Renewed for advocacy & research: New Contract with KITA-UKM


I received my new contract for another year from Prof Shamul and Puan Mona (Administrator) on Jan 17, 2018. The UKM review committee took the decision towards the end of Dec 2017 but the official renewal letter came only in Jan 2018.

This new contract is for Dec 23, 2017 to Dec 22, 2018. The next 12 months are the most critical years for KITA-UKM. We have been busy preparing the documents for the upgrading of KITA-UKM into a national institute. This is a major achievement for Prof Shamul, the founder director as we celebrate our 10 years since the founding of KITA-UKM. As a national institute we will have policy work and additional responsibilities at a national level and not just with an university focus. There would be a special grant to ensure effective delivery of services (Academic excellence, policy advocacy and professional engagement).

What would my focus be in this 10 year of my service with KITA-UKM?
I will turn 64 in Sept 2018 and next year (Sept 2019) is this right age of 65. This is stepping into 2020. Health wise I am ok but need to exercise, cut some weight, oh yes reduce it, and control sugar intake. Sounds simple but this is really difficult with all those meetings, travel and eating at odd hours.

At KITA-UKM a number of key projects that I am researching & coordinating:-
First, the impact of urbanisation on B40 families especially those living in high rise flats. Have done much analysis on the problems but in 2018 the focus will be on solutions. We undertook a study in 2016-2017 on 25 neighbourhoods. Now we need to review the 2017 neighbourhoods a total of 28 new ones. Will be assisting in the training and capacity building of local leaders in 2018 for another 49 neighbourhoods. This is a massive project and we are working with the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) to ensure the support of all the agencies in solving local problems to improve the quality of living in low cost-high rise flats.

Second, the work on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Malaysian CSO-SDG Alliance, the mobilisation of civil society and voluntary sector as an important stakeholder along with the public and private sectors. Malaysian government through the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) has made a strong commitment and this is also reflected in the Voluntary National Review (VNR-2017). CSO’s play a key advocacy role as well as monitoring for effective delivery especially to ensure “no one is left behind”. CSO also have a direct service role especially in empowerment and capability building programs among all the major groups especially women, youths, indigenous people, urban poor and major other target groups. Others play a major role in conservation, income generation and sustainability.

My role is to work alongside the CSO leaders networking with the public sector especially EPU and ICU and ensure that as stakeholders we can play an effective role. This includes facilitation as well as documentation and policy research. I am also planning to be part of the High level Political Forum at the UN in New York in July 2018.

Third, will continue the Contemporary Malaysian Indian series and for 2018-2019 to work on a new research book entitled “Health & Wellbeing of Contemporary Malaysian Indians” in partnership with Yayasan Palan.  The discussions papers on Social Movements Ten years including Bersih and Hindraf is being edited for publication.


As in the past 2018 is going to be a busy year especially with GE14 and all the analysis and commentary that needs to be undertaken.

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