Mr Victor J Nathan : YSS Assistant Director

“I am indebted to YSS,” says Mr Param who was once an active ‘informal leader’. “I came to know about the vision of setting up YSS via Dr Denison’s visit back in 1996. At first I thought it is going to be another political talk….”

Born in Kg Gandhi, Mr Param is always informed about politicians and their visits to the neigbouhood. “I still remember working with certain politicians and how they go on ‘sowing’ fake hopes among the people…but to a certain extent things materialize especially during election periods…so why ‘waste’ these opportunities…as long as our votes are ‘exchanged’ with some tangible deliverables, life is pretty cool…” expressed Param who believes in ‘you don’t disturb me – I won’t disturb you’ life’s simple philosophy, to Fr. Guy, a visiting sociologist from Sri Lanka.

“But then again…things were not right…people tend to seek for temporary comfort and that’s it…when everything is over – I mean after elections and the ‘parties’- people fall back to the same ‘silent’ miseries. I have seen how innocent boys got picked up by the police and in turn induced to ‘talk and walk’ like a mafia once they are out.…I have seen how good students go ‘unattended’ just because they reside in this place…I have seen how youngsters resort to quick and lucrative perks (as high as RM250 a day) by doing ‘dangerous and illegal’ businesses…I have seen it all and I involved myself…But it is just not worth it” says Param who now works in Shah Alam together with his wife.

“Poor existence needs to be transformed and the transformation should be for good” emphasized Param, who has decided to leave all the ‘mess’ behind. “Enough is enough and I am convinced that with YSS things can be changed gradually” believes Param who began working closely with YSS constantly ever since Dr Denison’s first visit. “There were times when ‘things’ looked gloomy but when I ponder it was actually our mistake…how can we expect things when we ourselves do not participate in the process…” admits Param who is now working with Dr Vijay and myself in cases related to murder and a slash incident near Kg Semarak.

His words hold true and this is exactly what YSS is trying to achieve - Empowerement and it is a process. While the people need to be empowered, it is the people themselves who should come forward and allow the process to take on.

(Submitted on 22nd April 2003)