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Title: Interview with Malaysian anarchists
Author: Sean Matthews
Date: June 20, 2011
Language: en
Topics: Malaysia, interview
Source: Retrieved on 2020-06-06 from http://www.anarkismo.net/article/19880

Sean Matthews

Interview with Malaysian anarchists

Could you explain for our readers the current political and social

situation in Malaysia?

The political situation in Malay remains the same since achieving

independence from Britain 50 years ago, when the political struggle

evolved into racism and religion. The same party is in power today.

There are several states that are governed by several opposition

parties.

The ruling political party uses racial issues, especially “Malay Power”

to ensure power is maintained to this day, although the country is

multi-ethnic. In 2010, there were several sectarian incidents including

property sabotage on mosques and a church.

After 2008 the opposition parties did well in the elections because of

the economic situation. They believe Malaysia can only be changed

through reforms to overcome corruption but they are mistaken.

Today the social situation in Malaysia is critical with so many economic

pressures coupled with corruption, race and religion. Government is too

dependent on investors from outside where the capitalists will take

advantage to manipulate the workers.

Is there much of a workers’ movement and wider left in the country?

Currently, there is not much of a workers’ movement. There are some

independent organizations or committees which focus on struggles for

civil rights liberation but normally these organizations participate

from activist society and bourgeois class. Last year there were some

people trying to build local Marxist organizations (CWI – Committee for

a Workers’ International), we had a few session debating with them about

ideology and class struggle. There is one socialist party in our country

(PSM – Socialist Party of Malaysia), but they have no direction or

strategy to build a workers’ movement. There is a single anarchist

group, which focuses on youth activism and doing Food Not Bombs program

stuff.

What is your own political background and how did you become

interested in anarchism?

I began my political jouney at university (1998), involved in organizing

a reform group to remove one prime minister due to corruption. After 2

years the reform group turned into a political party and I realized the

issue was not about people’s struggle anymore. In 2003, one of my

friends asked me to look into anarchism since he always saw me talk

about radical ideas of changing society but did not believe in the state

and never voted or supported any party. Through some reading, discussion

and debating, I became interested in anarchism even though I do

understand the difficulty of struggle in our country by using the

anarchist method or idea. Now I believe in building up an anarchist

group among friends to introduce and empower a workers’ liberation

movement.

There is a notable history of anarchism in other parts of south-east

Asia, such as in Korea and the Philippines. Is there a history of

anarchism in Malaysia and what state is the movement in today?

There was some anarchist history before we got independence (1957)...

radical ideas coming from immigrant Chinese workers at the time. One our

friends in CNT Paris, just informed us they found some historical

document that had been sent by anarchists in Malaysia to the Spanish CNT

a while ago. The communist party was banned by the government in 1988

and there is no real anarchist movement which exists.

How does the repressive security situation and religion affect the

anarchist movement there?

Repressive security comes from authority and law. We don’t have the

right to meet or gather in public unless we get a permit from the

police. We also have a publishing act where all literature is monitored

by the government, printing company. We do not want to risk publishing

radical literature. The government also monitors radical websites and

social networking sites such as Facebook. In these weeks one anonymous

hackers’ group declared it had attacked a government website after the

Malaysia government announced it would block some file-sharing websites.

We also have the Internal Security Act (ISA), where the government can

detain anyone without trial. Our communications such as mobile phone and

internet connections are controlled by a government agency, and there

are requirements such as required identification registration for every

mobile number. Religion is always an issue with Muslim populations

because their historical perspective on communism as well as

understanding of ideology caused by government education policy. So,

people are scared to get involved in the workers’ movement because they

believe they will force them to abandon from their religious beliefs.

What can the international anarchist movement do to assist

anarchists in Malaysia?

Until today we have been receiving literature material from the

international anarchist movement. Also helping to build up anarchist

organization such as hosting a conference or workshop in Asia to gain

awareness and education. Coordination of direct action also can very

helpful if we have a local issue that we could relate to your country.