Barely a month after their release from a two-year Internal Security Act detention, malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais and Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua are making calls to reinvent the reformasi movement.

While Hishamuddin lamented that the movement was boring and needed a touch of artistry, Tian wanted a new ideology.

The duo were speaking at a discussion titled 'Ada apa dengan reformasi' (What's up with reformasi) in Petaling Jaya yesterday. It was moderated by Perspektif Pedas edior-in-chief Yong Kai Ping.

Back to basics

"We need to go back to year zero again. This mass movement should be an exciting one for youngsters," said Hishamuddin, who was detained in 2001 for allegedly planning to topple the government through militant means.

The 52-year-old former student activist complained that the movement lacked the participation of local undergraduates and did not reflect the country's multi-ethic composition, as it is predominantly Malay-based.

"At my age, I should be sitting behind or maybe writing news about reformasi, let those in their 20s go out to the street but this didn't happen. The police are sick of seeing my face again and again on the streets.

"The youngsters now don't even know how to organise a demonstration. [They] Don't know they should distribute leaflets, draw banners or posters. I still need to teach them," he said.

Although he concedes that street demonstrations were an important facet, the ex-ISA detainee said there were also other avenues in which youths can participate in.

"We cannot equate reformasi with demonstration. Demonstration is just a part of the reformation which represents the mass manifestation," he explained to the 50-odd crowd.

He said there is a need to insert more artistic sentiments into the movement to make it lively. He cited the example of Tok Ampoo - a political satire directed by him in 2000.

The reformasi movement was born in 1998 following the dismissal and subsequent jailing of Hishamuddin's former university mate, Anwar Ibrahim, who was then deputy prime minister.

Anwar, who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for sodomy and corruption, claims to be a victim of a political conspiracy orchestrated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. This charge has been denied.

New ideology

Meanwhile, Tian, 40, said the movement needed to formulate a new ideology in view of the recent release of the six reformasi activists, a recent battle call of the movement.

However, the Keadilan leader did not agree that the movement, which some criticised as becoming increasingly irrelevant, had lost its momentum and visibility.

"Reformasi has opened up a platform for people to speak out. The aspiration to reform still exists but the manifesto needs to be changed," said Tian, who was also a former student activist.

He reminded that the struggle was a protracted one aimed at turning Malaysia into a democratic country with transparent governance.

Hishamuddin agreed, saying that the reformasi movement should create a new direction and strategy.

"It is too boring until we only have two slogans: ' Bebas, bebas Anwar' (free Anwar) and 'Undur, undur Mahathir' (resign Mahathir).

"So when Mahathir really undur in October (the premier is retiring in that month), does that mean that the reformasi is over and we gain victory? Maybe after his retirement, we should have a slogan like ' Tangkap Mahathir, tangkap ' for us to continue our struggle.

Fear culture

Hishmuddin explained that the release of the six ISA detainees, Mahathir's retirement and other achievements must be consolidated to achieve a bigger victory. "A day when we could see all the people here sit in Parliament".

"Usually a movement starts in an organised way but reformasi is the other way round. We have put the cart before the horse, we go to the street first and thought that's all it's about," he added.

He also disagreed that reformation was a by-product of poverty but said that it can happen in developed countries as well.

Hishamuddin also called on youths to discard their 'culture of fear' and participate in the movement.

"Why fear, they can arrest you just because you are wearing a yellow underwear," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Hishamuddin, Tian and four others were detained on the same militancy charge, which they have denied. The six were freed early this month after spending two years at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Taiping, Perak.

Yesterday's discussion was organised by New Vision Studio and Strategic Information Research Development.

Event photographs courtesy of Perspektif Pedas