WHO IS THE BOSS?

KOMAS Freedom film festival 2012 launching.

“What do we want? DEMOCRACY!” “Who is the Boss? WE ARE!”

These shouts were echoed throughout the night during the launching of KOMAS’ Freedom Film Festival (FFF) last Monday in the Station 1 Café in Jaya 1 Complex in Petaling Jaya.

This year the FFF carries the theme “Democracy – Who is the boss?” an apt slogan in the light of the much anticipated 13th General Elections speculated to happen sometime soon.

The lively and colorful event attended by about 100 people made up of all sectors including students, lawyers, politicians, local councilors, NGO activists, reporters, resident association members, urban poor community leaders and Orang Asli representatives.

Two prominent VIP guests were Selangor government Exco member YB Rodziah Ismail who represented the State Government who is also a co-organiser of the FFF film screenings in Selangor. Another prominent personality and loyal follower of the FFF was his Excellency Ambassador Vincent Picket of the European Union (EU) who is also the official funder of the FFF.

Left: Yusri Ahon, speaking from the heart.|Right: FFF2012 Officially launched

The launch included a lively forum where a panel of speakers gave their thoughts and reflections on the theme of the FFF. Members of the audience also participated by writing down key words on big pieces of color paper after each panel speaker had spoken.

Ambassador Picket expressed his appreciation of the FFF programme and also voiced his support for the advocacy of human rights through the film medium. He also shared that the EU has a special funding of RM1.3 million to finance relevant human rights projects in Malaysia.

YB Rodziah shared her interpretation of what Democracy meant to her and expressed her insight that Democracy must be understood and practiced by both the people and their leaders. Then when both parties are on the same platform and have achieved common understanding they would then become more cohesive rather than divisive.

Student activist Adam Adli shared about the right of students to have representation in the Parliament and also to have their interests looked into and especially voiced his protest against the oppressive Universities and Colleges Act (AUKU) which curtails and controls the activities and freedom of movement of students.

Grassroots representative from the Orang Asli community Yusri Ahon shared about the indigenous people’s right to land and how the government of the day has neglected their rights to land.

Another community representative M. Arumugam of PERMAS and leader of the longhouse community in Jinjang voiced his disappointment with his member of parliament and also raised criticism of both the federal government and the Selangor State Government for not properly handling urban poor land and housing issues, citing the case of Rawang land issue as a case in point.

Members of the audience did not mince their words when asked to comment. Some were very direct with comments, “we pay your salary, we are the bosses!” referring to the relationship between ordinary citizens and elected representatives.

Left: KOMAS’s Executive director Tan Jo Hann speaking about this year’s theme”Democracy: Who’s the boss?” | Right: “People are the boss”

Some were more diplomatic by asking their needs be looked into such as the representative from the disabled community who stressed the lack of sensitivity and consideration for disabled person’s right to access and movement especially for him who is wheel chair bound.

Tan Jo Hann, executive director of KOMAS, concluded that “many people associate democracy with elections and voting but there is a need to stress that the practise of democracy is much wider and it should be put into practise and manifested in all aspects of our daily social and economic lives as
well.”

Festival director, Anna Har encourages Malaysians to start sending in their proposals and ideas for a film they want to make that will be able to bring light to how democracy is practised in our personal Malaysian realities.

KOMAS members and their message for democracy.

The highlight of the event was the launch event itself where a huge banner with the
words “DEMOCRACY” written on it was unfurled and everyone was invited to stand behind it while holding up pieces of paper with their thoughts and reflections of democracy written on it.

Everyone shouted out the slogan of “Democracy – we are the boss!” and thus ended the night of the launch of the freedom film festival 2012.

Left: Our guest panel receiving gifts from Pusat KOMAS for their participation (From left to right): HE Vincent Picket, Tan Jo Hann (KOMAS), Adam Adli (SMM), YB Rodziah ismail (Selangor state EXCO), Yusri Ahon (JKOASM), M.Arumurugam (PERMAS) | Right: A special lady with a very special message.

The launch also indicates the beginning for the call of film proposals on the same theme. Details of the film proposal competition can be found here.

Most Outstanding Human Rights Film of FFF2011 in now officially ONLINE

“HURUF J” by Afiq Deen is a personal and creative approach of shedding light on the issue of Muslim divorce in Malaysia and its impact specifically on the wife and children. Its a particularly daring attempt by the filmmaker, who as a child, had to experience the break up of his parents marriage and now seeks closure to the experience through this film.

In conjunction with the online premiere of this film, we would like to invite reviews of this film which will be put online on this website.

Please share this link with your friends and get them to tell us what is their experience of the film and what can we do to make things better for divorcees and their children in Malaysia.

FreedomFilmFest is back and will launch its campaign to promote human rights via film making.

The theme for FFF2012 is“Democracy: Who’s the Boss?”

Since the 2008 general elections, citizens are increasingly aware of the power they hold as voters in a country that practices democracy; but are our voices as citizens heard, and are the elected representatives doing their job? These are important questions- more so in light of the upcoming general elections.

All film makers- aspiring or professional- are invited to send in their film proposals based on this year’s theme. The three best proposals will be awarded RM6000 to produce a film based on their respective proposals.

In conjunction with the launch of FFF2012, we are inviting a guest panel to discuss and give their views on this year’s FFF theme.

We look forward to your participation and attendance at the launch of FreedomFilmFest 2012.

Date: Monday, 6th February 2012

Time: 7pm – 10.30pm

Venue:  Station One Cafe, Jaya One, No. 72A Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya.

Kindly RSVP with Mr. Roger Liew (03-79685415/0122782373) or email at
freedomfilmfest@komas.org before 4rd February 2012.

KOMAS AND ENGAGE MEDIA TO HOST VIDEO DISTRIBUTION WORKSHOP 

Working in partnership with EngageMedia, KOMAS will be hosting a video distribution and public engagement camp for activists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and East Timor from February 20 to 25, 2012.

The camp will be held in Malaysia, and will bring together key cultural groups and individuals to discuss, share skills and collaborate around digital video distribution, freedom of expression, campaigning and engagement.

*Pictures courtesy of EngageMedia