Has the calls for reforms in the late 1990s benefit the people in Southeast Asia?

Three leaders who had engineered the reform movements in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in that period will respond to that question in a forum on May 29 in Kuala Lumpur.

The forum entitled " Political Reform in Southeast Asia " - organised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) - will feature Indonesia's National Assembly speaker Dr Amien Rais, Senator Kraisak Choonhavan of Thailand and Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

PKR information chief Tian Chua told malaysiakini that the topic was chosen to allow the speakers to provide insights on how the movement for reform have developed in the region.

"The issue is both regressive and forward looking. The speakers will take us to the past on what had happened during the first years of the reformasi era."

"They will also relate the outcome of the struggle so far as viewed in these three countries. They will also try to look at the future...where does this struggle lead to?"

On issues closer to home, Tian said that those attending the forum can expect to hear from Anwar - who is also the advisor of PKR- on what the local reformasi struggle has to offer to the Malaysians.

"He will tell what he has to offer to the Malaysian people based on our own reformasi. I think many will find that interesting," he said.

Respected persons

The speakers, he revealed, are chosen based on their direct involvement in engineering the reformation movement in their respective countries. They are also respected personalities in the region.

In the late 1990s, Amien had mobilised Indonesia's population - mainly students - to initiate the downfall of Suharto.

He was one of the original reformists responsible for ending the New Order of former Indonesian president Suharto.

Economic-trained Kraisak is the chairperson of the Thai Senate Committee on International Relations and the son of the former Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan.