Aliran Annual Meeting Calls For Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza And End To Use Of Pendatang Label

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Members attending Aliran’s 47th hybrid annual general meeting [on 25 November] unanimously passed a resolution urging for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank to allow humanitarian aid to enter.
They also called for the release of all hostages and prisoners illegally or unjustly held captive on both sides and for the immediate withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Members unanimously passed another resolution urging Anwar’s “Madani” (civil and compassionate) government to call out and censure insensitive politicians who label Malaysia’s ethnic minorities as “pendatang” (immigrants).
The final text of these resolutions will be released in the coming week.
Earlier, in his address to the meeting, Aliran president Anil Netto touched on the need for the “unity government” to hasten the process for much needed reforms.
He said people understand that the prime minister has a tough balancing act due to the presence of the ‘old guard’ in his administration, which has dampened the prospects for reforms.
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But the PM still has to double down on the reforms that many had demanded and expected during the remainder of his tenure, especially the repeal of repressive laws.
Anil also said the government had to address structural economic problems, which had seen the labour share of national income drop while household debt remained high. “And so, the working class find themselves even more hard-pressed to keep up with the rising cost of living, with many only having meagre savings in their EPF [retirement savings],”, he said.

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The government has to be pro-people rather than allow democracy to be hijacked by vested interests.
Members re-elected Anil as president for a fifth year.
They also elected Mary Magdaline Pereira as honorary secretary, taking over from Dr Azmil Tayeb. (Aliran had earlier nominated Azmil for the post of peninsula vice-chairperson of electoral reform group Bersih at the coalition’s recent steering committee election – which he won uncontested.)
Members elected Azmil to replace Mary Magdaline as assistant honorary secretary of Aliran.
Henry Loh was re-elected as honorary treasurer.
Re-elected to the executive committee were former Aliran president Dr Prema Devaraj, Dr Mustafa K Anuar, Andrew Wong, Prof Zaharom Nain, Dr Khoo Ying Hooi, Dr Christopher Chong, Sukeshini Nair and Dr Por Heong Hong.
Also re-elected was K Haridas, who was recently elected to the Bersih steering committee with the highest number of votes.
Making a return to the Aliran committee were John Fong and Sarajun Hoda Abdul Hassan, who also serves as assistant secretary of Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia, of which Aliran is a partner organisation.
Hwa Jen was elected as honorary auditor.
Mary Magdaline Pereira
Aliran honorary secretary
26 November 2023

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