Tuesday, November 23, 2010

the role of credible Muslim leaders such as Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and Anwar Ibrahim in promoting multiracial politics in the region

Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Future of Multiracial Politics in Southeast Asia

I was invited by the Cambridge University Southeast Asia Forum to talk about the future of multiracial politics in Southeast Asia in Clare College.

I focused on the different paths of development of multiracial societies and their relationship with the nation-state in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

I elaborated on the challenges confronting the different societies and the role of Reformasi in Indonesia and Malaysia in pushing the boundaries for minorities. I pointed out the role of credible Muslim leaders such as Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and Anwar Ibrahim in promoting multiracial politics in the region.

I concluded that greater democratisation particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia strengthens the role of multiracial politics. The job of democrats is to ensure that the change occurs as peaceful as possible.

After a question and answer session I was then hosted at a formal dinner at St Catharine’s College, where our own Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj belonged to in Cambridge. A mix of Malaysians and non-Malaysians interested in the country attended the talk and formal dinner.

Thank you to Yvonne Tew and Keith Leong from CUSEAF for hosting me in Cambridge.

Photos will be up soon but you can have a look at the photos uploaded here.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad

http://bloggersreports.blogspot.com/2010/11/future-of-multiracial-politics-in.html