News article

Youth wants more democratic space

In conjunction with International Youth Day, Malaysian youth came together in a youth walk with the theme “Youth, it’s time to take action now”.

Despite of freedom of assembly is very lacking in Malaysia, a group of 35 youth decided to celebrate the International Youth Day in Bukit Bintang by organizing a youth walk.

This youth walk was organized by National Youth Consultation Conference (NYCC), a coalition that advocates for youth issues. It is made up of Youth for Change (Y4C), Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower), Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), National Young Lawyers Committee (NYLC) and the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section (KLSCAH Youth).

This group of young people, aged 20 – 35 joined the youth walk by putting different issues in creative ways e.g. sandwich board, paint on the T shirt, walking behind a jail-like frame. Different issues were put up e.g. abolish University and University Colleges Act, gender equality, animal rights, environment protection and abolish Internal Security Act. They walked around the street and asking the pedestrian to support their issues by sticking a sticker on their board. 400 responses by sticker were collected throughout the walk in 1 ½ hour. A lot of public was astonished by this group of youth with colourful and creative materials.

A student was wrapped with cloth to show that students in university are being suppressed by the UUCA. He went round and asked the pedestrian to “rescue” him from the suppression by giving him a green sticker. A lot of supports were collected throughout the walk. Although UUCA amendment will be tabled in the coming parliamentary session, youth and students’ group still call for the abolishment of UUCA.

According to See Tho Chee Seong, the secretariat member of National Youth Consultation Conference, although young people are often said to be the future leaders of the country, yet there does not seem to be an avenue for them to express their views and ideas, especially with regards to issues that are affecting our society at large. Therefore, NYCC decided to celebrate International Youth Day by inviting Malaysian youth to join the youth walk and voice out their issues of concern.

There are 7 demands for this International Youth Day, which are:

1. Abolish Universities and Universities Act (UUCA) and establish a Youth Parliament

2. Government should take appropriate action to fight inflation

3. Dissolve race-based political parties

4. Stop blaming women’s dressing as a cause of rape

5. Set up Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) by an Act of Parliament

6. Equip youth with job-related and wide coverage skills training

7. Government needs to ensure the preservation of green zones

More photos…

9 August 2008

Press Statement

International Youth Day 2008 Celebration: -

Youth, it’s Time for Action!

In-conjunction with International Youth Day 2008, National Youth Consultation Conference (NYCC) is coming together with Malaysian youth to celebrate this day. NYCC is a coalition that advocates for youth issues. It is made up of Youth for Change (Y4C), Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower), Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), National Young Lawyers Committee (NYLC) and the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section (KLSCAH Youth).

Young people are often said to be the future leaders of the country. Yet there does not seem to be an avenue for them to express their views and ideas, especially with regards to issues that are affecting our society at large. The recently concluded General Election in Malaysia indicates that the people have decided to make a change. The youth must be empowered to becoming the active catalyst agents of change.  It’s time for youth action!

Youth Demands

1. Youth participation in politics
Repressive laws e.g. Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) deter students from participating and voicing out in issues concerning the country.

• UUCA should be abolished and replaced with an open policy or Act to ensure students can participate in issues concerning the country.
• We urge the government to establish a Youth Parliament where Malaysian youth can actively participate in policy debates and decision-making process.

2. Better living standard
Coupled with the petrol price hike and food price increase, youth are very much affected where majority of the youth are low income earners or students.

• We demand that appropriate action should be taken by the government to fight inflation which has surged to a 26-year high of 7.7% in June 2008.

3. No communal politics
The formation of ethnic-based political parties intensified the racial polarization.

• We call for dissolution of race-based political parties
• Resources and wealth should be distributed according to needs instead of ethnicity
• Government should initiate more inter-cultural programmes among youth, especially in the community level

4. ACA to be independent and stop police brutality
Ex-ACA officers pointed out that numerous investigations which involve high profile public figure were not completed due to political interference.

• We propose that the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) be set up by an Act of Parliament to ensure its independence and its credibility.
• We urge the government to implement the recommendations that have been proposed by the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to ensure fair and thorough investigations, and prevent police brutality.

5. Stop discrimination against women
Many young women experienced violence against women e.g. sexual harassment and the lack of safe public space restricts women from carefree involvement in the public.

• The dressing of women is always a target of attach as the cause of rape. Such misconception is certainly discriminatory and misleading.
• We ask to stop the discrimination against women and to provide safe spaces for all.

6. Fighting climate change
If all countries in the world were to emit CO₂ at levels similar to Malaysia’s, we would exceed our sustainable carbon budget by approximately 237%.

• In fighting climate change, we urge the government to ensure the preservation of green zones e.g. reserved forest, marine coastal land
• Government should increase public awareness on environmental issues e.g. alternative forms of energy usage.

7. Youth unemployment issues
With the spoon-feed, patronizing education system, youth are generally ill-equipped with relevant skills and knowledge required by the labour force.

• We urge the government to conduct relevant and wide coverage skills training to equip the youth for labour market, to be more critical and creative, competent and at the same time enhance their work ethics.