Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia/Reports/Wikimania 2023/angys

Things I learned at the conference

What I learned at the Wikimedia Singapore conference:

I gained insights into the diverse backgrounds of Wikimedians who share a passion for contributing to various Wikimedia Projects, including Wikidata and Wikisource.

I discovered the latest valuable feature of Wikipedia that allows readers to access an audio version of its content.

I learned about the technology behind the integration of Wikidata as a database within Wikipedia articles.

The conference emphasized the significance of diversity community engagement in Wikipedia, including the involvement of minority ethnic groups in Taiwan, such as the Amis and Paiwan, as well as community archives in Singapore.

Things I contributed or participated in or since the conference

These are some of the contributions and participation I've been involved in since the conference:

1. On August 16th, I participated in the ESEAP discussion. Alongside fellow delegates from Malaysia, I shared my insights on how to make ESEAP more accessible and outlined the future plans.

2. One of the key suggestions I proposed was to advocate for the freedom of panorama from government agencies. Currently, many valuable resources like photos and videos cannot be directly uploaded to Wikimedia Commons due to copyright restrictions. However, we highlighted that the Malaysian government implicitly allows certain uses, such as portraits of the Prime Minister. I stressed the importance of collaborating with government entities to share such valuable content for educational purposes.

3. Additionally, I recommended that ESEAP focus on assisting minority communities within the country in recording and documenting their culture and history. I suggested that Wikimedia, as an open platform, is ideally suited for preserving the diverse cultures of Malaysia, including those of the Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli communities.

Plans after the conference

After the conference, I have gained a deeper understanding of Wikimedia, and I have some plans moving forward:

1. I'm committed to introducing the concept of Wikimedia to more individuals who believe in open data and its importance.

2. I plan to explore various Wikimedia projects in the future to expand my knowledge and contribute to a wider range of initiatives.

3. Being a Malaysian Chinese Wikimedian, I aim to collaborate with other Chinese-speaking communities within Wikimedia, especially in Chinese Wikipedia. My goal is to enhance the quality of Malaysia-related articles on the Chinese Wikipedia platform.

4. I will maintain engagement with Wikipedia CUG Malaysia community members and seek opportunities to promote Wikimedia Projects within Malaysia, especially for Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.

Comments/suggestions about the conference

I found the conference to be overall excellent. However, I believe there's room for improvement in terms of inclusivity. One suggestion is to provide Halal food options to accommodate Muslim attendees (since most of the delegates in Malaysia are Muslim), ensuring that everyone can enjoy meals without concerns about dietary restrictions.