Talking Reformasi: A political blackhole?
- 9 years ago
Fathi Aris Omar is Malaysiakini's Chief Editor.
As a journalist during the turbulent years of 1998 and 1999, he views Reformasi on three planes;
as idealism of the masses
as a political event and
as an emotional experience
Anwar's sacking and arrest, though not terribly interesting in itself for the then young journalist underlined a bigger discourse that enveloped the nation; questions arose such as how a Prime Minister could inflict such an unbridled attack on his heir apparent for instance.
But was there ever an agenda that during the turbulent years somehow managed to be formulated by the 'reformist' or maybe even formulated itself organically purely through the participation of tens of thousands?
Has Reformasi evolved or are we feeling the repercussions from events 15 years ago.
Regardless that there were no reformasi agenda other than the overthrow perhaps of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, there were repercussions that are being felt to this day ...
As a journalist during the turbulent years of 1998 and 1999, he views Reformasi on three planes;
as idealism of the masses
as a political event and
as an emotional experience
Anwar's sacking and arrest, though not terribly interesting in itself for the then young journalist underlined a bigger discourse that enveloped the nation; questions arose such as how a Prime Minister could inflict such an unbridled attack on his heir apparent for instance.
But was there ever an agenda that during the turbulent years somehow managed to be formulated by the 'reformist' or maybe even formulated itself organically purely through the participation of tens of thousands?
Has Reformasi evolved or are we feeling the repercussions from events 15 years ago.
Regardless that there were no reformasi agenda other than the overthrow perhaps of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, there were repercussions that are being felt to this day ...