Siti Kasim launches NGO to mobilise moderate voices of Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: As the National Day approaches, outspoken lawyer Siti Kasim has launched an NGO in a bid to unite the moderate, liberal and progressive voices in the country.

Known as the Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity Foundation (Maju), the NGO would serve as a platform to connect Malaysians of all backgrounds, races and religion with a vision for a progressive society, said Siti.

She said the idea to form the NGO was conceived about two years ago, when she and a friend realised that the voices of moderate Malaysians were weak and unorganised.

“It was always trying to walk a soft path for fear of offence. Thus, its message is frequently lost.

“At the same time, everywhere I go, people tell me they support what I have been saying and the causes I espouse, but they do not know how to go about providing that support or how to get involved.

“We realised we need to provide a voice and a platform that will be a rallying point for our progressive citizenry that is consistent, loud and unwavering in its cause, without fear or favour, ” she said.

Siti, who’s also a social activist, made this point during her opening remarks at the launch of Maju at Aman Suria on Wednesday (Aug 28).

Aside from pushing for a just, fair, equitable and progressive country, Siti said, the group would also try to influence public policies by acting as a pressure group.

“We hope to have a pool of public interest lawyers, lobbyists, communication strategist, and members and activists to advance equality, fairness and freedom, especially for the most vulnerable in our society.”

She stressed that Maju was an apolitical group, and anyone could join as a member, regardless of their ideological leanings or beliefs.

“What we asks of our supporters is that they consistently defend civil liberties and the original intention of our Constitution.”

Malaysians interested to join Maju as a member will be given a unique number upon registering with a minimum fee of RM50 annually.

“The reason we want proper registration is because all this while, only political parties claimed to have supporters with their numbers.

“I know there are many like-minded people, so I thought why not do a proper registration? So, if we talk to the government, we have people behind us.

"Hopefully, we will have one million supporters behind us, ” she said.

According to Siti, the rhetorics of politicians and people with vested interests had driven a wedge between various ethnic communities.

She said there was a need to unite the country’s multi-ethnic society.

“We need our society to go back to how it was when we used to eat, drink, celebrate and love together with no regards to our ethnicities or religious backgrounds, accepting each other without judgement.”

Malaysians who are interested to join Maju as a member can do so at www.mymaju.org.