MENTION Aliran and the first thing that comes to mind would be the Aliran Monthly magazine, which survived numerous challenges for having stood its ground, speaking up fearlessly on various issues affecting the nation.

Turning 25 this weekend, the magazine has come a long way since the first edition hit the streets in 1980.

The Aliran Monthly (AM) is the mouthpiece of Aliran, the organisation which was started on Aug 12, 1977, by seven Malaysians, representing different ethnic and religious backgrounds and sharing Aliran's commitment to the principles of justice, freedom, dignity and solidarity.

The history of how the magazine started, and where it stands now, is a roller-coaster for those associated with the magazine.

A glance through the hundreds of issues that have been produced shows the recurring themes of abuse of power, corruption and the undermining of democratic principles and practice.

In an interview with theSun, Aliran's president, P. Ramakrishnan, shared AM's history, including the close calls with the authorities, and its struggle to remain as a group to give meaning to the things Malaysians need to cherish for justice, freedom, dignity and unity to prevail.

The historic first copy of Aliran which hit the streets in 1980 was unplanned and emerged as a four-page leaflet in black and white put together by a motley crew of volunteers, many of whom are still faithful to the organisation.

"We had applied for a publication permit for a monthly but we never received any communication, and suddenly in October that year, the Home Ministry wrote to us and asked us why we had not sent them copies of the publication," Ramakrishnan said.

"Only then did we know that we had been given the permit and so we put together a four-page tabloid. That was the only new publication which hit the streets that year."

The permit was not renewed in 1981. In 1982, Aliran applied for a permit for a quarterly and approval was given.

For two years, the quarterly was published. The first monthly was revived in 1984, and for 10 years, the publication was out diligently every month, despite unreliable printers, declining sales and lack of financial resources.

From 1995 until now, because of delays in write-ups from volunteers, only 11 issues are printed each year.

"Aliran is not a commercial organisation. Contributions are made without any remuneration, and comment and discussion from Malaysian groups and individuals are carried out freely," Ramakrishnan, 67, a retired teacher, said.

"Although several alternative publications and websites are now available, Aliran is proud to say it has been able to sustain this dissemination and exchange of critical ideas for 25 uninterrupted years.

"Our website also reflects and adds to the dissemination of these ideas."

AM has survived challenges, including the Internal Security Act (ISA) crackdown in 1987, and problems with the Home Ministry, at times having to run from one printer to another, because they refused to publish the magazine for fear of the controversial issues raised.

Aliran has also reached out to people through regular talks, forums, workshops, seminars and campaigns that have involved Malaysians of all walks of life, and covered topics and issues relevant to most people.

Among them are the lobbies against the Societies Act, the Official Secrets Act, the ISA, and protests of neo-liberal policies, privatisation of basic services like health and water, and calls for police reform.

In trying to create space for alternative ideas, Aliran launched Charter 2000-Aliran, a citizens media initiative trying to raise awareness of the importance of press freedom. This initiative is based on a press freedom manifesto endorsed by about 39 civil society groups.

Since 2004, Aliran has maintained a media monitor diary to highlight instances where the media have not lived up to their role as guardians of the public interest but instead seem more beholden to political or corporate interests.

Says Ramakrishnan: "These are our challenges and we have survived them. Will we be around for the next 25 years? Malaysians will have to decide our fate. As long as the AM is saleable to sustain our work, you can count on us to keep fighting.

"If we don't stand up for freedom, democracy and human rights and all that we cherish very dearly, if we don't face the many challenges confronting us boldly and honestly, history will judge us harshly.

"Let history record that we at this time and place did our bit for the cause of freedom."

For more on Aliran, log on to www.aliran.com

Conscientious commentators
by Regina William

THEY don't get paid for their contributions but many of Aliran Monthly's volunteer writers soldier on out of a firm commitment in their beliefs and ideologies.

Many of them are established professionals and well known personalities, who eloquently voice their opinions without fear or favour.

These are some of those writers:

Universiti Sains Malaysia politics and sociology lecturer of South East Asian and Malaysian politics, Francis Loh, in his 50s. Has contributed since the first issue 25 years ago.

Loh, who has been Aliran secretary for many years, said there is a need for a people's think tank.

"The role of intellectuals is not to just work in the ivory towers but to share the information and knowledge that they gain from their research with the general public. It is particularly important in a situation like Malaysia where we have very limited access to alternative ideas and information."

He said Aliran wants to present an alternative discourse of political development, economic growth strategy and also ways of promoting inter racial and inter religious dialogues and harmony.

"There is a need for a realm to build this kind of multi-ethnic and multi-religious networks. We are not an advocacy group but we hold talks and forums and network with like-minded NGOs to build what we call an autonomous public sphere - a space for ideas to be debated and related," Loh said.

Anil Netto, 44, contributor to AM for 15 years.

"What we are trying to do is to create space for alternative discourses to be heard. We are trying to nudge the mainstream media towards really living up to their role as the Fourth Estate, as guardians of the public interest.

"In an ideal world, the mainstream media would be in the forefront of speaking the truth. True, we don't live in an ideal world, but that shouldn't stop us from struggling to achieve a more just, democratic society.

"By right, the media should be highlighting issues that are of public interest: human rights violations, the growing power of the corporations, the illegal occupation of Iraq and Palestine, the plight of ISA detainees, refugees, asylum seekers, foreign workers."

He said one of the great myths of modern journalism is that journalists must be "objective and balanced".

When people talk about being objective and impartial, invariably what they mean is supporting the status quo, the establishment, not seeking reforms and change to promote social justice, not rocking the boat, he said.

Another writer Martin Jalleh, a researcher who has contributed to AM for more than 15 years.

"Initially, the knowledge that many of its articles were written by intellectuals and lecturers in the universities - especially USM - made me rather 'shy' and hesitant about contributing to the magazine.

"I remained a contented reader for a while. But life has taught me much through a process of time.

"The first is that what I say or do not say today will affect my children tomorrow. I mean, what am I going to tell my two young school-going children if they were to ask me one day in the future what did I do about the environment or education or equal opportunity. It would be really tragic if I were to tell them that I kept real quiet and watched TV all night.

"The second was why wait for some professor in the university or some social activist or some newspaper editor or columnist to express what I really want to say and what I have experienced. Further, I felt that it was necessary to express my opinions and convictions in the simple way the ordinary layman or woman would. And so I started writing.

"Of course, when you write you do not need only hands and heart, but also head. I realised that to write with credibility and intelligently, I needed information -- and discovered that the magazine is itself a wealthy source of information. This, coupled with the Internet, the online newspapers and my experience as a researcher in an NGO, has made my writing experience with AM not only a privilege but a pleasure."

A history of courageous change

ALIRAN Kesedaran Negara (National Consciousness Movement in Bahasa Malaysia) claims to be Malaysia's first multi-ethnic reform movement dedicated to justice, freedom and solidarity.

It is reputed to be Malaysia's oldest human rights group, with a record of championing democratic reforms.

This multi-ethnic reform movement in post-independent Malaysia was founded in 1977 by seven Malaysians - Chandra Muzaffar, Ariffin Omar, Gan Teik Chee, Ismail Hashim, the late Nor Abdul Rashid, Siew Kam Poh and Subramaniam Pillay.

Guided by universal spiritual values, the organisation's struggle focuses on building genuine unity by upholding human dignity and promoting social justice for all Malaysians.

Since inception, Aliran claims it has been planting the seeds of public awareness of critical political, economic and social issues.

Over the years, the organisation has lobbied hard for wide-ranging reforms in all aspects of public life.

Aliran was born in the heady political atmosphere of the 1970s which was heavily influenced by the May 13, 1969, racial riot.

When the ruling Alliance absorbed most of the opposition parties to become the Barisan Nasional, the group felt this diminished the opportunity for the emergence of a multi-ethnic opposition and a more healthy two-party electoral competition.

At that point, the founding members felt there had to be another way to articulate political issues and work towards change for a better Malaysia.

Aliran founding members felt strongly that issues such as justice, freedom, inter-ethnic unity and public accountability could be discussed more freely and frankly if one does not have to worry about winning seats in the next general election.

Thus, the foundation called Liga Reformasi was formed in the mid-1970s.

A year after the application was submitted, the Attorney-General's office rejected it without any reason.

By that time, some of the initiators had lost interest. From the initial group, Chandra, Gan Teik Chee and Subramaniam decided to join hands with Ariffin, Ismail, Siew Kam Poh and the late Nor Rashid to launch Aliran.

Aliran was registered in 1977.

Since then Aliran has faced many challenges, not the least of which is to be financially self-sustaining.

Aliran's first three presidents are Chandra, (1977-1991), Ariffin (1991-1993), and Ramakrishnan until now.

Chandra, the founding president, decided to step down in 1991 to concentrate on issues of injustices that exist in the global system through the International Movement for a Just World.

In the past 15 years since Chandra stepped down, Aliran has carried on its main activity of publishing the Aliran Monthly on a regular basis despite the many difficulties faced.

In the current Aliran executive committee of 15 members, only one founding member is left, namely Subramaniam. Most of the current exco are made up of members who joined Aliran in the 1990s.