UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN MALAYSIA
A recent book, “The Bersih Movement and Democratization in Malaysia”, offers new insights on the trajectory that Bersih undertook to mobilize and leverage the public’s discontent towards the political system, enabling changes in the last three elections that are shaping the current politics.
Despite the political turmoil, Malaysian’s democracy has been advancing at least according to the annual Democracy Index whose 2020 edition was recently published by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
This recent news combined with the position taken by the Government of Malaysia in a joint effort with Indonesia to pressurize ASEAN to take a stand on the ongoing crisis unfolding in Myanmar offers a more optimistic outlook on the status of democracy being experienced by the country.
Despite the controversial and possibly unconstitutional declaration of the emergency, perhaps the democratic roots of the country are stronger than might appear, with the vicissitudes of national politics not necessarily reflecting the rather solid, though still flawed democratic foundations upon which the country stands upon.
The pillars of such democratic dynamism go back to the Reformasi movement and have been progressively strengthened through the gradual evolution of the main social movement in the country, Bersih.
What initially was a protest movement co-led by political opposition matured into a truly independent issues focused coalition that has always had its strength in the ability to demand specific reforms to reinforce and improve the overall governance system of the country, pushing for better institutions and forms of representation.
A recent book, “The Bersih Movement and Democratization in Malaysia”, offers new insights on the trajectory that Bersih undertook to mobilize and leverage the public’s discontent towards the political system, enabling changes in the last three elections that are shaping the current politics.
Written by Khoo Ying Hooi, the deputy head and senior lecturer at the Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, the publication allows, with its findings and insights, to reflect on the overall status of democracy in Malaysia.
Born as the Joint Action Committee for Electoral Reform (JACER) and based on a broad coalition of citizens, civil society organizations and political oppositions united, Bersih is now a world class example of independent and bipartisan thinking and policies making institution focused on very specific and vital issues that need an urgent fix.
From political parties ‘funding to electoral reform to re-instating local election, if you look at Bersih’s website, you might think you are dealing with the classic research institute.
Instead it is an interesting example of politics focused “action-tank” that true to its original spirit of social mobilization for a better Malaysia, remains along the years, committed to the same values and principles,
Specifically its non violent nature and its working approach that clearly contradistinguishes it from other forms of people’s mobilizations that characterized, for example, the Arab Spring, explain its ability to transform itself, adapting to new circumstances while being able to remain relevant to the current political scenario.
Through the book, the author “explains the linkages between social movements and democratic development” helping better understanding the contributions offered by Bersih to the ongoing work on progress, with its ups and downs, that defines democracy in Malaysia today.
The main approach through which the research is carried on is based on the concept of “political opportunities” that was, among others, proposed by Stanford University political scientist Doug McAdam, one of the most prominent authors in the matter of social movement.
It’s a fascinating area of research at the crossroads of political science, sociology, anthropology and media studies that explores the availability of pathways or the lack of them that can support or hinder the organization of social movement.
Defined by Ralph Turner, a professor of sociology at University of California, Los Angeles, as “loosely organized but sustained campaign in support of a social goal, typically either the implementation or the prevention of a change in society’s structure or value”, social movement have been playing an essential role in fighting authoritarian or semi-authoritarian regimes around the world.
Reflecting and discussing the evolution and changes within Bersih matters.
Mrs. Khoo Ying Hooi shares “knowing the history of social organising in the country can help greatly to shed light on the political situation as well as the power of the people in reference to the government”.
The movement’s adaptability and at the same time its focus on key reforms proved to be one of its best strengths as “understanding how the Bersih movement affects the balance of social and political forces is crucial in being aware of how much the political system has shifted and re-accommodated to the demands of different people”.
While there might always be a debate and therefore criticisms about its strategic approach to the ongoing political situation, the movement remains a force for the good of the country.
Analyzing and reflecting on its origins and changes since its inception is going to be instrumental in understanding how other movements or new forms of citizens ‘engagement in the country can play a better and stronger role in reshaping, for the better, the national dynamics surrounding the ways democracy is currently experienced and practiced.
After all, we are entering an era of more activism and public engagement at global level and citizens in Malaysia must be encouraged to mobilize and reclaim a better society.
Building on what is a truly success story of national economic development, even if one marred by imperfection and uneven trickledown economics , now citizens, even the most marginalized ones, could reclaim a new space for interaction to express their agency.
If we want the overall levels of democracy in Malaysia to greatly improve, we do not only need the crucial issues being taken up by Bersih to be fully discussed and analyzed in a spirit of bipartisanship, but also we need imagination and creativity to re-think how true, participatory democracy can better work for its citizens.
Mrs. Khoo Ying Hooi with its past experience in journalism and being herself an activist, human rights campaigner and most importantly, an engaged citizen, offers, with her book, important points to rekindle a national conversation on the status of democracy in the country.
As she explained in a recent live presentation of the book, “the role of social movements is not only in triggering democratic transition, but also in paving the way for continued political change”.
The Author, is the Co-Founder of ENGAGE and writes on social inclusion, youth development, civic engagement, regional integration and the SDGs in the context of Asia Pacific.
