The Malaysian Insight

A GROUP of young Malaysians clad in white marched through Kuala Lumpur to commemorate the 71st anniversary of Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API), a pre-independence political movement banned by the British in 1947. 

Although the crowd was small, the mood of the rally was festive, with songs such as Panas atau Hujan, Darah Rakyat, Ale-Ale and Buruh Tani being sung throughout the rally, which started from Maju Junction Mall and ended at the Sogo shopping complex. 

The youth also carried placards and banners bearing messages denouncing corruption. 

“People unite against corrupt regime, Negara Sakit Wanita Bangkit”, read one placard; “Malaysia Muda Dalam Api, Politik Tua Tolong ke Tepi” read another. 

A speech by former API member Cikgu Ishak Surin was one of the highlights of the rally.

The 85-year-old man rallied the crowd with the chant, “Merdeka dengan Darah”, in reference to the objectives of API’s establishment.

“API’s aim was to free our country from any form of colonisation. We wanted a true democracy,” Cikgu Ishak said. 

“Today’s youth should not only commemorate the struggles but continue them and, in today’s context, it is their duty to fight against the current government,” Cikgu Ishak said, while also recounting sacrifices made by API founder Ahmad Boestamam, such as being jailed for seven years when he was Setapak MP. 

API, a leftist radical youth movement,was established in Ipoh, Perak, in 1946 and lasted 518 days before the British declared the movement illegal on June 30, 1947. 

Poem recitals, speeches and a short sketch were also performed in front of the Sogo shopping complex. 

Rally-goers also chanted “Hidup Rakyat, Hidup Pemuda, Hidup Mahasiswa, Wanita”. 

Spokesperson Amir Hadi said the reason they were wearing the same colours as API members of yesteryear was to invoke the spirit the group once had. 

“Before API’s first congress was held, they held a march and wore white shirts and red armbands and that’s what we did today, to commemorate the historic event,” he said. 

Before the rally ended, a six-minute sketch, featuring an antagonistic character wearing a clown mask, was performed to highlight issues affecting today’s youth, such as unemployment, affordable housing and student loans. 

It ended with a mandi bunga ritual as a symbolic gesture signifying the need to cleanse Malaysia from those who seek to destroy it. – December 23, 2017.