justifiable.” The full text of Anwar’s speech can be found on http://anwaribrahimblog.com/2009/09/15/the-rule-of-law-and-judicial-independence/

Pawancheek Marican speaking at the launch

Guests at the launch

In their speeches, both Pawancheek and Raja Aziz recalled aspects of a turbulent time in Malaysian judicial and political history in 1998 and 1999 when the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim as Deputy President of Umno and Deputy Prime Minister, his detention under the ISA, and indictment and jailing for corruption and sodomy convulsed a whole nation.

Pawancheek and Raja Aziz were members of the legal team that defended Anwar in the “show trials”, a risible term employed by Raja Aziz in the course of remarks made at the launch. The function room was packed with a crowd of about 250 guests comprising of lawyers, Pakatan Rakyat legislators, opposition sympathizers, civil societies representatives, students & youths organizations and foreign embassy personnel.

Chong Ton Sin, Pawancheek Marican & Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the launch of the book "Anwar on Trial"

Source: http://www.anwaribrahimclub.com/2009/09/book-on-anwars-trials-revisits-judicial-misconduct/

A video of the function is available online at: http://mediarakyat.net/?p=1832

More detail about the book:

The Anwar Ibrahim trials during the late Nineties left the landscape of Malaysia’s judiciary forever changed. Convicted to a six-year prison term on charges that many believe to have been trumped-up, Anwar has become the symbol of a new generation of Malaysians determined to seek truth and justice.

ANWAR ON TRIAL: In the Face of Injustice gives readers a cogent look into the detailed workings of the 1998/1999 corruption trial of Anwar Ibrahim. Captured through the lens of a lawyer who was present throughout the proceedings, the book presents a first-hand account of the goings-on in court and outside it.

Pawancheek Marican examines the way that the Malaysian judiciary was systematically emasculated and turned into a pawn of the executive, the consequences of which will linger for many decades to come. From the trial judge who forbade Anwar to argue his defence of conspiracy to the questionable role of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the book lays bare the political machinations taking place behind the scenes by those in power to remain in power. The information contained within this book comes at an opportune moment as Anwar Ibrahim faces yet another sodomy trial in 2009 - this time, however, from the freedom of his own home and as the Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh in Penang.

http://www.gerakbudaya.com/products-page/asian-studies/anwar-on-trial–in-the-face-of-injustice/