Forum in Mandarin

About 40 people gathered on Sunday, 13 April 2003 at the Caring Society Complex, Penang to attend an animated discussion in Mandarin about the effects of the Iraq war and its implications for the rest of the world. The speakers were Goh Kean Seng, the principal of Confucian High School in Kuala Lumpur, and Huang Zhong Chou, the secretary of the New Era College fund-raising committee for Perak. The session was moderated by Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon, the State Assemblyman for Machang Bubok.

Interfaith Prayer for Peace

A crowd of some 300 gathered at the Esplanade in Penang on Sunday (6 April) evening for a unique public inter-faith prayer for peace even as Anglo-American forces broke into the surburbs of Baghdad thousands of miles away. Religious leaders of the various faiths - Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs - led the gathering in prayer, reflection and religious chants, pleading for a stop to the mounting death toll in Iraq.

Others recited anti-war poems in Malay and English while Prof Johan Saravanamuttu sang a soulful ballad he had composed himself. The crowd was truly a mosaic of Malaysian society: young and old of all ethnic and religious groups, the able bodied and the disabled, imams and religious leaders, civil society activists and curious onlookers.

The event was organised by the Stop the War Coalition, Malaysia, which is supported by more than 60 NGOs and religious groups. It was a visible expression of our common humanity and sent out a powerful message for peace and justice to prevail in Iraq and elsewhere. As soon as the event ended, the heavens opened and rain pelted down - as if to symbolise showers of blessing - flooding parts of Georgetown within an hour.

Anti-War Protest in Penang

Some 500 protestors gathered in Penang outside the Kapitan Keling Mosque after Friday prayers on 28 March to condemn the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq. The 45-minute event, organised by the Stop the War Coalition, Malaysia drew a largely Muslim crowd but there was noticeable representation from Penang-based NGOs, non-Muslim activists and representatives of church-based groups. In an emotionally charged but peaceful gathering the crowd strongly criticised George Bush and Tony Blair for inflicting misery and death on innocent Iraqi civilians.

Inter-faith candlelight Vigil in Penang

Some 80 people, including participants from overseas, attended a candlelight vigil organised by The Stop the War Coalition, Malaysia � supported by 60 civil society and religious groups - on Saturday, 22 March. It was held in the compound of the Penang Diocesan Centre, No. 290, Macalister Road.

Inter-faith demonstration

The Coalition held a successful inter-faith talk-cum-demonstration in and around Komtar on 15 Feb 2003, in solidarity with the global anti-war protests that day. Some 250 people gathered to listen to the inter-faith speakers and watch the song and dance performance. They later took part in a rousing demonstration along the mainroad outside Komtar.

The Coalition is launched

The Stop The War Coalition, Malaysia, was launched on Jan 24 at a forum organised by the Penang Office for Human Development (POHD) in association with the Penang Justice and Peace Commission, Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), Kumpulan Kemajuan Masyarakat (KKM), Women's Centre for Change (WCC), Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) and Penang Diocese Youth Network (PDYN).

Over 200 people attended the forum where four panelists spoke on the dangers of war. They were Prof Johan Saravanamuttu, Dr Hafidzi (JIM), Fr Jojo Fung, SJ and Dr R S McCoy (Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War).

So far, 64 organisations and NGOs have joined this broad-based, multi-ethnic, multi-religious anti-war coalition and endorsed the memorandum below:

To: United Nations Secretary-general Kofi Annan DON�T ATTACK IRAQ! We, the undersigned members of the Stop the War Coalition, Malaysia, are opposed to any military attack on Iraq by the United States and its allies. We urge the United Nations to work resolutely towards a peaceful solution to this crisis. Although we do not condone the human rights abuses and the dictatorial regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, we believe that a war on Iraq would lead to untold suffering, misery and deaths among innocent Iraqi civilians. It could also lead to a wider conflict that might engulf the entire Middle East region and spread to the rest of the world. We oppose the possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) not only in Iraq, but also in the major nuclear powers such as the United States, Russia, China, France, United Kingdom, Israel, Pakistan, India and North Korea. We urge the United Nations to work peacefully and tirelessly towards a world free of all weapons of mass destruction. We join hands with other anti-war activists and groups around the world to oppose the war on Iraq. In this respect, we express our solidarity with the Asian Peace Alliance and wholeheartedly endorse the views contained in its memorandum, which has received the support of key groups across Asia. Stop the War Coalition, Malaysia

Stop the War Coalition, Malaysia affiliates:

1. Penang Office for Human Development
2. Penang Diocese Youth Network
3. Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
4. Penang Justice and Peace Commission
5. Kumpulan Kemajuan Masyarakat (KKM)
6. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
7. Women's Center for Change (WCC)
8. Aliran Kesedaran Malaysian (Aliran)
9. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
10. Women and Workers Independent Media and Training Center (WIMTEC)
11. Women's Development Collective (WDC)
12. Persatuan Pengguna Pahang (CAP)
13. The Sustainable Development Network (SUSDEN)
14. Tenaganita
15. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Malaysia
16. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
17. Sisters In Islam
18. Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia
19. Golongan Anak Muda Arah Kiri (ARAH KIRI)
20. SOS Penang (Save Ourselves)
21. Malaysian Local Democracy Initiatives (MALODI)
22. Penang Anti-ISA Network (PAIN)
23. IDEAL (Institute for Development of Alternative Living)
24. Citizens' Health Initiative (CHI)
25. Women's Aid Organization (WAO)
26. International Movement For A Just World (JUST)
27. Community Development Centre
28. Alaigal
29. The Sustainable Development Network (SUSDEN - KK Workgroup)
30. Cahayasuara Social Communication Centre
31. thefreemedia.com
32. Kinta Consumer Association
33. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
34. Community Action Network (CAN), Kuala Lumpur
35. DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY)
36. The Star Publications
37. Penang Support Group for Migrant Filipinos/Filipino
38. Franciscan Missionaries of Divine Motherhood
39. National Society of St.Vincent de Paul, Diocesan Council of Penang
40. The Group of Concerned Citizens
41. National Catechetical Council
42. Church of the Good Shepherd, Setapak
43. Campus Ministry Office, Penang Diocese
44. Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism
45. Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Kuala Lumpur
46. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Perseketuan (PERMAS)
47. Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)
48. Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Youth Ministry
49. New Vision Studio
50. Women's Candidacy Initiative
51. Shalom Working Youth Fellowship (SWYF)
52. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
53. Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens
54. Society for Christian Reflection
55. Tholilaliyin Tholar (Sahabat Pekerja)
56. ISMA Sekretariat P.Pinang
57. Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Penang
58. Qariah Masjid Kapitan Keling, Penang
59. Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
60. Third World Network (TWN)
61. Teras
62. Pergerakan Penyelidikan dan Pembangunan Komuniti (KOMUNITI)
63. Students Progressive Front (SPF), USM
64. Malaysian Youth and Democratic Movement (DEMA)