1.  INTRODUCTION
   
   The Institute for Policy Research (hereinafter “IKD”) in co-operation with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (hereinafter “SPF”) aims to empower the future  leaders of Asia with ideas and vision to revive the glory of Asia. This  project is will train the best  young minds in the region that are deemed to emerge as movers and shakers in the region within the period of a decade. On an annual basis, 20-25 young people, with an impressive track record in leadership, which shall include all areas of leadership, be it politics, business, sports or the creative industry, will be assembled and camped in IKD’s `school for leaders’. This programme is motivated by convictions that the sustainability of Asia’s ascendancy could only be ensured with the creation of a young generation of leaders with the right set of ideas, set of ideas different from those belong to the older generation leaders.   
   
   Asian democracies must be pushed into maturity. The maturing of democracy in Malaysia and other Asian countries, particularly South East Asian countries, would be one of the most interesting and positive development in world politics. It would certainly contribute towards greater and more sustainable human security, stability and economic dynamism in the region. Hence, the pressing need to have a young new breed of leaders who understand, appreciate and know the value of democracy, civil society and rule of law. Malaysia and other Asian countries may have some of the trappings of a democratic nation; in reality the fundamental characteristics democracy remain absent. This includes the rule of law, basic freedoms, human rights and dignity, transparency and accountability and free and fair elections.
   
   

   • FOCUS
     The need for change and the reinvention of democracy in the region is indeed pressing. Being so, it is vital that this programme targets a generation of confident and forceful Asian individuals to propel that change and reform. The modules in this program have been crafted and designed to: 1) debunk the so-called Asian values promoted authoritarian leaders of Asia; that Asian values are incompatible with freedom and citizens ought to be submissive to their leaders; 2) to instill conviction among participants that freedom is embedded within the Asian freedom and the current ascendancy of Asia in the world, if to be benign and productive,  must be powered by a set of ideas and values that cherish human freedom and dignity.

   
   
2. PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
   
   The objectives of this project include:- 
   
   
   1. To open opportunity for intensive engagement to deepen understanding on the philosophical foundations of human freedom and dignity, Asian contributions to such philosophic conversations and the revival of the articulations by Asian renaissance thinkers such as Jose Rizal, Rabinranath Tagore, Muhammad Iqbal etc.
      
      
   2. To challenge the received and conventional ideas of young Malaysian and Asian leaders, ideas they picked up from older generation of leaders who were raised under and benefited from an authoritarian or semi-authoritarian climate. A lot of these ideas are suspicious of freedom and democracy, with too much confidence and power given to the state; the big and patronizing state.
      
      
   3. To invest in intellectual capacity building, to enrich the capital ideas and to arm young leaders with tools in their political or non-political careers (as business leaders, social activists or otherwise) in ensuring that Asia leads and become the shaping force in the future of the democratic world.  To provide the invaluable opportunity for the young leaders of to have mutually vibrant exchanges with great leaders and establish effective networking among their contemporaries in the region. This is to enable any possible positive collaboration in the future.
      
      
   4. To produce leaders of societies and corporations who value philosophy and ideas, having had the opportunity to study and appreciate them through in-depth knowledge exposure and at the same appreciating their Asian background.
      
      
      
   1. CURRICULUM
      The curriculum has been specially designed and crafted to be different and challenging. Most importantly it shoulders the Herculean task of ensuring the `undergraduates’ of the LEADERS FOR FREEDOM program are able to `learn and unlearn’. Throughout the program, the curriculum introduced will be through seminars, workshops, debates and intellectual engagements. As the over-arching emphasis of the program focuses on democracy and democratic values, the program curriculum is set based on the following major areas :- 
      

      1. LESSONS  ON IDEAS
      2. LESSONS IN GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
      3. LESSONS IN DIPLOMACY
      4. LESSONS IN MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTION

1. To carry out, collaborate with and promote systematic research relating to economic and social development in Malaysia with special reference to the development of man as the prequisite to other forms of development
2.  To conduct studies on the spiritual, moral and ethical relevance of religious beliefs and principle in the development of strategic policies and goals.
3. To provide a forum for scholars, policy makers, and other interested parties to interact, discuss and formulate ideas for positive development and embark on publication programs (books, monographs, journal and bulletin) which can induce creative, critical and guiding ideas on important socio-economic, political and cultural issues.
4. To organize and conduct conferences, seminars, group discussion and public lectures for professionals, administrators, social activists, youth and student leaders as well as the general public so as to inculcate a sense of awareness, responsibility and accountability towards a holistic development of the nation.
   

• To advance the cause of democracy and to disseminate the idea of democracy not only as a political process but also as a universal value.
• To promote ideas of individual initiative, economic freedom and the market as a source of spontaneous order. 
• To clarify the proper role of the state and its relation to civil society. 
• To create an awareness among citizens that an all powerful state is a threat to all the inalienable rights of man. 
• To conduct studies and produce materials that would contribute to the articulation of Asian ideals that support freedom, accountability and humane governance.
  

PROGRAMMES
Intellectual Discourses: These meetings feature speakers addressing current issues and topics of interest to social and cultural activists.
Seminars/Conferences/Workshops: These activities are held to disseminate information, especially to policy makers in the government and the corporate and other non-government sectors.
Training Courses: Training is conducted in areas of organizational management, leadership and entrepreneurship training for youths, social activists, students and other groups.

Arts and Culture Activities :
Plays, drama and even musicals have been staged to promote understanding of important themes such as democracy, civil society and human rights. This is to introduce serious discussion and themes through entertaining means.

RESEARCH
IKD, both on its own and in cooperation with universities and other organizations, carries out research into such areas as national integration, regional cooperation, culture and the arts, labor, entrepreneurship and industrialization and urbanization.

PUBLICATIONS
IKD's publication programme is focused on writings (books and monographs) concerning nation building, civil society, democracy, the environment, ethics, scientific culture, economics, youth development, the role of religion in society and the promotion of good values.

REGIONAL COOPERATION
International conferences and meetings are organised from time to time to promote regional and international understanding and cooperation. IKD has been active in strengthening bilateral relations with countries neighbouring Malaysia while promoting better relations between ASEAN and their dialogue partners such as China, Japan and India.

IKD has experience in organizing conferences which had great influence on the region, politically and regionally. In 1991, it organized the Interaction for Progress Seminars in Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. When the Hanoi seminar took place, it was 1991 and Vietnam was still in isolation. Attended by leaders of the ruling party and senior officials, it paved way for Vietnam’s entry into the mainstream regional group of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations). In another related project, IKD sponsored the ASEAN-Vietnam Study Group, whose report, ‘Shared Destiny:Southeast Asia in the 21st Century”, is the first in a series which promote the concept of “One Southeast Asia”. In 1997, IKD sent a Study Mission to Cambodia at the height of the conflict and produced a report in May 1997 recommending measures towards national reconciliation and exhorting ASEAN to promptly admit Cambodia as a member.

The Pacific Dialogue (1994; 1996), participated by William Cohen, Sam Nunn, Christopher Bond and other U.S. Senators as well as Asian and Pacific leaders was perhaps the most important international conference organized by IKD. It culminated in the Pacific Charter, which promotes a doctrine for Pacific Cooperation that goes beyond the notion of security. 

One of the hallmarks of IKD’s projects include the Asian Renaissance Conferences which include seminars, theatre, art and photographic exhibitions which brought great scholars and figures from all over the world to celebrate, commemorate and appreciate Asia’s major figures such as Jose Rizal (1995), Muhammad Iqbal (1997) and Jamaluddin Al Afghani (1998). Unfortunately, post the Malaysian political crisis in 1998, IKD has had to shelve all of its international projects due to internal pressure and lack of funds.