Transition of Power
What can go wrong and how we can help

Please note that panelists will be given considerable freedom in structuring their talks according to their areas of expertise. The following is only a brief overview.

• Analysis of the current education system;
• Sekolah Wawasan: Education as social engineering tool;
• Diversity in the education system vs. Single uniform curriculum;
• Mass education or Elitist education: Equality vs. Quality to the selected few;
• Mechanism of public feedback on education policy;
• Education system a matter of supply and demand vs. harnessing human potential;
• Conversion to English medium of instructions;
• The future of the education system;
• What can civil society contribute to the education development of Malaysia?

• Free Market and Democracy: Blessing vs. Disaster;
• 1997 Asian Financial Crisis: Hindsight, insight, foresight;
• Globalization: Impacts and Caveats;
• AFTA: Impact of economic efficiencies and multi-lateral free trade;
• Poverty: Social efforts vs. Government policies;
• Advantages and cost of social safety nets for the unfortunate;
• NEP: Is it a sufficient tool for redistribution of wealth?
• What can civil society contribute to the wide income gap between rural / urban dwellers?

• Divide and Conquer: Survival of racial based politics since independence;
• Racial integration vs. Assimilation;
• Rural and urban gap: Implications and challenges;
• The advantages and pitfalls of a single Bangsa Malaysia;
• The fate of the minority Other, e.g. Iban Kadazan Duzun etc.;
• Immigrants: Effects of changes to racial composition;
• How to break racial barriers?
• What can civil society contribute in fostering racial integration?

• Negara Islam: Definition and Implimentation;
• Another Renaissance: Integration vs. separation of mosques and states;
• Religious tolerance and multi-culturalism in Malaysia;
• Religion and the world: Effects of religion on Malaysia foreign policies;
• The future of Islam in Malaysia;
• Impact and role of other major religions in Malaysia;
• How civil society can contribute to the religion policies of Malaysia?

1. The Friendship Club
   Underscores one of the main reasons civil society should remain grassroots instead of being institutionalized.
2. The World Bank and Civil Society
   Examples of civil societies from around the world.
3. Blaming Christmas
   How honor can be the main driving force behind our society - the irrational cling to carry out one's duty to their family, religion and country.
4. Passing the Mantle: A New Leadership for Malaysia
   Special Report by Bridget Welsh, Karim Raslan and M. Bakri Musa on the leadership transition. Topic not discussed in our forum, but certainly a good read and a good introduction to our speakers.
5. Against All Odds
   Too long - only if you're interested in historical anecdote on the beginning of a civil society to abolish slavery.
6. Deconstructing Jihad; Southeast Asian Contexts
   A working paper by Dr. Martinez that contest the meaning of Jihad from various perspective, particularly in the context of South East Asia and its legitamization by the Islamic Fundamentalist.
7. In Malaysia, the End of Quotas
   Education: The country has abandoned a 31-year-old system that benefited its majority population but also drove top students abroad
8. Mahathir's Economic Legacy
   Jomo K.S. is a professor in the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya.
9. New face, same body
   Charles Hector cautions Malaysians that they cannot expect much from new premier Abdullah Badawi as he is the product of an existing, oppressive system - a new face coming from the same old body - or is it?
10. Asia at a crossroads of sorts
    Speech by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at Agenda Asia (others can be found here at PM office's website)
11. The Racist's Apology
    By Alfian Sa'at, a prolific Singaporean writer. Can one draw any parallel between minority Malay in Singapore and minority (Chinese maybe?) in Malaysia?
12. More coming soon...

1. Abdullah Badawi's first 100 days
   Since the theme of the workshop is about Post-Mahathir era, let's read about the first 100 days of the new administration by BBC. BBC also have links to many of the recent Malaysian news and profile on the right column of the website.
2. History of Malaysia
   By Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia.
3. Brief Facts on Malaysia
   Lots of figures, some more recent history between WWII to 1993.
4. PBS's overview of Malaysia
   History by era, highlights of important events over the past century.
5. NEP (New Economic Policy)
   Time article, written 10 years ago. Along with more links to related articles.
6. International Religious Freedom Report 2003 - Malaysia
   Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Dept of State
7. AllMalaysia.info
   Everything else