'Reformasi is not dead, but there is still much work to be done'

18 Sep 2023 12:56pm

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Ethnic Studies Deputy Director Institute Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib agreed that Reformasi is a social construct, but noted that the Reformasi of 1998 was a specific event that took place in a different context. - FILE PIX

SHAH ALAM - Reformasi is a social construct that can be produced and reproduced, according to experts.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Political Science Association Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said she believed that Reformasi was not dead, but that there was still much work to be done and that it required a government with the political will to enact change.

"This government has demonstrated its willingness through actions such as the anti sub-contractor act, the reconsideration of the sedition act, and the recent separation of the Attorney General from the Public Prosecutor," she told Sinar Daily.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Ethnic Studies Deputy Director Institute Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib agreed that Reformasi was a social construct, but noted that the Reformasi of 1998 was a specific event that took place in a different context.

"In 1998, people were seeking justice and the release of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"However, Anwar now holds the position of Prime Minister, and justice has been served," she said.

Despite this, Kartini believed that a new wave of Reformasi may emerged, driven by different motivations.

She said that the current social unrest was primarily due to the high cost of living and soaring consumer product prices, compounded by the perceived inability of Anwar's administration to address these challenges.

"Reformasi is a social construct that can be both produced and reproduced," she said.

Commenting further, Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA) Professor Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said that the spirit of Reformasi, which once ignited hope and aspirations in many, still lingered in the hearts of those yearning for positive societal change.

"While it may not be as outspoken or visible as it once was, it has not disappeared; instead, it has evolved into an unfulfilled dream," he said.

"Today, Reformasi may not dominate headlines or fill the streets with protesters, but it lives on in the aspirations of individuals who continue to advocate for change."

Shamsul described Reformasi as a quiet yet enduring force, embodying the collective dream of a more transparent, equitable, and democratic Malaysia.