The countdown has begun for the launch of Pakatan Friends - a movement that aims to reach out to East Malaysians and unite them into a voting force ahead of the 13th General Election.
Sabah PKR communications director Ronnie Klassen told Malaysia Chronicle the launch slated for Saturday at the Hotel Yaho in Sembulan will be covered live on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pakatan-friends-online-tv .
“It is the young Sabahans and Sarawakians who will hold in their hands the future of Malaysia. That’s why we are focusing all our efforts to reach them and explain to them why they must engage themselves in our struggle for democracy and justice,” Ronnie told Malaysia Chronicle.
“They should not close their eyes, that was the way of the previous generation. The next GE is a very crucial one and East Malaysians must come forward and be a part of the change. They must lead the change and not forever be the 'fixed deposit' for Umno and BN.”
East Malaysians working in the peninsula also targeted
More than a thousand people have indicated their wish to participate in the Pakatan Friends launching. The next stop will be Kuala Lumpur in mid-August and Sarawak in mid-September.
According to Ronnie, there are about 300,000 East Malaysians – mostly young professionals – working in the peninsula.
“The aim of Pakatan Friends is to reach out to young East Malaysians who do not have any political affiliations or have not registered as voters yet. Apart from the home states, we also want to target those who have gone to the peninsula to work,” said Ronnie.
“In the peninsula, we will start off with Kuala Lumpur and on the list is also Johor because of its proximity to Singapore where a lot of Sabahans and Sarawakians are working. They do not have to join any of the Pakatan parties but we urge them to listen to our message of reform and spread it to their friends and families.”
Networking and support groups
Pakatan Friends will also set up committees to provide networking and supportservices . East Malaysians working in the peninsula who have lost their jobs due to the recession can also approach it for help to find new or temporary employment.
“Pakatan Friends is not just a recruitment drive for party membership or voters. Our first aim is to create awareness. Then we also want to create planks for friendship, networking and communication. We want to stay in touch with young Sabahans and Sarawakians and for those working outside East Malaysia, we want to help them to stay in touch with their homeland,” Ronnie said.
“As it grows, Pakatan Friends will expand its range of community services. Our networking is not small, so we can make use of it. For example, those who have been laid off can approach us and we will try our best to find them new jobs.We also want to encourage them to go home and vote in the next GE. If they are already registered voters in the peninsula, we will ask them to encourage their friends and families still in Sabah and Sarawak to vote for Pakatan for change.”
Earlier this month, a similar outreach Friends of Pakatan Rakyat was launched in London, where at least 20,000 to 30,000 Malaysians live. Chapters are also being set up in Europe, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia and other parts of Asia.
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