It gives me great pleasure to announce the birth of a people’s movement dedicated to the reform of Malaysian society. The movement is a response to the people’s cry for “reformasi”.

The reform movement will be called Pergerakan Keadilan Social (Social Justice Movement) or ADIL for short. It is open to Malaysians from all walks of life, who are eighteen years of age and above. It is a multi-ethnic, non-sectarian, non-partisan movement. While the movement welcomes all Malaysians, it extends a special invitation to the young who have been at the forefront of reformasi.

As its name suggests, ADIL seeks to raise public awareness of the importance of reform in various spheres in order to achieve social justice. ADIL will operate within the framework of the Malaysian constitution and is dedicated to change through peaceful, democratic means.

A just economic and social order where the wealth of the nation is equitably distributed; a democratic political system which protects and enhances the rights of the people; a united, harmonious society founded upon mutual respect and shared moral values; and an independent, sovereign nation which upholds the honour and dignity of its citizens, are some of the principal goals of the reform movement.

At the same time, ADIL will be firm and unrelenting in its struggle against all forms of injustice. It will not hesitate to expose and oppose authoritarianism and oppression; the abuse of power and corruption; the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few; and communalism and chauvinism in Malaysian society.

One of the immediate objectives of our reform movement would be to check the present dangerous slide towards one-man rule where all institutions of governance are directed towards preserving the power of a certain individual. ADIL will also address fundamental issues related to the economic crisis and come up with concrete solutions to the nation’s problems.