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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.
In Need of Cleaning
The promise of high wages draws Indonesian migrant workers to Singapore. However, exploitative practices by agents such as deducting monthly salaries and charging illegal fees make life difficult for the migrant workers and their families back home.
Learning in Lockdown
Our son lost in-person social and emotional support from his teachers when the pandemic forced a shift towards remote learning. We worked to mitigate its effects—but not all families in the Philippines can afford to do the same for children with disabilities.
chitarum and Konijn Sate on Rooting Art in Family and History
How do we make art about national history and personal narrative, and overcome our fears? In this instalment of Behind the Naratif, two Indonesian artists reflect on their approaches to archives, original art-making, and their recent work for New Naratif.
Indonesia, 1965: A Conversation With My Parents
My parents lived through Soeharto’s New Order regime. We don’t see eye-to-eye politically, but would I be able to sit with them, listen to their stories, and appreciate their memories?
Picturing Media Freedom in 2021
Nine artists draw out their experiences and interpretations of media freedom in Southeast Asia.
The Long Road Home
A domestic worker in Singapore returns to Indonesia during the pandemic. She encounters differential treatment and a costly road home.
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Explore the personal and political through the eyes of Southeast Asian artists.
Our movement needs members to remain independent and sustainable.
VOICES >
Ripple Effect
My mother became a refugee in her own country during the Indonesian War of Independence. The experience reverberated through the rest of her life.
I Was Never Alone
When I left my Indonesian hometown for the big city, I asked myself: what am I? The answer lay beyond the gender binary.
Growing Pains
Queer. Malay. Muslim. Growing up in Malaysia, I learned the hard way that this didn’t have to be a contradiction.
EXPLAINER COMICS >
Growing Together: A Guide to Collective Care
In the struggle for equality and justice, collective care among peers can save lives and make our activism work more sustainable.
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.
NN Explains: Authoritarianism
Unlike totalitarianism, there can be some degree of free speech and debate over policies in authoritarian systems. But those who challenge the leaders’ authority often become targets of physical or emotional abuse.
ARTISTS RESPOND >
Artists Respond: Myanmar Fights for Democracy
Seven creators reflect on the struggles and hopes of the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Myanmar.
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.
Artists Respond: the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020
Four artists reflect on the anti-terrorism bill in the Philippines, amidst fears that it erodes constitutional rights and will be used to crack down on dissent.