BACKGROUND EVENT

Event: Strategizing Unity Workshop,

Organized by: Merdeka Centre and IDEAS (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs)
Date: 5 -6 September 2015
Venue: Corus hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Participation: Invitation by Merdeka Centre
Objektive: National Unity, melibatkan usaha penyelidikan dan perancangan strategic untuk
mengenalpasti langkah-langkah berhadapan dengan cabaran perpaduan serta halatuju negara.
Strategising Unityyang telah dianjurkan adalah dengan matlamat mengenalpasti peranan anak muda
melakar hala tuju baru perpaduan Malaysia.

1. CONTENT EVENT
The Research Process (Policy research) by Shaza Onn, IDEAS Senior Researcher
1. Research question
Case: How can Malaysias asset declaration system be improved to combat corruption?
-What problems do you observe?
-What is the actual problem?
-Who is responsible for the problem?
-What is being done currently to help with the problem?
-What are the consequences of this problem?

2. Research objective
Case: to find a workable framework for Malaysias asset declaration system
-based on the research question, develop KEY objective you hope to achieve
-As a result of the research, what will happen?
-Why are you doing the research?
-Do you hope to propose a policy?
-Start with the end in mind

3. Situation analysis
Case: what is the status quo in Malaysia? Is there any on-going initiatives in the context of asset
declaration?
-What are existing policies surrounding your research objective?
-Who are the players involved?

-What are existing initiatives to address your concern?

-What are political sensitivities, if any?
-Who must be influenced? Are there any local champions?

4. Background
Case: Are there any prior research on the topic of asset declaration in Malaysia?
-What academic research do I need to substantiate my research?
-Can the research change my research question / objective? (Yes)
-Can I do any interview with resource people to find out more?
-How can I improve on and enrich existing data?

5. Data collection
-First, find out your approach (qualitative or quantitative or both)
-Second, find out your sources of information (primary or secondary?
-Examples, public surveys, self-administered questionnaires, interviews, previous researches.

6. Data analysis
Case: analyzing data with graphic, charts, summarizing
-Using quantitative software to help: SPSS, STATA
-Qualitative research analysis: content analysis
-Get a big picture idea before into the detail
-Find broad strokes to answer your research question
-Then use detail to substantive your argument

7. Conclusion
Case: The current asset declaration system should be revamped and further strengthened.
-What is the bottom line (outcome) from the data analysis?
-Was your research question answered?
-How can you improve on your findings? Anything else needed to be done?
-Validating a sampling of data to confirm conclusion?

8. Recommendation
Case: Make it mandatory by law for ministers and members of parliament (including senators) to declare
their assets to ensure compliance and allow for verification and enforcement
-What do the conclusions point toward?
-What need to be done based on your data to answer the research question / hypothesis?
-Remember to name which recommendation is targeted at which stakeholder
-How feasible are these recommendations in reality?

Advocacy / Lobby
Panelist: Yana Rizal (Projek Dialog), Mandeep Singh (Bersih 2.0), Thilaga Sulathireh (Seksualiti Merdeka)
and Abdul Rahman Shah (TFTN)
Membincangkan tentang cara-cara membuat advokasi dan lobby
Yana Rizal
-Menekankan kepada objektif kempen terlebih dahulu, kemudian memikirkan tentang pemasarannya
-Melihat kepentingan kepada bahasa, mengikut sasaran kepada kempen. Penggunaan bahasa adalah
paling mudah difahami oleh semua

-Projek Dialog menyediakan platform untuk kumpulan-kumpulan marjinal dalam menghebahkan isu
mereka.
Mandeep
-Organising sesuatu Komuniti untuk menyertai demotrasi atau rally
-Agenda mestilah jelas dan berani
-Mobilising dengan menggunakan orang-orang yang berpengaruh dan menggunakan isu yang sensasi.

Thilaga
-Mulakan dengan mappingsesuatu isu.
-Mula dengan sesuatu isu yang kamu sudah familiar dan tau
-Mementingkan terhadap research untuk menambahkan pemahaman dan mengenal pasti actor-aktor
yang terlibat
-Focus terhadap Coalition building untuk mendapatkan sokongan dan solidariti dalam kempen.
-Educating the movement partner untuk supaya mereka memahami isu yang kamu perjuangkan dengan
lebih jelas
Abdul Rahman
-Menggunakan seni kreatif untuk membuat modul untuk pembelajaran di kelas
-Memilih sesuatu Komuniti, khususnya di luar bandar sebagai sasaran
-Mementingkan pendidikan sebagai alat penting dalam advokasi melalui pemupukan pikiran kepada
kanak-kanak.

2. TOOLS / METHOLOGIES OF THE WORKSHOP

-Presentation by Shaza on the policy research policy
-Group discussion + presentation + Q & A
-Forum by panelist +Q & A + group discussion + presentation

3. NEW LEARNINGS / INSIGHTS

-Lobby your own issue to get solidarity from others through formal sharing
-Quick campaign and next time, always remember to bring the campaign materials
-Learn one term Human Library to be explore soon.
-Get to know few Malay group yang progressive and have same thinking