Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

SUARAM's History

In 1987, Malaysia witnessed one of its darkest moments in history when Operation Lalang took place, resulting in the detention without trial of 106 individuals, including human rights activists, under the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA). In this context, several ISA detainees and their family members as well as lawyers and activists came together to form SUARAM in 1989, with the vision of not only abolishing ISA but also creating a society that is just, equal and democratic as well as upholds human rights.

Since then, after the repeal of ISA in 2012, SUARAM’s detention without trial portfolio has shifted to repeal other detention without trial laws, such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA). Our Areas of work have also expanded since then, with current predominant ones consisting of freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, police accountability, deaths in custody, death penalty, freedom of association, as well as the safety & security of human rights defenders from especially marginalised groups such as the Indigenous communities. As such, there are 3 main desks in SUARAM, namely Right to Trial, Right to Justice and People Before Profit.

People Before Profit

SUARAM's "People Before Profit" Desk began as an effort to focus and coordinate the struggles of  Malaysians against the profit-driven projects, which we have become so familiar with in recent years. For example, the pollution of our rivers and environment through mining and other toxic industries, the destruction of the forests and watersheds, the encroachment into the native customary land of our Indigenous peoples, the violation of workers' rights, the eviction of marginalised communities for so-called "development", and many others.

Nearly 20 years ago, SUARAM and other concerned NGOs organised a "People Before Profits: The Rights of Malaysian Communities in Development" conference. Throughout Malaysia, communities victimized by development, unfettered capitalism, and unaccountable privatisation projects, came together, forming a coalition to resist such profit-driven projects, sharing their experience, and discussing an alternative regenerative path of development. Recent events have shown us that this agenda is even more important, especially in the face of the climate change crisis.

This desk also focuses on the growing wealth inequality in Malaysia, and the ever-widening income disparity between the top 10 % and the remaining 90% of the population. We hope to cut through the ideology of race and religion and focus on peoples' interests irrespective of ethnicity, build a regenerative economy, and preserve our forests and nature.

Malaysians facing these problems of profit-driven development mustn't be isolated in their struggles. SUARAM's 'People Before Profit' desk hopes to provide solidarity and form a coalition of all Malaysians struggling throughout Malaysia - East and West, Indigenous peoples, and city folk. It is time for the people to say "No" to race-based policies and irresponsible destruction of the environment. "No" to the victimisation of the Orang Asli and other Indigenous peoples in senseless projects. "No" to blatant pollution by factory owners. "No to the mindless proliferation of highways and land reclamation of our seas. "No" to forcible evictions of communities for questionable property development projects. And "No" to the sacrifice of irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage.

Organisational Structure

Whilst we are a non-profit by operation, we are registered as a company, as our application for registration as an NGO was declined due to the sensitive nature of our work. SUARAM is governed by a board of directors responsible for overseeing high-level strategic decision-making and finances. The Executive Director leads SUARAM, with the line of reporting followed by the Programme Manager, Senior Programme Coordinator and lastly the Coordinators in their respective areas of work (i.e. Case Management & Campaigns, Documentation& Monitoring, Finance & Admin, Communications). We have a total of 8 staff members (6 women and 2 men).