At this time of war in West Asia and turmoil across the world, and political uncertainty within Malaysia, it is understandable that many might feel despondent.
The impasse over the Strait of Hormuz has shown us how interconnected and vulnerable our world is to regional, even localised, conflicts.
It has highlighted our dependence on global supply chains, especially for fossil fuels and food products.
Modern imperial wars, atrocities, occupations and land or resource grabs have far-reaching consequences. These may extend well beyond national borders.
So interconnected is our world that many of our modern-day problems are also global. Think climate change, biodiversity loss, the transfer of wealth and public assets to a small group of elite multi-billionaires. The global problems themselves are interconnected. For instance, climate change could lead to migration of entire groups of people.
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At this material level, the imbalance between the powerful with their immense resources and ordinary people seeking reforms and a better life can make us feel helpless, especially given our meagre resources.
It may also fuel distrust in public institutions and even the political process. Others might be tempted to boycott elections, thinking that whoever wins won’t make a difference to their lives. After all, even supposedly reformist parties have been slow in pushing ahead with the reforms they had once promised.
Perhaps it is time for us in Aliran to look inwards and remind ourselves what we hope to achieve.
The kesedaran in Aliran Kesedaran Negara is more than just awareness. It is also about consciousness – the kind that catalyses action. From the Aliran website: “Aliran represents a consciousness trend, a certain trend in thinking, in ideas.”
At a deeper level, this consciousness makes us aware of the values that unite us, our inner interconnectedness, irrespective of ethnic origin and religious affiliation. The American philosopher and psychologist William James once wrote about a “stream of consciousness”.
Unlike the interconnectedness of the material world and of the powerful, this human interconnectedness – this stream of consciousness – is a strength. It has the potential of uniting us in solidarity with the Global Majority of decent people in both developing and developed nations.
This grassroots solidarity should inspire us to work for change from the bottom up, in our own networks and spheres of influence.
William James also wrote in 1899: “I am against bigness and greatness in all their forms, and with the invisible molecular moral forces that work from individual to individual, stealing in through the crannies of the world like so many soft rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, and yet rending the hardest monuments of man’s pride, if you give them time.”
This sounds remarkably similar to the other meaning of the word aliran on our website: “The flow of Aliran ideas is like the flow of water. Water is soft, it is gentle, and yet, it is water that erodes stones and rocks. It is the flow of ideas that will eventually overcome the boulders of oppression.”
The combination of these two metaphors – the stream of consciousness and the rootlets of water – can inspire our activism on the ground and day-to-day acts of compassion and advocacy.
When this stream of consciousness flows from within us, our stories, writings, images and lived experiences of the struggle against injustice can gradually shape the stream of consciousness of others who encounter them.
Heart-to-heart conversations, heartfelt podcasts, a shared meal or drink, individual or group writing, and acts of empathy and compassion can all bring about change. And like the steady flow of water, these humble acts have the power to overcome the boulders of oppression.
This is why Aliran’s ‘Generations’ teh tarik session in Petaling Jaya on 28 March 2026 pointed towards a new way of activism. When people encounter one another and share their lived experiences and insights in person, seeds are planted that will one day thrive if nurtured.
Similarly, all the myriad types of grassroots activism that Aliran members pursue across many other NGOs, along with our interactions with other civil society groups, can help bring about change.
Unlike the immense material resources that the powerful command, the invisible bonds of interconnectedness – driving the powerful stream of consciousness that the Global Majority commands – are our strength.
Let’s build on this stream to forge greater unity of purpose. The goal is to bring about deeper long-term change and structural reform in Malaysia and beyond, through a variety of interpersonal acts and activism. The idea is to make Malaysia more inclusive, its development more holistic and sustainable and to enhance the people’s quality of life.
As the general election approaches and as Aliran turns 50 next year, we will build on our earlier People’s Agenda, which we formulated with other civil society groups in 2022.
Through further conversations among our members, we will flesh this agenda into specific demands for change ahead of the election. We will then approach the public, including political parties, candidates and other NGOs to endorse this plan of action.
Together, we can push for deeper, more meaningful structural reforms for a more inclusive and harmonious Malaysia.
This is an edited version of the president’s address at Aliran’s annual general meeting on 26 April 2026.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
