Socialist Alternative
Sosialis Alternatif
LeaderCollective leadership
Founded2008
Split fromSocialist Party of Malaysia
NewspaperSolidariti Pekerja
IdeologyMarxism
Socialism
Trotskyism
Political positionFar-left
International affiliationCommittee for a Workers' International (Refounded)
ColoursRed  
Website
sosialisalternatif.org

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.

History

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]

Political views

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]

Relations with the Socialist Party of Malaysia

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]

Activity

They were invited to speak at the Youth Symposium of The Festival of Science on youth movements in the 21st century.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Sosialis Alternatif". Asocialistmalaysia.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  2. 1 2 3 "Yuva Balan, Nabi Sosialis Alternatif". The KL Review. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  3. 1 2 "På 1,5 år har Ravichandren byggt CWI Malaysia | Offensiv". Offensiv.socialisterna.org. 2013-11-22. Archived from the original on 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  4. ↑ "Listing of International Trotskyist Tendencies". Marxists.org. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  5. ↑ "BFM: The Business Radio Station - The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State". Bfm.my. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  6. ↑ admin. "Report of Malaysian SP Conference at weekend – Socialist Party (Australia)". Socialistpartyaustralia.org. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  7. ↑ admin (2006-01-28). "Malaysian socialist to visit Melbourne – Socialist Party (Australia)". Socialistpartyaustralia.org. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  8. ↑ "Malaysia: Detained opposition activists brutally treated, six re-arrested". socialistworld.net. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  9. ↑ admin. "Perspectives for Malaysia: A Marxist approach – Socialist Party (Australia)". Socialistpartyaustralia.org. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  10. ↑ "BFM: The Business Radio Station - Marx in Malaysia". Bfm.my. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  11. ↑ "UTAM anjur Pesta Ilmu hujung minggu ini". 12 August 2014.
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