EVENTS

By Shanon Shah

"We are happy when non-Muslims like Cat Stevens embrace Islam, but what if a Muslim wants to become a Christian?" asked Akyol at a public seminar on Secular state, religious society: The role of religion in a plural country yesterday evening.

The other speaker at the forum, PAS Member of Parliament for Kuala Selangor Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, agreed that "the age of forcing ideas and beliefs through military and political power is over".

Speakers:
1. Mr Mustafa Akyol
2. YB Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad

Date/Day: 5th May 2009/Tuesday
Time: 7.45pm - 9.45pm
Venue: Seminar Room Buyong Adli, 2nd Floor, Wisma Sejarah, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur (in between Hospital PUSRAWI and the National Library)

1 – 3 May 2009 (Friday - Sunday)
The Virtues of Entrepreneurship and The Morality of Capitalism: Lessons from Ayn Rand’s novel ‘Atlas Shrugged’
Venue: Bayview Hotel, Penang, Malaysia

The Malaysia Think Tank is inviting applications to attend the third Freedom Academy. This time the Freedom Academy will analyse and debate ideas around entrepreneurship and free market capitalism as presented in Ayn Rand's magnum opus Atlas Shrugged, exploring their relevance to the economic situation today.

America is one of Indonesia’s biggest trading partners, and America’s trade policies will have impact on Indonesia’s economy and employment. Will the G20 agreements improve situations? How will President Obama’s trade policies affect developing countries, especially Indonesia? How can Indonesian companies and Indonesian policy-makers prepare for the challenges? What can be done to stem the rising tide of protectionism?

Date: Wednesday 11 March, 2009, from 6.30 to 8.00 pm
Venue: St. Stephen's Club, 34 Queen Anne's Gate, SW1H 9AB
Theme: "Islam and Liberal Democracy: How Muslims Can Combine the Two"
Featuring a presentation by Dr. Abdelwahab El-Affendi (author of Who Needs an Islamic State?) and comments by Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Director General of the Malaysia Think Tank.

A Malaysia Think Tank Event featuring Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Waytha Moorthy

"A conversation on the future of ethnic relations in Malaysia"

Venue: Newcastle University, Lecture Theatre D (Dental School)
Date: Sunday 22 February 2009
Time: 1pm to 2.30pm

16 – 18 January 2009.
Theme: “Globalisation, the free market and developing countries”
Venue: Residence Hotel, UNITEN, Selangor.

At this Freedom Academy participants will study in depth the true meaning and morality of capitalism, how globalisation has brought prosperity to developing economies, and why free market capitalism is still the way for forward.

Date: Wed, 21 January 2009, from 7.00pm
Venue: Freedom Institute, Jalan Irian No. 8, Menteng, Jakarta

Speakers: Faisal Basri (Universitas Indonesia), M. Chatib Basri (Universitas Indonesia), Alec van Gelder (International Policy Network, London)

If protectionism continues, the impact on the economy would be dire, since decline in trade volume would hamper economic recovery. What are the impacts on the producers and consumers and on individual liberties in the future? What is the tendency in Indonesia? How should the government respond to this?

Date: Sunday, 18 January 2009
Time: 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Venue: Room Titan 2, Residence Hotel, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Jalan Kajang-Puchong, 43009 Kajang, Selangor.

Is there a relationship between a healthy democracy and a free market? Do we need a free market in order to achieve true democracy? The Malaysia Think Tank is pleased to invite you to debate with a panel of international experts. Attendance is free.

The Institute brings together nearly 70 young scholars from around Asia and the U.S. for three weeks to analyze and debate issues of economics and politics with well-known professors and notable guest lecturers. Competitive scholarships are available and students receive three credit hours from Georgetown University upon successful completion of the program.