No retreating for Jayasooria
K. Harinderan
WHAT makes a true social advocate? For Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, it is dedication and commitment to seeking equality and justice for all Malaysians.
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| SOCIAL ADVOCATE: Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (right) meeting rural folk in Belaga and enquiring about their wellbeing. |
Jayasooria, 54, was instrumental in the formation of the Social Strategic Foundation (YSS) which looks into improving the socio-economic condition of Malaysian Indians.
He retired from YSS after 10 years and is now on another mission to improve the lives of poor Malaysians.
Vocal in creating awareness of economic, social and cultural rights for people, irrespective of race or religion, Jayasooria is also with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.
Q: What are your plans now that you have retired from YSS?
A: As I am only 54 years old, I do not see my leaving YSS as retirement. I see it as a change in my career.
I stepped down as YSS executive director on May 31, 2008 and from now, I will devote my time to social research and community development from a human rights and multi-ethnic approach.
Q: How long have you been with YSS?
A: I have devoted more than 10 years to YSS since its inception. I was invited by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in 1997 to help the MIC set up a foundation to do social research and social programmes. I had been helping the MIC president from 1997 till I retired.
Q: Why did you join MIC?
A: I did not join MIC as a politician but was invited as a sociologist to set up a foundation to be run professionally for the benefit of Indians.
I completed my doctorate in 1996 in sociology from Oxford Brookes University, UK, and was open to new roles in civil society action.
Although my late father was an active MIC leader during the time of Tun Sambanthan, I had no links with the MIC leadership. I was introduced to Datuk Seri Samy Vellu by a friend in 1995 and was asked to deliver a talk to the MIC Youth section.
In 1997, I was asked to write a strategy paper to address social ills among Indian youths and, in 1997, I was invited to implement an action programme.
Q: Tell us about your job.
A: I was the YSS executive director from 1997 to 2008.
I reported to the board of trustees and worked closely with the MIC president. YSS started with only one young graduate helping me do social research.
Eventually, we grew to about 25 full-time staff but it downsized to about 10 staff, who were mostly social science graduates.
A major portion of the work was in undertaking action research, policy input on the one hand and the running of social programmes which were funded by the government.
Q: Did YSS get complaints and what has YSS accomplished to date?
A: YSS is different from the MCA Complaints Unit. YSS undertook policy research and input to the National Economic Consultative Council (MAPEN II).
YSS prepared and presented 14 papers and many of the references to Indian concerns in the Third Outline Policy Plan, Eighth and Ninth Malaysia Plan were inputs from YSS. The goal here was to get the government to recognise Indian concerns and through the civil service and government machinery to help the bottom 30 per cent of the Indian community.
We wrote papers on urban poverty and squatters, youth crime and social ills, Tamil school development, concerns of displaced plantation workers, civil service recruitment, equity and business development needs.
In addition to policy research, YSS coordinated social development programmes targeted at Indian youths and communities together with other Indian-based non-governmental organisations.
These were funded through a grant made available to YSS by the Federal Government.
A major undertaking has been the recruitment of Indian youths for skills training to Giat Mara and other skills training programme. This to me is one of our major achievements.
This year, YSS has placed about 1,200 academically-weak Indian youths in government-funded institutions.
On a daily basis, there are walk-in clients who have problems such as welfare, national registration, like in their birth certificates and MyKad as well as those requiring educational loans, abused foreign workers and abused women.
YSS has one official dedicated to help make referrals to government agencies or other MIC related organisations such as MIED for student loans or YPS for welfare assistance.
Q: What was the the most challenging case you handled?
A: I would say the most difficult incident was the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) crisis.
As social researchers and grassroots workers, we underestimated the feelings of a majority of Indians, as well as the way enforcement officials responded and how certain political parties took advantage of the grievances.
I am sad that I did not do enough to acknowledge the situation especially the rising public displeasure against the MIC and BN in the Indian community.
However, I have taken strong stands on all the human rights violations and will continue to do so as a human rights commissioner with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
The commission has been consistent on its stand on ISA, excessive use of police force, freedom of public assembly and access to public services.
Q: What problems did you normally deal with when you were with YSS?
A: YSS' main role was to articulate the concerns of the Indian community through policy papers to seek the appropriate intervention by relevant government agencies and also the elected MIC leaders holding public office.
In policy advocacy, we are working within the BN framework in working for reforms. Very often the strong positions taken or advocated from within is not released to the public and therefore outside people have an impression that YSS has not articulated it well enough.
Q: What was your childhood like?
A: I grew up in Banting, Kuala Langat and I studied at the Methodist English School in Telok Datok nearby.
I enjoyed my childhood at school and I participated in many extra-curricular activities. I devoted much time to games like football as I was in the school football team and school 4x100 relay team.
Q: Who do you look up to?
A: Mahatma Gandhi. He was an outstanding social reformer who played a role alongside national leaders.
His inclusive spirit, humility and simplicity are significant values for social workers and community leaders to emulate.
Q: What books do you like to read?
A: Mostly on politics and contemporary socio-economic events.
I also love reading biographies of politicians, leaders and business people.
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