PUBLIC INVITED TO "HIMPUNAN SUARA RAKYAT" GATHERING TODAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- The public is invited to attend the "Himpunan Suara Rakyat, Suara Keramat" gathering, which will be held at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, starting at 6 pm today.

Senior Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, said the gathering, themed “From Reformasi to Malaysia MADANI,” will begin with congregational Maghrib prayers followed by a brief tahlil session.

"At 8 pm, various programmes will be held, including brief ceramah and talks, with a slightly different concept this time. We aim to provide an understanding to those attending, many of whom I believe were involved in the reform movement on Sept 20, 1998.

"Some may not know why Sept 20 is significant, so there will be talks interspersed with poem recitals, short theatrical performances, songs of the struggle from the past, and brief speeches by ‘reformasi’ leaders," he said during an exclusive interview on Bernama Radio today.

Shamsul Iskandar said the brief talks will recall the struggle of reformasi leaders 26 years ago, including significant moments such as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's release from prison and the efforts to reform the electoral system through the Bersih (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) movement.

He said the gathering would also commemorate the early days of the Pakatan Harapan coalition's success in winning state elections, followed by its eventual victory in forming the Federal government in 2018.

The Prime Minister is also expected to deliver a special speech scheduled at 10 pm.

Shamsul Iskandar highlighted the significance of the gathering in providing political education and insight into the challenging leadership journey of the Prime Minister, which forms part of the nation's historical narrative and serves as a story of the reform struggle for school students.

He added that the organisers would provide attendees with white ribbons, previously used as a symbol of the reform movement's launch before Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was established in 1999.

-- BERNAMA