Register here for a similar forum in Penang on Saturday, 5 September
About 150 people joined us at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Sunday 23 August, for an Aliran public forum to honour the legacy of the late Dr Tan Chee Khoon.
I began by warmly welcoming those present during this auspicious Merdeka month.
Who we are
I explained that Aliran is Malaysia’s oldest multi-ethnic national human rights and reform movement, founded in 1977, by seven people including founding president Dr Chandra Muzaffar. Its aim is to raise social consciousness and encourage action that leads to social justice. Our present president, the sixth, is Anil Netto.
Aliran started as a flow or stream of consciousness, promoting ideas rooted in universal values: truth, freedom, solidarity, social justice and sustainability.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
During the Reformasi era (1998-2000), this steady stream of consciousness turned into a wave as more people came out to demand meaningful change: more democratic space, greater accountability, respect for human rights, electoral reforms, fairer socioeconomic policies and ecological protection.
Since 1987, Aliran has been listed on the Roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (A1 – Roster Consultative Status), where we raised the Teoh Beng Hock case recently.
We have 220 members, mostly concentrated in the Klang Valley and Penang, with smaller numbers in other states. We have yet to reach Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis.
We are proud of the fact that we are fully funded by ordinary people in Malaysia. We do not depend on foreign or corporate funding. We have a physical office in Penang and one full-time staff member, Evelyn, who has served for the last 40-plus years. This is why we have a fundraising dinner every few years when our funds run low. The next one will be next year, for our 50th anniversary – we hope to see you there!
From the beginning, Aliran chose to stand with ordinary people, especially vulnerable and marginalised groups, and speak up when others would not. We aim to be a voice for them, often a dissenting one, against wrongdoing, abuse of power and corruption, to speak truth to power, to hold the government accountable and defend democracy and integrity.
In our analyses and writings on important issues in Malaysia, we avoid the often inaccurate, skewed and generalised ethnic-based narratives. Instead, we aim to provide a more accurate and balanced analysis of events.
Over the years, Aliran has raised awareness among people about the need to reclaim our basic rights, some of which we had lost or seen eroded.
How we advocate
Our main advocacy channel used to be Aliran Monthly, the magazine we published for over three decades from 1982 to 2014, until we went fully digital and online.
Today we are an advocacy group speaking through a number of avenues.
There is our website, since 1997 – aliran.com – with newsletters by members, articles by concerned people in Malaysia, our CSI or critical socioeconomic insights (in-depth analyses of specific current issues) plus podcasts and videos from other sources.
To widen our reach to Malay-speaking audience, we have Malay versions of our newsletters and media statements.
We issue public and press statements on important current issues and public policies, and hold webinars, forums and workshops almost every month.
As we realised that people now do not want to read anything that takes more than two minutes, we also reach out through social media – WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok.
And we have a wide network of civil society involvement: we are represented on the Bersih steering committee, and collaborate with Ikram, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia, Penang Forum and others, both on an ad hoc and a regular basis.
Our members are also active in many other initiatives and civil society organisations, and carry the Aliran ethos with them. This is how we inform, engage with and mobilise people.
In 2022, just before the general election, Aliran came up with the People’s Agenda, a list of demands put to political parties and candidates: to uphold the dignity and quality of life of the people, promote equitable and sustainable development, celebrate diversity and inclusivity, strengthen democracy and uphold the rule of law, and fight corruption and cronyism.
This was done through a series of webinars, in collaboration with five other civil society organisations: Pacos Trust, Sabah; the Malaysian academic movement, Gerak; Save Rivers, Sarawak; human rights group Suaram and Undi18. The People’s Agenda was endorsed by about 50 NGOs in all.
In July this year, our members met to fine-tune the People’s Agenda for the upcoming election. We are now working to mobilise people in Malaysia again, especially younger people, for this key election.
Honouring ‘Mr Opposition’
So what is the connection between Aliran and the late Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon, Mr Opposition? He passed away in 1996, 30 years ago – so why are we still talking about him?
For us in Aliran, there will always be a special place in our hearts and minds for this much-respected person. For many years, he promoted multi-ethnic cooperation and championed the cause of truth, freedom and justice courageously, without fear or favour.
These are all principles and ideals that Aliran too considers vital, and has promoted since our inception.
Most people probably are not aware that Aliran recognised very early on the contributions and important role played by Dr Tan Chee Khoon, by conferring on him the Outstanding Malaysian Award in 1984.
He also served as the first chairman of the Aliran Trust Board from 1985 until 1993, overseeing Aliran’s institutional integrity and independence.
This was how Aliran recognised him at the time for his courage and lifelong commitment to justice, freedom, truth and multi-ethnic cooperation.
Following his passing in 1996, Aliran devoted an entire special edition of our then-print magazine Aliran Monthly to his memory. The cover banner read: “A special Malaysian: A life-long commitment to justice.”
During the forum on 23 August, several guests shared personal testimony about Chee Khoon on the day, including Dr Abdul Hameed Abdul Kadir, Rev Herman Shastri, Munisamy and Colin Nicholas.
Everyone’s presence at the forum was testimony to the enduring legacy of the late Tan Chee Khoon, popularly known as ‘Mr Opposition’ and his legacy of politics by conscience, or principled politics, and constructive, fearless dissent.
To celebrate this rich and enduring legacy, two speakers recalled his legacy.
Our first speaker was Tan Poh Lai, Dr Tan’s youngest daughter and, I’m guessing, the apple of his eye. She is a lawyer with her law practice based in Johor Bahru.
Poh Lai has been on a relentless quest to share her father’s life and contributions with as many people as possible, in a road show that began in KL that day, before moving on to Johor Bahru, Ipoh and finally in Penang on 5 September.
In the process, she has also managed to find a home for her father’s vast collection of books – quite an achievement in itself.
She shared her father’s life and legacy through a video and photos of her beloved father.
Our second speaker was Emeritus Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a prominent economist who is currently Research Advisor at Khazanah Research Institute. Prof Jomo was also one of five members appointed to the Council of Eminent Persons by former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in May 2018.
Jomo also knew the late Tan Chee Khoon personally, and shared his reflections on the ideals and principles of Mr Opposition, and their relevance and significance in today’s political landscape and current developments in Malaysia, especially as we celebrate yet another year of independence.
A report here covers what our speakers said in more detail.
In the context of present-day political leadership in Malaysia, where we have a unity government and an almost non-existent opposition that is competent and credible inside Parliament especially, where do Tan Chee Khoon’s ideals about multiculturalism and constructive dissent fit in?
That is the question we discussed at the forum, as we move into yet another year celebrating Merdeka.
A note of thanks
The forum would not have run smoothly without our staff and volunteers. Evelyn Tang and Tien Eng handled the online registration behind the scenes. Members Sarajun Hoda, Ann Teoh, Simon Tan and David Anthony – along with his son, Daniel – helped out on the day. We are grateful to all of them.
Attendees donated RM387 on the day, and one guest sent in his membership form. Thank you.
We were pleased to see the forum reported by Astro Awani, Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail and Sin Chew.
Next stop
Aliran, in collaboration with Penang Institute, will hold a similar forum on Saturday, 5 September at Penang Institute. Former Aliran president Dr Francis Loh and Tan Poh Lai will be speaking. You may register here.
See you then!
Mary Magdaline Pereira
Co-editor, Aliran newsletter
27 August 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
