NGO's Forum in Penang

PENANG FORUM

Date: 13 April 2008 (Sunday) Time: 8.15am to 4.30pm

Place: Disted College (Jalan Macalister/Jalan Cantonment)

Fee: RM5/participant to cover lunch and refreshments (payable on the day)

Registration: Phone 04-658 5251 (from Tuesday to Saturday during office hours) or email aliran@streamyx.com

Programme: See below

Organised by: the two dozen-odd NGOs who organised last year's Pesta Rakyat Merdeka.Who should participate: Anyone and everyone interested in helping to chart a better future for Penang.How to prepare: Think about concrete plans of action in areas which concern you, which can be presented to the new state government orother state agencies.Join us at the Penang Forum to debate and propose plans of action on how NGOs and other groups can work with the new Penang Government to implement people-centred development and to promote more democratic, participatory and transparent governance.We will be looking at issues including environment, transport and urban issues, governance, women, workers, disabled, youth andstudents, and arts,culture and heritage.The purpose of the 13 April forum is to start a process that would enable us to we establish our own agendas and plans of action for consideration by the state government and its agencies; we would be looking to develop follow-up action (for example: the formation of specialised working groups to further develop proposals on particular topics) and to establish a regular official scheduled forum of exchange with the state government so that our plans and proposals can be systematically fed in and discussed.Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested.Forward to a better Penang! Together we can make a difference!

PENANG FORUM
Date: 13 April 2008 (Sunday)
Place: Disted College (Jalan Macalister/Jalan Cantonment)

PROGRAMME

8.15 – 9.00am Registration

FIRST SESSION: Moderator: Loh Cheng Kooi, Women’s Centre for Change

9.00 – 9.15 Opening Remarks : Ahmad Chik, Penang Heritage Trust

9.15 – 9.45 Topic 1: Environmental Issues
Speaker: Leong Yueh-Kwong, Malaysian Nature Society
Open Discussion (15-20mins)

9.45 – 10.15 Topic 2: Traffic and Urban Issues
Speaker: Dr Choong Sim Poey, CEPAT
Open Discussion

10.15-10.45 Topic 3: Culture, Arts, and Heritage
Speaker: Tan Sooi Beng, Ombak-Ombak
Open Discussion

10.45 – 11.00 Tea Break

SECOND SESSION: Moderator: Kanda Kumar, Malaysian Nature Society

11.00- 11.30 Topic 4: Women’s Issues
Speaker: Prema Devaraj, Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
Open Discussion

11.30 – 12.00 Topic 5: Labour Issues
Speaker: Pusat Khidmat Pekerja Tanjung
Open Discussion

12.00 – 12.30 Topic 6: Disabled People’s Rights
Speaker: Lim Kah Cheng, Sustainable Independent Living Access (SILA)
Open Discussion

12.30- 1.00 Topic 7: Youth and Students
Speaker: Lau Shu Shi, Suaram
Open Discussion

1.00 – 2.00 Lunch

THIRD SESSION: Moderator: Anil Netto, Aliran

2.00 – 2.30 Topic 8: Local Government and Peoples’ Participation
Speaker: Francis Loh Kok Wah, Aliran
Open Discussion

2.30 - 3.00 Topic 9: Other issues
Everyone welcome to contribute
FOURTH SESSION: Plenary: Moderator Ahmad Chik

3.00 - 4.00 Open Discussion and Adoption of Draft Declaration4.00 –5.00pm Formation of Working Groups and Tea

The presenters in the program will introduce the topic and highlight certain areas in 10 minutes. There will be an open discussion on the topic for another 15-20 minutes.


OPEN TO ALL PENANG NGOs and CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS
Registration Fee: RM5 per person
(for lunch and refreshments)