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New Naratif Turns 5: Believing in Change
Marsha and Ellena talk about the awards that New Naratif has won throughout the recent years, among them the SOPA Award for Excellence in Opinion Writing and the Prism Award Excellence in LGBTQ+ Comics, short-form category.
Highlights
Malaysians Speak: The Top 5 Most Important Issues Facing Malaysia in 2022
In Stage 2 of The Citizens’ Agenda, we asked Malaysian to pick the top 5 biggest issues facing their country. They responded loudly and clearly. Here’s what they said!
Singaporeans Speak: The Top 5 Most Important Issues Facing Singapore in 2022
In Stage 2 of The Citizens’ Agenda, we asked Singaporeans to pick the top 5 biggest issues facing their country. They responded loudly and clearly. Here’s what they said!
Duit Right: How to Fix Malaysian Political Financing
Political financing in Malaysia is privately-sourced and largely unregulated. Ensuring accountability and transparency is key for free and fair elections.
Explainer: Discrimination in Singapore
Discrimination, bias and inequality of many kinds present problems in Singapore—just as they do in every society. Its laws, policies and practices should be based on recognising this fact, not denying it.
New Naratif is a movement for democracy in Southeast Asia. Our vision is to foster an inclusive Southeast Asia community where all peoples are fully engaging and participating in building democracy. We build capacity for this through our three-step process: Engage, Educate, and Empower Southeast Asians.
Stay up to date with New Naratif’s latest stories and upcoming events with our weekly newsletter.
Get Involved
The Media Freedom
in Southeast Asia Project
The Media Freedom in Southeast Asia Project seeks to understand the challenges that media workers in Southeast Asia face and how they navigate them. This project aims to interrogate the voices of media workers in the region in its methods.
The Citizens’ Agenda 2022
The results are in for The Citizens’ Agenda 2022! Malaysians and Singaporeans have voted on the most pressing issues facing their country, with interesting insights all round. Read about the results, and discover how you can be part of a space to voice your concerns and increase political engagement.
Get Informed
Checks and Balances
Myanmar Activist: We Want Our Own Script
Amid the anti-coup protests in Myanmar, activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi went into hiding to avoid arrest. After years spent protesting her country’s military, she explains why current demonstrations must do more than just restore civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Artists Respond: Hindsight Is 2020
Ten artists take us on a journey from virtual meeting rooms in Malaysia and Singapore to the streets of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. They ponder the intensely personal impact of the pandemic and picture large-scale protests for democracy.
“Let It End in Our Generation”: How the Thailand Protests Came to Be
Thailand has seen massive pro-democracy demonstrations this year calling for constitutional reform. Thai news site, Prachatai, unpacks what is behind the protests, what is happening now and what the future may hold for Thailand.
Sustainable and Equitable Development
The 22 Most Important Issues Facing Malaysia in 2022
In Stage 1 of The Citizens’ Agenda 2022, New Naratif asked Malaysians what they think are the most important issues facing Malaysia, and what they’d like political candidates to talk about in the next general election. Here’s what our readers said (and didn’t say).
The 23 Most Important Issues Facing Singapore in 2022
In Stage 1 of The Citizens’ Agenda 2022, New Naratif asked Singaporeans what they think are the most important issues facing Singapore, and what they’d like political candidates to talk about in the next general election. Here’s what our readers said (and didn’t say).
Cambodia’s At-Risk Construction Workers Raise Families On-Site
Cambodian construction workers and their families often live inside the buildings they are constructing, despite dozens being killed in building collapses in recent years. Few labour protections and low pay leave them vulnerable to accidents and exploitation.
Self-Determination
Who You Gonna Call? MPs, ADUNs, and Local Councillors in Malaysia
Learn about the different levels of government representatives in Malaysia, and who you should talk to about neighbourhood or national issues.
Artists Respond: Myanmar Fights for Democracy
Seven creators reflect on the struggles and hopes of the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Myanmar.
Nama Sempekat MA63? Nama kebuah ia mai reti ti besai ngagai Sabah enggau Sarawak
Ba dalam Sempekat Malaysia 1963, Sabah enggau Sarawak bela nyadi kaban kunsi begulai enggau dulu kelia dikangau Serakup Persekutuan Malaya, tang pia penemu tu nyu makin majak lenyau. Ditu meh kebuah mulai ke ia serta nama mai ia besai reti ngagai semua.
Features
Khmer Krom Monks Cross Borders to Learn Their History
Frustrated by Vietnam’s suppression of their language, history and faith, Khmer Krom monks are forced to migrate to Cambodia to pursue an unrestricted education. Some who return face hostile authorities who fear monks will stir up deep-seated ethnic divisions.
Displaced by War, Papuan Refugees Face Lingering Dangers
Some 60,000 people have been displaced by fighting between Papuan separatists and the Indonesian military in Nduga Regency. One group of refugees are stranded far from home, without jobs, schools, quality healthcare or any sign of the conflict’s end.
Peeling Back the Facade of Indonesia’s Colonial New Capital
Indonesia’s decision to move its capital from Jakarta to a new city in East Kalimantan excluded local and indigenous communities from the planning process. Now, Nusantara—an internal colonial project in disguise—threatens their land, culture and livelihoods.
Singapore’s Migration Laws Trap Women With Abusers
For foreign spouses trying to escape domestic abuse or their marriage altogether, Singapore’s migration laws and exclusion of foreigners from some social services leave them reliant on their abuser and vulnerable to homelessness and separation from their children.
See all features in other languages:
Bahasa Indonesia | Bahasa Melayu | 中文 | ဗမာစာ | Tiếng Việt
COMICS
New Naratif Turns 5: Dreams Live On
As New Naratif turns five, Marsha moves forward with a renewed faith in her dreams. The rest of the New Naratif team voice their dreams, hopes, and gratitude in working with the organisation. Our dreams live on.
See all comics in other languages:
Bahasa Indonesia | Bahasa Melayu | 中文 | ဗမာစာ | Tiếng Việt
RESEARCH >
Beyond the Absence of Killings and Arrests
A qualitative exploratory study of media freedom in Southeast Asia, centring on the voices of independent media workers in the region.
PODCASTS >
Sued by Singapore’s Prime Minister: Roy Ngerng’s Ridiculous Case
Blogger and researcher Roy Ngerng had his life destroyed by Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong’s defamation lawsuit. Seven years on, he talks to PJ Thum about the injustice of his case, politics in Singapore, his new life in Taiwan, and what Taiwan is like compared to Singapore.
VIDEOS >
The Women Tree Planters of Sukau
Since 2008, women from Sabah’s Sukau Village have planted trees to connect forest fragments and preserve the area’s biodiversity. COVID-19 stopped their work for months, resulting in the deaths of many newly planted trees. Now, they have returned to the forest.
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