Socialist Alternative Sosialis Alternatif | |
---|---|
Leader | Collective leadership |
Founded | 2008 |
Split from | Socialist Party of Malaysia |
Newspaper | Solidariti Pekerja |
Ideology |
Marxism Socialism Trotskyism |
Political position | Far-left |
International affiliation | Committee for a Workers' International (Refounded) |
Colours | Red |
Website | |
sosialisalternatif | |
Socialist Alternative ( Malay: Sosialis Alternatif) (CWI Malaysia) is a socialist group in Malaysia which describes itself as campaigning to bring socialist change in Malaysia and internationally to create a democratic society organized to meet the needs and desires of all. [1] They publish a Malaysian language newspaper called Solidariti Pekerja. [2] They have branches in Kuala Lumpur and Nilai and members from all three ethnic groups - Malays, Indians (Tamils) and Chinese. [3]
It is affiliated internationally with the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), [4] an international socialist organization headquartered in London, United Kingdom. As an affiliate it is often referred to as CWI Malaysia.
It was founded by Ravichandren who had been a member of Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) but adopted the ideas of the CWI while living in the UK . On his return to Malaysia he was asked by the leadership of the PSM to choose between the two organisations and so set about forming a section of the CWI. [3]
They believe an independent working class political entity is needed to represent the aspirations and needs of the working class. But to oppose the government is not enough; a programme of demands and a clear strategy to achieve them should also be established. [2] The Socialist Alternative spokesman Yuva Balan explained a key text in Marxist thought by Friedrich Engels The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State in a radio discussion. [5]
They appear to have a good relationship with the PSM who invited speakers from Committee for a Workers' International to speak at their conference in 2005. [6] The compliment was returned in 2006 when V.Selvam, a Central Committee member and founding member of PSM was invited to speak at the conference of Socialist Alternative's sister party in Australia. [7] In 2011 Socialist Alternative took part in a campaign to defend PSM when 30 of its supporters were arrested for "reviving the ‘communism’ of the Malayan Communist Party". [8] A review of Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj’s “Malaysia at the Crossroads, a Socialist Perspective” by Peter Taaffe explains some of the differences between the two groups. [9] In an interview with The KL Review [2] the subject of relationships again came up and their spokesperson Yuva Balan emphasised that debate was not intended to discredit any party but to focus on a strategy to defeat capitalism. They continued the debate in a radio broadcast discussing Karl Marx in a Malaysian context [10]
They were invited to speak at the Youth Symposium of The Festival of Science on youth movements in the 21st century. [11]