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| malaysiakini fund |
| Saturday December 2 A fund for independent media Anwar Fazal 6:42pm, Sat: I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that we live in a world dominated by the evil forces of violence, waste and manipulation, of insincerity and double standards, of reckless destruction of the environment, of greed and selfishness and ‘casino capitalism'. The good news is that there is a magnificent proliferation of civil society seeking a new world based on five fundamentals - social justice, ecological sustainability, cultural vibrancy, political participation and economic productivity. This magnificent proliferation is driven by five powers - the power of "one", of "many", of "faith", of "information", and of "success". Malaysiakini, whose first year we celebrate today, is part of this magnificent proliferation of civic power, of vision, and of values. It is an inspiring story of good work. It represents many good things, amongst them: Anwar: Responsibility and hope a new-age journalism utilising the best of the new information and communication technologies; localisation - challenging a world dominated by global media monopolies and interests and the sad fact that often you had to read critical news of your country from abroad; diversity - contributing to the kind of balanced, and balancing, reporting that can ensure an informed citizenry, informed consumers, and an informed electorate - all key to developing a good and just society; a powerful combination of youth, courage, and commitment; hope for a better future for a nation so blessed with goodness and yet so wanting still in so many areas of economics, equity and ecology. Crass commercialism In a world where media is driven too often by crass commercialism or degenerates into blatant propaganda, a ‘third system' of journalism of the kind malaysiakini aspires to, that represents fairness, justice and accuracy, must surely be welcomed. To maintain such a commitment to the intellectual and social capital of Malaysia is a special challenge, that of sustainability. In a short 12 months, malaysiakini has shown what can be done and it wants to do more and from a stronger and domestic base of resources. For this purpose, it gives me great pleasure to launch and to invite you to support the malaysiakini Independent Media Fund. The malaysiakini team hopes, with the support of its readers, to raise RM500,000 a year from its 100,000 readers. It hopes not only to expand its efforts to deliver free and fair news, but also to expand its services to hand phones and, with the advent of Internet broadband, even to your TV sets. The fund, I understand, will be supervised by an independent board who will guarantee proper audit, transparency and accountability. Responsibility and hope I want to end by sharing with you two extracts from poems of Cecil Rajendra, another leading light of Malaysia's conscience. He reminds us about "responsibility" through these words: ‘Never say you do not care Remember, you are Your neighbour's neighbour" He reminds us about "hope" with these words: ‘I want to sing to remind us never to despair that every hour, every minute, somewhere on the face of this earth, it is a glorious morning.' Malaysiakini is about ‘responsibility', and ‘hope' and I wish it and the fund it has launched today every success in promoting and nurturing a free and fair media and a better Malaysia. Editor Steven Gan introduces the malaysiakini team of journalists and contributors. Finally, I made a quick tabulation of what the letters of malaysiakini could stand for and I would like to share this with you: Accessible Leader Accurate Youthful Sensible Innovative Assertive Knowledgeable Interesting Not Afraid Intelligent Thank you for inviting me for this occasion. Photos by COLIN NICHOLAS - COAC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANWAR FAZAL is a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, popularly known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize'. He is a former president of the International Organisation of Consumers Unions and among other things is a senior regional advisor with the United Nations Development Programme. The above speech was made at the 1st anniversary dinner of Malaysiakini held at the Grand Continental Hotel on the Nov 15. |
| Malaysiakini Independent Media Fund Since Malaysiakini was launched in November 1999, our readers have applauded our efforts and have affirmed their willingness to provide financial support for Malaysiakini in our efforts to deliver free and fair news to the Malaysian public. In response to their kind gesture, we have set up the Malaysiakini Independent Media Fund to support Malaysiakini and to promote the development of independent media in Malaysia. We hope to raise RM 370,000 a year from our 100,000 odd readers. The funds will allow Malaysiakini to improve on the quantity, quality and variety of news offered. We also hope to deliver news not only over the Internet, but also to handphones and, with the advent of Internet broadband by the end of next year, to your television sets. With these improvements, we hope to meet the increasing expectations from our readers. In order to guarantee transparency and accountability, the fund will be supervised by an independent board, comprised of advocates and supporters of the independent press. The board will ensure that the funds are utilised for Malaysiakini and in the interests of promoting independent media in Malaysia. All financial details relating to the fund will be disclosed on the Malaysiakini website. How to Contribute: Contributions can be made through cheque, account deposit or cash Cheques: Please make cheques out to Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd. Post it to: Malaysiakini.com, No 2-4, Jalan Bangsar Utama 9, 59000 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Don't forget to state that the funds are for the Malaysiakini Independent Media Fund and include your name, email and postal address so that we can acknowledge that we have received your cheque and we will issue a receipt. Account Deposit: At any Maybank branch or via Maybank2u online banking service, make a deposit to: Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, Current Account No: 514178204585 Please email us your name, postal address, the amount, date that you made the deposit. We will issue you a receipt. Cash: Kindly drop by our Bangsar office or email us your contact details and the amount you wish to donate to the fund. We will contact you to work out the most convenient method for your to make your contribution. Thank you very much for supporting Malaysiakini. Should you have any questions, please email me at prem@malaysiakini.com Premesh Chandran Chief Executive Malaysiakini.com |
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