Tenth Year @KITA-UKM

TAPPING POTENTIAL OF SSE FOR SDGS The Asia Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC) hosted a side event on “Social Solidarity Economy & SDGs, Tapping the potential” at the Asian Pacific People Forum on Sustainable development on March 26, 2018 at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand About 20 people from various CSOs from eleven Asian gathered at this session which was moderated by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, who is the Chair of ASEC and who is a Malaysian with the Institute of Ethnic Studies, National University of Malaysia (UKM). In his opening address he highlighted the clear links between SSE concepts and the SDG core values (People, prosperity, planate, peace & partnerships). He noted that there would be a conceptual discussion of these as well as specific case studies addressing SDG 11 on the informal sector in cities, as well as SDG 15 on rural and forest based communities. Dr Ben Quinones the former/past chair of ASEC dwelled on the 5 key SSE principl...

I was recently asked two questions by Malaysian Insight on the publicity for GE14 and specific targeting of Indian voters. These are my reflections:- 1) Do you think that it will increase the Indian community's support towards BN in the coming GE14? The calendar is a political tool to remind the Indian community of the services provided through the current Prime Minister and the special units he has established. These pictures reflects the services that has been provided.  It is not a lie or made up images. It has really take place. Yes I think it would make an impact on a section of the Malaysian Indian community which is at the bottom 40% and who have benefited for these services. However it will have little effect on the middle and upper sections who since 2008 have sought for political rights and development based on a right to services and not based on charity. The call is for equal rights, opportunities and outcomes. They see political leaders from the In...

Together with UN Habitat ED Dato Maimunah By Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria* The 9 th World Urban Forum (WUF9) which was held from Feb 7 to 13, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur (KL) in Malaysia drew 22,778 participants from 165 countries with 122 high government officials. It was also noted that 49% of the participants were women and about 41% below the age of 32. This was truly ‘a work in solidarity’ as indicated by Dato '  Maimunah  Mohd Sharif, the UN Habitat, Executive director at the closing ceremony. There were over 560 official events at WUF9. One could say that so much was taking place at the same time and throughout the day, one could see people in discussions and dialogue in meeting rooms big and small as well as by the coffee tables in networking sessions. From talks, to exhibitions to visits in the city of KL, there was so much of activity and human interaction in terms of knowledge exchange and learning. Ten key observations from my participation:- Fir...

Five key aspects of our action research project for policy advocacy and delivery of services at the neighborhood  levels. First, we note that the in the SDGs, the B40 in cities are a key target group as there is a focus on addressing inequality. Therefore SDG 10, 11 and 16 are key pointers. Likewise the NUA lays emphasis on working in partnership with all stakeholders. B40 local communities are key partners in development in the urban space. Second, Malaysia has experienced rapid urbanisation. There is much prosperity in the cities and urban centres in Malaysia but there is another side of the city where the urban poor & B40 lives which needs urgent intervention. Third, the local university became a partner in this process and began documenting the issues and concerns. The University partner the Institute of Ethnic Studies, National University of Malaysia (KITA-UKM) provided research, training and consultancy work in developing intervention programs. Methodolog...

KITA-UKM’s research was featured at the World Urban Forum yesterday on Feb 10, 2018 from 2pm to 3pm in a Side event which was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Room 409.  Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, the lead researcher on Bottom 40 Flat dwellers moderated the side event with five Malaysians and three foreigners making brief interventions. About fifty people participated from different countries. Datuk Denison highlighted that all the WUF9 participants have only witnessed the beautiful parts of the city of KL especially the twin towers and the surrounding prosperous parts of the city. He noted that there was another side of the city namely the urban poor and bottom 40 communities and the neighbourhoods they live in. He said that both the Sustainable Development Goals - SDG10, 11 and 16 have direct relevance to this theme including the New Urban Agenda’s thrust on local participation and multi stakeholder engagement. Among the Malaysian speakers were Mr Ja...

By Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Principal Research Fellow, Institute of ethnic studies UKM BN government agenda for Indian community I have been involved in policy advocacy since 1997 when I joined the MIC Social Strategic Foundation. While many recommendations and proposals were submitted through the 1 st national economic consultative council and the 2 nd , very little strategic and focus intervention was undertaken. Poverty was measured and priorities set which did not directly benefit plantation workers or the displaced plantation workers who migrated from estates to urban squatters and now reside in high rise low cost flats in urban centres in 38 districts in Malaysia. During my time at YSS (1997 to 2008) there was however the start of many new initiatives by providing access to minority Indian community directly into government programs which was originally targeting Bumiputras such as Giat Mara and opportunities for skills training, MRSM and also at Tekun ...

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 ...