YLDA Strengthens Ties with Malaysian Partners
2007-12-07

The Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia is scheduled to visit Malaysia this weekend to participate in an environment convention organized by its local partners. YLDA Executive Committee members Camelia "Lia" Astuti of Garda Bangsa Indonesia and Chee Wey Hng of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Youth Wing with YLDA Program Officer Pey Canlas complete the YLDA delegation for the Malaysia Visit.

The YLDA delegates were invited to participate in the "Anak Malaysia Environment Convention 2007" this December 8 at the Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM) Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. YAB Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, Parti Gerakan National Acting President and Chief Minister of Penang will lead the official delegation from Parti Gerakan and the Malaysian government as he opens the convention at ten in the morning.

The conference session will then follow where speakers from the government, media, academe, and NGO. YLDA hopes to take some valuable lessons from this activity as part of its preparations for hosting an international seminar on Global Climate Change in 2008.

Aside from participating in the environment convention, the YLDA delegation is also scheduled to hold meetings with the Gerakan National Youth Committee to seek possible partnerships for 2008.

"This meet-up of young leaders from Asia augurs well for YLDA in 2008" says YLDA Executive Member Camelia Puji Astuti. "With the Jakarta workshop just concluded, YLDA has a chance to end the year on a high note by strengthening its partnership with Partai Gerakan Malaysia."

For his part, newly elected Executive Member Chee Wey Hng expressed the same optimism when he declares, "2007 has been good with YLDA. I am sure 2008 will be even better."

Garda Bangsa Garda Bangsa was formed in 1998 following the successful political reform spearheaded by students and other campus activists to depose the tyrannical regime of President Suharto. The organization was founded by Abdurram Wahid, a former adviser of President Suharto who resigned following an escalation in government corruption and political management by the administration. He championed "Responsible Openness" within the government system and proposed the establishment of a Reform Committee in order to mitigate poor governance within the administration. His calls were left unheeded and so he eventually withdrew support for the government and joined the efforts advocating for reform in the government. Read more...