What core objectives do #KitaLawan and Reformasi movements share?

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The #KitaLawan and Reformasi movements share fundamental objectives centered on reforming Malaysia.

The #KitaLawan rally series and the 1998 Reformasi movement are fundamentally aligned in their core objectives, both aiming to bring about reforms within Malaysia. Despite differences in the scale of participation, the underlying spirit driving both movements is the pursuit of change. This shared purpose is evident in their common goals, even though the methods and immediate contexts of their emergence may vary.
Shared Goal of National Reform

Both the Reformasi movement and the contemporary #KitaLawan rallies are driven by a desire to reform the Malaysian political landscape. PKR Youth chief strategist Akmal Nasir articulated that the spirit of reform is a common thread connecting these two distinct periods of activism. While the Reformasi protests in 1998 drew significantly larger crowds, with tens of thousands participating, the #KitaLawan movement, though smaller in scale with approximately 1,000 demonstrators per event, pursues the same overarching aim of reforming the nation.
Similarities in State Response

The crackdown and police response encountered by participants in both movements exhibit notable similarities. Akmal Nasir pointed out that the pattern of arrests and detentions, a characteristic of the authorities' reaction to dissent, has been consistent across both eras. He noted that while Reformasi saw arrests of around ten demonstrators, the #KitaLawan rallies have seen up to thirty individuals apprehended, indicating a parallel approach by law enforcement to manage and suppress these reformist gatherings.
Divergent Views on Comparability

However, not all political figures see a direct parallel between the two movements. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has publicly stated that #KitaLawan and Reformasi have little in common. This assertion is primarily based on the perceived disparity in the number of supporters involved in each movement. Khairy drew a parallel to his own political stance in 1998, where he supported the then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, contrasting it with his current support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

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What core objectives do #KitaLawan and Reformasi movements share?

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