(August 9, 2006/ Manila) The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) hosted today a meeting between the Barisan Nasional Youth of Malaysia and various Philippine youth groups. The meeting, supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, was held at the joint offices of CALD and FNF Manila.
A major goal of the meeting is to have a dialogue with Philippine youth organizations regarding the current political crisis in the Middle East and how young leaders from Southeast Asia can address this problem.
The Barisan Nasional Youth is the youth-arm of the Barisan Nasional (BN) which consists of 15 parties which represent almost all the people of Malaysia, regardless of race, religion, tribe, clan or ethnic group.
The eight-member delegation is headed by Hon. Dato’ Mah Siew Keong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Youth National Chairman assisted by Hon. Japlin Akim, State Assistant Minister and Sabah UMNO Youth Chairman. The Malaysian People’s Movement Party or Gerakan is a founding member of CALD. UMNO is the ruling party of Malaysia.
Other Malaysian parties represented are the Partu Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, United Pasokmomogun Kazandusun, Sabah Progressive Party and the Liberal Democratic Party.
Invited Filipino participants to this dialogue include youth leaders from government, political parties, universities, civil society and the private sector.
Commissioner Princess Abante of the National Youth Commission, the government agency tasked with all youth related concerns, was present. The youth arms of the major Philippine political parties sent their officials and among them are from the ruling LAKAS Christian Muslim Democrats, the Liberal Party, Aksyon Democratiko (Democratic Action Party), Bayan Muna (People First Party), and the party list SANLAKAS.
The biggest university and college council organization, the National Union of Students of the Philippines sent its Secretary General. The Young Christian Socialists of the Philippines, the Union of Catholic Student Councils, the Philippine Islamic Council, Youth Empowerment and Solidarity Towards Social Change (YES to Change), Philippine People’s Parliament-Youth, Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (Democratic Youth Movement), De La Salle University Political Science Society and Youth for Sustainable Development Assembly sent their officials.
The meeting, chaired by CALD Executive Director John Coronel, was opened with a welcome remarks of Dr. Ronald Meinardus, Resident Representative of FNF Manila and Chito Gascon, former MP and Undersecretary of Education. This was followed by the presentations of Mr. Coronel and Ms. Anne Elicano, Program Officer of the Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia.
Dato Mah then presented his organization’s stance regarding the crisis in Lebanon. He expressed his deep concern about the massive lost of lives and property in Lebanon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon, Esq., facilitated the discussions that followed the presentation of Dato Mah.
At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the attendees will communicate regularly to continue with the dialogue online and that the Philippine group can have follow-up meetings. The possibility of creating a Philippine youth forum on the Middle East crisis was also considered.
A luncheon, hosted by CALD and FNF, followed the meeting.
Please click here for the photos.
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