Human rights lawyer Siti Kasim has launched her website and service centre today as she lays the groundwork for her planned candidacy as Batu MP in the next general election.
At the launch ceremony of her new service centre in VIVA Residency, Kuala Lumpur, Siti said she is very passionate about her work with Orang Asli communities and national issues of equality in hopes of building a better nation for the people, especially for low-income earners and the less fortunate.
"But I and many of my friends - individually and in NGOs - have come to realise that we are not going to get there as a Malaysia that prospers for all with what we have today. This was even apparent within months of the Pakatan Harapan government coming to power.
"The political will and the political dynamics were not there to usher in a new era. We were recycling politicians and creating new ones in the same mould of the entrenched political party system on both sides of the aisle.
"We need to spark a change. Even if we start small. That was how Gerak Independent (GI) was formed," she said.
GI is a political reform group comprising several NGOs, including Maju Foundation, I Am The Third Force, KitaBantuKita, and Malaysia First.
Siti is the founder of the Maju Foundation.
"That is why we need to start the real change from the bottom. I realised talking and reasoning have failed to spur change. I realised handing over that responsibility to some from the political parties is not going to work. If I believe in this country and its people, then I must take that step myself.
"We need to break this wall where accomplished, capable people with integrity can enter parliament to affect change without having to kowtow to political party ambitions and warlords. Parliament is where we change our nation," she added.
When asked why she chose to contest the Batu seat, Siti said it is because she believes she stands a chance there.
"I heard people say, 'Siti, why don't you go and run in Pekan or some Umno area? Why kacau (disturb) Harapan places?'
"I know a lot of people who support me for what I stand, but when I'm going to step up and run for parliament to speak up as what I have been doing right now when I'm outside, they said go and run in an area where, definitely, mostly 100 percent, I will lose.
"Why would I want to go into an area (where people) cannot grasp where I'm coming from? They are already prejudiced.
"I go in in hopes of winning. Of course, there's no guarantee, but definitely, I will go to a place where I believe the majority of the constituents will understand where I'm coming from, that I'm not against Islam, I'm not against Malays, I'm not against anyone. I am for the betterment of our country, for all Malaysians. And this could be understood, surprisingly, by some Malays, and most non-Malays understand my message," she said.
She explained GI did not tell its candidates where to stand, but the prospective candidates have chosen it themselves.
The launch today also coincides with Siti's 59th birthday, and supporters sang a birthday song for her at the launch.
Also sighted at the launch is PKR's incumbent Batu MP P Prabakaran, who later wrote on Facebook that PKR's Batu division is prepared to cooperate with her in providing services to the electorate.
"The more people prepared to serve here, the better it is for the people of Batu," he said.
Siti's service centre will open to the public from 10am to 4pm on Mondays to Fridays, starting May 16. It can also be contacted through its hotline 017-2197845 and 012-6755327.
GI had announced six candidates on Feb 17 to contest in the 15th general election, including Siti, activist KJ John (Petaling Jaya), former journalist Charles CJ Chow (Subang), Wangsa Maju resident Raveentheran Suntheralingam (Wangsa Maju) and Sabah-based lawyer Roland Cheng (Kota Kinabalu), former Benut MP Taufik Ismail (Simpang Renggam)
However, Chow later withdrew from the coalition and would not run for Subang. - Mkini
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