Why Umno’s growing activism is no benchmark for activism in Malaysia
Political analyst says true activism needs to move beyond political ideologies.
PETALING JAYA: Before the historic election on May 9, most impressions of activism would have been linked with NGOs or civil society groups with ties to the opposition.
Although activism continues from small parties such as Parti Sosialis Malaysia, which just yesterday marched to Parliament over the RM50 increase in minimum wage, it is no longer groups associated with Pakatan Harapan (PH), previously Pakatan Rakyat, which are rallying under its banner.
Instead, awareness appears to have shifted to the new opposition, most notably Umno which has held protests in solidarity with its former president Najib Razak as well as its new leader, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, both of whom are being scrutinised by the authorities. It also demonstrated against the sales and services tax implemented by the new government last month.
But political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi warns that the rise of activism in Umno does not necessarily herald the development of activism in the country.
Speaking to FMT, he said this was because activism in Malaysia was influenced by politics.
“Activism in Malaysia is not growing well simply because it has always had some kind of political backing,” he said.
The Universiti Malaya academic said by right, activism should be supported by movements which are more neutral.
“Activists, in my view, must genuinely fight for issues affecting the people without looking at party ideologies.
“The problem now is, there is pro-Barisan Nasional activism and pro-PH activism. But activism needs to move beyond political parties.”
When asked how feasible it would be to achieve this, Awang Azman said it was doable.
“It is possible to move beyond political parties when they (activists) fight for common issues such as the low income of Malaysians, or housing.
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“Issues need to be championed on neutral territory,” he said.