Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement

Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement

Malaysia Youth & Student Democratic Movement (DEMA) formed on 17th September 1998. [1] The movement consists of a group of students from various universities who were responsible for presenting the effects of globalization on the youth and student movement in Malaysia. The presentation will be done in November 1998 where two conferences - Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asia Pacific People’s Assembly (APPA) were organized around that issue of economic policy in the framework of globalization and human rights.

Contents

Objectives

DEMA aims are to promote and facilitate unity, solidarity and co-operation among youth and student of Malaysia in the struggle against imperialism, neocolonialism, abuse of human rights and other forms of reputation towards the people of Malaysia in their struggle for a liberation, democratic progressive, peaceful and sustainable society. DEMA also encourage direct involvement of youth and students in social realities. At the same time, DEMA also promote the acceptance and practice of human right in its broad context.[2] DEMA principles are:-

a) Democracy

  • Defend our freedom of expression, our right to peaceful assembly and to organize ourselves.
  • Oppose dictatorial rule and the centralization of political; and economical power in the hands of few.

b) Equality

  • Eliminate all forms of discrimination in matters of social standards, religion, race and gender.
  • Ensure public participation in the local economy and fair distribution of the Nations wealth.

c) People-oriented

  • Uphold people interest in all social policies and development.
  • Empower the people to bring about positive change in society based on principles of conscientisation, cooperation and self-reliance.

Agenda

  • Create a just and democratic society.
  • Against abuse of power, autocratic ruling and corrupt practices.
  • Oppose Nepotism, Cronyism and Unfair distribution of the nations wealth.
  • Uphold human right: freedom of expression and autonomy within local institutions of higher learning and abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).

Structure

DEMA has a network involving several state campuses in Malaysia. DEMA has a national body with bases known as Students Progressive Front in several state universities across Malaysia. The Students Progressive Fronts are largely autonomous, with internal meetings, activities and annual general meetings (AGM) where posts are elected. Within each Students Progressive Front, there is an external coordinator who also functions as the Campus Coordinator of DEMA. The Campus Coordinator ensures that information, issues, activities and members flow between the Students Progressive Front at the campus level and DEMA. DEMA coordinates different campus-based issues and activities at the national level. The structure of DEMA encourages bottom-up participation.

References

  1. ^ Jac Sm Kee (2007). Human Rights and Youth Activism in Malaysia, p.72. Women's Development Collective.
  2. ^ Abdul Halim, Ruhan Shahir (2005) "Resistance under Repression: The Malaysian Youth and Student Movement" in Martin, Beate (ed.) Go! Youth Progressives in Southeast Asia. Manila, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

External links

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