History of Malaysia Karen Organization (MKO)
Any organization or society must have its own history and a strong desire to respond to and meet the fundamental needs of its members. We need to be to stand all, as we have heard from our old great grandfathers. For the sake of the needs and wishes of new generations to be fulfilled, and to maintain our dignity, it's important that our young people better understand our history. Doing this will equip our younger people to meet the challenges of living in the modern world. These are some factors and a brief history of the Malaysia Karen Organization.
Before MKO was formed, thinking about an organization was the idea of certain Karen Youths. There were about thirty Karen patriotic youths who wished to form an organization. Eventually MKYO ( Malaysia Karen Youth Organization) was successfully formed by young patriotic youths in Malaysia at 2003. Chairman of the first Karen Organization was Saw Win Aung, secretary was Saw Da Da Bo and Treasure was Saw Gyi Htoo. EC member was Saw Kyaw Eh, Saw Kyaw Awar and Saw Twist. The first milestone of the Karen New Year Celebration was held at Cheras with cheers and victory for unity.
With roots from the MKYO, Karen in Malaysia felt that in order to serve our own people in a more wide-ranging way, and to create a more effective society,a different kind of organization was needed. For many reason, the Malaysia Karen Organization (MKO) was formally formed with about 70 Karens on 31st January 2005. This date exactly falls on our Karen Revolution Day, and can be remember and memorized by all Karens in Malaysia.
The first Chairman of MKO was Saw Gedionn Morris and Vice Chairman was Saw Win Aung, and the ECs were
Dr Partic
Dr San Htwa
Saw Poe Dar
Saw Poe Tun
Mahn Done Young
Saw Htoo Ka Paw
Saw Lar Taw
Saw JeffNow
Saw Tun Lin
Saw Nelson
Saw Thar Mwee
Naw Charity
Saw A Loon
Saw Kyaw Eh
Saw Khu Khu
Three years later, Mahn Sein Than took over as Chairman and Mahn Done Yong as vice - Chairman in 2007. Eight years on in 2003, and with many difficulties overcome, our situation is showing great improvement through our solidarity and strength between ourselves. Our current Chairman and leaders is Mahn Done Yong. There are over ten thousand members within the umbrella of MKO's shadow. Formal education, health, social issues,employment, and shelter to enable marriages and even funerals at last can fulfill some of our people's needs.
There are 4 Objectives to the Malaysia Karen Organization, being:
(1) Uplift of the morale and morality of Karen ethnic people in Malaysia.
(2) Uplift of the ethnical literature, culture and modern developed status
(3) United with oversea and local Karens to uplift the state and people's development and to achieve life with dignity.
(4) United and organized to overcome all trials together.
When talking about the Malaysia Karen Organization there is one person whose name will never be forgotten: Pati Saw Kanemi Gunu. At that time he was chairman of the Australia Karen Organization (AKO) and giving necessary advice and guidance that helped the Karen people to stand firm and sustain their efforts. He loves his own people so much and protects his people from being persecuted and the violation of Human Rights. He eagerly participated in forming the MKO and also helped to develop links between the UNHCR and the Karen community. This in turn helped to obtain UNHCR registered Identification cards for displace Karen Refugees in Malaysia.
In order to gain the reward of being resettled to third countries, Karen refugees endure suffering and long struggles and illnesses, being separated from our homeland and now living in Malaysia. Standing and facing to the light, there will be brightness in front of us, but on the other hand there is darkness behind us. Wherever we are, whichever citizenship we receive, always remember that we are Karen and do not forget our past.
Any organization or society must have its own history and a strong desire to respond to and meet the fundamental needs of its members. We need to be to stand all, as we have heard from our old great grandfathers. For the sake of the needs and wishes of new generations to be fulfilled, and to maintain our dignity, it's important that our young people better understand our history. Doing this will equip our younger people to meet the challenges of living in the modern world. These are some factors and a brief history of the Malaysia Karen Organization.
Before MKO was formed, thinking about an organization was the idea of certain Karen Youths. There were about thirty Karen patriotic youths who wished to form an organization. Eventually MKYO ( Malaysia Karen Youth Organization) was successfully formed by young patriotic youths in Malaysia at 2003. Chairman of the first Karen Organization was Saw Win Aung, secretary was Saw Da Da Bo and Treasure was Saw Gyi Htoo. EC member was Saw Kyaw Eh, Saw Kyaw Awar and Saw Twist. The first milestone of the Karen New Year Celebration was held at Cheras with cheers and victory for unity.
With roots from the MKYO, Karen in Malaysia felt that in order to serve our own people in a more wide-ranging way, and to create a more effective society,a different kind of organization was needed. For many reason, the Malaysia Karen Organization (MKO) was formally formed with about 70 Karens on 31st January 2005. This date exactly falls on our Karen Revolution Day, and can be remember and memorized by all Karens in Malaysia.
The first Chairman of MKO was Saw Gedionn Morris and Vice Chairman was Saw Win Aung, and the ECs were
Dr Partic
Dr San Htwa
Saw Poe Dar
Saw Poe Tun
Mahn Done Young
Saw Htoo Ka Paw
Saw Lar Taw
Saw JeffNow
Saw Tun Lin
Saw Nelson
Saw Thar Mwee
Naw Charity
Saw A Loon
Saw Kyaw Eh
Saw Khu Khu
Three years later, Mahn Sein Than took over as Chairman and Mahn Done Yong as vice - Chairman in 2007. Eight years on in 2003, and with many difficulties overcome, our situation is showing great improvement through our solidarity and strength between ourselves. Our current Chairman and leaders is Mahn Done Yong. There are over ten thousand members within the umbrella of MKO's shadow. Formal education, health, social issues,employment, and shelter to enable marriages and even funerals at last can fulfill some of our people's needs.
There are 4 Objectives to the Malaysia Karen Organization, being:
(1) Uplift of the morale and morality of Karen ethnic people in Malaysia.
(2) Uplift of the ethnical literature, culture and modern developed status
(3) United with oversea and local Karens to uplift the state and people's development and to achieve life with dignity.
(4) United and organized to overcome all trials together.
When talking about the Malaysia Karen Organization there is one person whose name will never be forgotten: Pati Saw Kanemi Gunu. At that time he was chairman of the Australia Karen Organization (AKO) and giving necessary advice and guidance that helped the Karen people to stand firm and sustain their efforts. He loves his own people so much and protects his people from being persecuted and the violation of Human Rights. He eagerly participated in forming the MKO and also helped to develop links between the UNHCR and the Karen community. This in turn helped to obtain UNHCR registered Identification cards for displace Karen Refugees in Malaysia.
In order to gain the reward of being resettled to third countries, Karen refugees endure suffering and long struggles and illnesses, being separated from our homeland and now living in Malaysia. Standing and facing to the light, there will be brightness in front of us, but on the other hand there is darkness behind us. Wherever we are, whichever citizenship we receive, always remember that we are Karen and do not forget our past.