Organise Mobilise: How Malaysia Abolished the ISA

A new report by the Datum Initiative and ARROW – Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women examines the systemic barriers faced by women with disabilities in Malaysia, particularly around sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Some of the findings published are shocking. So, on today’s episode, I’m going to be unpacking the report with its co-authors, Dr Benjamin Loh, Dr Vilashini Somiah and Hasbeemasputra Abu Bakar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ISA, a draconian law that enabled detention without trial, was used in Malaysia for decades, most notoriously during the infamous Ops Lalang in 1987. But in 2012, it was finally abolished after years of public pressure and grassroots organising. We speak with Nalini Elumalai, one of the key coordinators of the Gerakan Mansuh ISA rally in the mid-2000s, about the long struggle to end the law, the challenges of mobilising under repression, and the lessons learned from this landmark victory for civil society.Image credit: Pusat Sejarah RakyatSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have often heard about the role the elite mainstream political actors played in Malaysia’s independence struggle. But the reality is much more nuanced. Our independence is also a story about grassroots organising and resistance among workers, students, feminist groups and more. Which is exactly what the exhibition called Seeds of Resistance: Journey Towards Independence is all about. The exhibition, organised by Raja Ahmad Aminullah, a prominent Malaysian poet, writer and activist, is currently ongoing until the 29th of September at GMBB Kuala Lumpur. In this episode, we do a brief reflection of our journey to independence and discuss the ongoing exhibition with Raja Ahmad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If one wishes to understand how gender, power, and economic development intersect in shaping women’s lives and choices, and how women — particularly women in the Global South — renegotiate patriarchal structures in households, communities, and labor markets, look no further than Naila Kabeer. Professor Dr Naila Kabeer is a British-Bangladeshi feminist economist and an Emeritus Professor of Gender and Development at the London School of Economics (LSE). She has written a number of important books, including her latest, Renegotiating Patriarchy: Gender, Agency and the Bangladesh Paradox. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Naila Kabeer about feminist economics, what we can learn about women’s rights from the garment industry in Bangladesh, and some big-picture challenges faced by Malaysian women, including bridging the gap between education levels and labour force participation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we approach the three-year mark since the formation of the MADANI government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, questions arise about what has been accomplished economically, the country’s trajectory and what the PM’s legacy will ultimately be. Dr Geoffrey Williams has been exploring these very issues in his series of articles on Free Malaysia Today titled Creating Anwar’s Legacy, where he highlights several transformative ideas that the government can realistically pursue and achieve. We speak with Dr Geoffrey Williams about his series of articles and also do an economic check in of sorts to see if we’re on the right track.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been to a youth-led progressive protest or rally recently, chances are you may have seen student activist Alyaah Hani on the frontlines. As the coordinator of Liga Mahasiswa, she has been a vocal critic of student debt, academic restrictions, and state repression. Recently summoned under Section 509 of the Penal Code for her role in an anti-corruption rally, Alyaah speaks about the risks of dissent, the future of student movements, and what young people want from Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world that has attained parity across genders at the tertiary education level. In Malaysia, women make up about 52% of tertiary education enrolment, compared to 48% men, meaning women slightly outnumber men at this level.So, why, despite this, does women’s participation in politics remain incredibly low? According to the folks behind KRYSS Network, one of the key reasons is due to gendered disinformation. They are running a Campaign is called Countering Gendered Disinformation with the support of EMPOWER. In this episode, we discuss what exactly gendered disinformation is, its impact and how we can deal with it and encourage more women to participate in politics. We speak to Ayesha Sofia Faiz from EMPOWER and Abdullah Nishad from the KRYSS Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to estimates, there are around 4-6 million migrant workers in Malaysia, both documented and undocumented combined. There are also approximately 300 000 - 400 000 refugees in the country. They have limited labour rights and protections and hence are regular targets of exploitation, often receiving poor wages and forced to live in horrible conditions.What’s also interesting is that despite this, migrants and refugees have been quietly building grassroots networks of solidarity and care. This is what some of the folks from the North South Initiative recently wrote about, for the Asian Labour Review, in an article titled, Rewriting the Politics of Care, Dignity, and Labour Justice.So, what does that look like? And what is the impact of this grassroots solidarity?We speak to Dr ​Asha Rathina Pandi, Head of Research and Lead Analyst, North South Initiative.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Education of Ethnic Minorities: The Case of Indians in Malaysia by Dr Santhiram Raman examines how the Malaysian education system shapes the experiences and outcomes of the Indian minority, with a focus on students from Tamil-language primary schools. The book dives into some of the benefits of this school system, but also the historical marginalization, structural inequalities, and school environments that can perpetuate disadvantage. In this episode, we unpack the book and the key challenges faced by Indian students in Malaysia, with Dr Santhiram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve walked around your city, chances are you may have seen people skateboarding off the rails outside a shopping mall or doing parkour on a dingy rooftop of an abandoned building, or perhaps even kicking around a ball in an alleyway turned into a makeshift futsal court.But what do these activities tell us about urban culture? Do they reveal anything about politics? And is there anything urban planners can learn from them?In this episode, we’re joined by Duncan McDuie-Ra, whose latest book, Insurgent Play: Social Worlds of Urban Disruption, explores exactly those questions and more. Prof Duncan is also the Head of Monash University Malaysia’s School of Arts & Social Sciences.To purchase his book, visit: anthempress.com/books/insurgent-play-pbImage Credit: Anthem Press / Monash UniversitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.