Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of cold war, neo-liberalism has been introduced all over the world to enhance capitalism in its continues pursuit of profit. The US – the winner of the cold war has in recent years waged a war in the middle east to consolidate its power in the region and to control oil. This unipolar world order has brought chaos to developing countries like Africa and Latin America and who have seen their standard of living declining. China and India who had previously a more inward looking planned economy with socialist characteristic has today opened its door to neo-liberal market forces.

In the local front, Badawi who is known as Mr. Slow is not really slow when it comes to embracing neo-liberalism. While Dr. Mahathir can be said as the father of neo-liberalism in Malaysia as he pursued the agenda of Reagan and Thatcher in Malaysia in 1983. Yet, Malaysian workers face their biggest challenge under Badawi who has been praised by no other than Bush for his kind attitude towards the White House.

Neo-liberalism has its many fronts and should not be treated lightly. Local Government are forced to control its trade Unions, promote retrenchments, lower taxes for businesses, privatization of public amenities and cheap labour policies. In the last one and the half decade, we have seen privatization of water, electricity, telecommunication, highways, health services, higher education , postal services and recent talk has been about privatization of rivers.

Can privatization be fought? Can globalization be prevented? Can neo-liberalism be stopped? TINA – There is no alternative. Is this true. While Marxist believe that Globalization is inevitable and is a course of history yet it is these conditions which will bring about resistance and revolt from the common people. All over the world, we are seeing global revolt against neo-liberalism.

In Malaysia in recent years, we have seen the resistance against fuel hike, toll hike, water privatization and health on the raise. Though these resistances has not reached a critical point, yet the huge presence of police during toll and hike demonstration and the blackout of news on neo-liberal struggle clears shows that the state sees this as a threat. The recent attack on FTA talks and the huge opposition to US FTA has denied the Malaysian Government to pursue the fast track mode and has put a dent in the greedy growth of capitalism in Malaysia. Besides the FTA, there have been also small victories in the Health sector and water coalition.

It is with this that the meeting this weekend called by JERIT will be a crucial avenue to discuss strategies to fight the on-going neo-liberal attack. The Round Table discussion will look at National Strategy to fight neo-liberalism and how the many coalition can work together to resist the market on-slaughter on the masses.

Below is the program which would be attended by leading activist handling various issues from water privatization, health , GST, Anti fuel hike and toll hike . Among those who will be attending will by Dr. Jeyakumar and Dr. Nasir Hashim from PSM, Charles Santiago from the Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN), Dr. Hatta representing PROTES-Coalition Against Petrol Price Hike , Nizar representing Coalition Against Privatization of Water in Perak, Ponniah representing Health Coalition amd Nizam Mahshar who has been active member fighting at the north fighting many issues and recently FTA.

This weekend would see yet another renewed effort the fight neoliberal policies affecting the rakyat, the poor and the marginalised.

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE:

NATIONAL STRATEGY AGAINST NEO-LIBERAL POLICIES AND PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

Date: 14 April 2007 (Saturday)

Time: 10.00 am

Venue: Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

Agenda:

9.30am : Registration/Tea

10.00am: Opening Speech & Slight Presentation

10.15am - Panel Discussion 1

11.30am- Working Paper 1: Resistance Against Neo-Liberal Policy and Privatization in Asia Region (An overview). Speaker: Charles Santiago

Working Paper 2: To What Extent Malaysia Practices Neo-Liberal Policy And How Are The Civil Society And The Public Are Responding To Oppose The Ideology? Speaker: Nizam Mahshar

Pembentangan Kertas Kerja 3: National Strategy Against the Neo-Liberal Policy & Privatisation of Public Utilities. Speaker: Kumar Devraj

11.30am: Panel Discussion 2 – Solidarity Between the Existing Coalitions Chaired by Kohila

The Panelists are:

1. Dr. Hatta representing PROTES-Coalition Against Petrol Price Hike

2. Dr. Nasir Hashim representing the Coalition Against GST

3. Sivarajan representing The Coalition Against US-MSA FTA

4. Nizar representing Coalition Against Privatization of Water in Perak

5. Ponniah representing Health Coalition.

1.00pm: Conclusion

For inquiries, please call JERIT Secretariat at 016-2960224 and 019-2275982.