International Solidarity Campaign: Justice for the 177 Fired Mediceram Workers

We, the socialist, labour, and youth organisations endorsing this statement, demand that the Malaysian government, particularly the Department of Industrial Relations and the Department of Labour, take action to resolve the crisis faced by Bangladeshi workers who have been exploited and oppressed under the management of local agents and Malaysian companies. We also call on the Government of Bangladesh, especially the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, to urgently act on the official appeal submitted by the Mediceram Workers’ Committee on 6 November 2025, which demands investigation, compensation, and justice.

Around 190 Bangladeshi Migrant Workers at Mediceram Dismissed for Demanding Fair and Dignified Working Conditions

We, the Workers’ Solidarity Network, Sosialis Alternatif, and AKSI (Socialist Student Alliance), believe that the employer’s continued betrayal of existing agreements reflects the management’s utter disregard for the workers’ basic demands. The company is driven purely by profit, willing to act arbitrarily and exploit workers who are fighting for their rights. Likewise, the government must take firmer and more transparent action in fulfilling its responsibility — especially in defending the dignity of the working class struggling for justice.

Solidarity with Migrant Workers at Mediceram on Their Third Strike for Justice!

We, Workers’ Solidarity Network, AKSI and Sekolah Merdeka, fully stand in solidarity with the striking workers at Mediceram in their struggle for justice. After all, a tree does not sway without the wind. The continued strike by workers at Mediceram is a direct response to the oppression they face from their bosses. The fight of migrant workers in Malaysia must be supported and strengthened by local worker organizations — particularly principled and militant trade unions.

Remembering Lenin

On this day 155 years ago, Lenin was born in Tsarist Russia. An unapologetic Marxist and brilliant revolutionary strategist, he lived much of his life as the leader of the Bolshevik Party, which led the Russian working class and peasantry toward the triumphant conclusion of the socialist revolution of October 1917, and the building of the first ever democratic workers’ state in the world. Lenin’s contribution to history cannot be overstated.

The Pointless Debate over Bumiputera Quotas Between Racists and Meritocrats

“In a planned economy that serves the needs of human beings, there would be no need for such moralistic alternatives to racist quotas as merit, which presupposes in the first place a competitive economy that ultimately serves the needs of the wealthy and powerful. At best it is a coping mechanism on the part of the petty bourgeois who have had trouble dealing with the myth of upward mobility all crumbling down on him at once; at worst it is a cruel insult callously thrown at the workers of the world who feed, clothe, and shelter all of us, and who have brought us all the technological wonders of the world not because, but in spite, of their exploitation.”

Public Health for Profits: Malaysian healthcare at the crossroads

The Madani state’s reform agenda has since its rise to power in 2022 turned out to include not only intensifying the exploitation of public health workers via its brutal imposition of one austerity policy after another, but also its continued push for privatization. The lesson could not be any clearer: once the profit motive enters the equation, healthcare ceases to prioritize human need. If the mantle is not taken up by the working class to organize collectively and resist these neoliberal policies, the complete collapse of our public healthcare system becomes not a question of if, but when.

The Reformist Doctor Who Treats the Symptom, Not the Cause

Because PSM does not recognize, as we do, the material fact that the state is nothing more than an instrument of the ruling class—that is, a tool for domination of one class over another—thus it is at best reluctant, and at worst unwilling, to challenge the capitalist state at its core. Instead, its strategy revolves around operating within the constraints of the existing system, lobbying for reforms and seeking the support of progressive liberal allies along the way, promising to curb the excesses of capitalism.

Solidarity with Nurses and Healthcare Workers Against 45-Hour Work Week!

The government can never, and will never, treat our nurses and doctors fairly, so long as it remains pro-capitalist, not pro-worker. This was the case in the BN-UMNO era, and so is it now with this “progressive” Madani state. So long as the capitalist economic system of general labor exploitation remains unchallenged, and so long as capitalist politics remains the order of the day, all public services, healthcare included, can never truly serve the public — laborers and consumers alike.

Book Review: Megathreats

Tony Saunois reviews ‘Megathreats: The Ten Trends that Imperil Our Future, and How to Survive Them’ by Nouriel Roubini Capitalism’s ‘Megathreats’ Many bourgeois economists have tended to put a gloss on the deep systemic crisis facing world capitalism. They have often seized upon this or that marginal piece of “good” news to empirically conclude that […]

Malaysia: Fractured political parties head into general election as economy worsens

In the midst of monsoon season which is expected to cover 25% of the landmass in Malaysia with heavy floods, the Prime Minister dissolved the parliament and directed the Electoral Commission to schedule a general election in the coming two months. Although the current coalition government could constitutionally stay in power until July next year, […]

How did Marcos Jr, son of an infamous dictator, win the Philippines election?

In a landslide victory, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., better known as Bong Bong Marcos or simply BBM, is to become the new president of the Philippines in late May. The son and namesake of the infamous dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, managed to get 31 million votes, more than double the amount of his closest rival and current […]

One year after the military coup in Myanmar, mass resistance continues

2022 has seen great courage by the Myanmar people, who remain steadfast against the coup carried out by the military Tatmadaw regime. The news of Aung San Suu Kyi’s four-year prison sentence was received with widespread scepticism, and the detention of the 75-year-old leader is seen as nothing but dirty tactics by the regime. This […]

Malaysia: Government loses majority, but same coalition maintains power

On Friday 20 August, Ismail Sabri was chosen by Malaysia’s king to be prime minister – the country’s third in three years. The 17 month-old government of the ‘National Coalition’ (PN – Perikatan Nasional) under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin collapsed when 15 MPs from UMNO (United Malays National Organisation), which was part of this coalition, […]

Indonesia: Millions rise against oppressive law

Since Monday, 5th October, when Indonesia’s President Jokowi announced the Job Creation Act or ‘Omnibus Law’, Indonesian youth and working class, together with other sections of society, launched a massive protest nationwide. The government’s move, aimed at making capitalist investment easier – eroding workers’ rights and neglecting environmental health – has angered millions of Indonesians. […]

Thailand: Youth rising against unpopular junta regime

Since the beginning of this year, Thailand has witnessed the rising up of youth and students who have launched massive protests in several major cities, colleges, and universities. Although initially only concentrated in certain higher education institutions, the protests have already begun to spread to the streets and are attracting layers of ordinary working people […]

Malaysia: ‘1MDB’ corruption scandal shows need to get rid of capitalist system

On 28 July, Malaysians heard the news that former Prime Minister Najib Razak was found guilty on seven counts of abuse of power, breach of trust and money laundering. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a fine of 210 million Ringgit. The notorious ‘1MDB’ corruption case is continuing, and also involves Najib’s […]

Malaysia: Covid-19 takes toll on economy and government

During the spread of coronavirus into Malaysia in the middle of February, the ruling government – the Pakatan Harapan (Coalition of Hope) – which was in power for one and a half years, collapsed. A plot was orchestrated when some politicians in the PH government staged a ‘coup’. With the help of opposition parties, they […]

Malaysia: ‘Coalition of Hope’ collapses as racial tension and economic uncertainty mount

On Monday, 24 February, the prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, submitted his resignation to the country’s king, opening the way for enormous confusion as to what will follow. The reasons for Mahathir’s decision seemed to be linked to his reluctance to hand over to Anwar Ibrahim as agreed before the coalition was elected. But […]

Indonesia: Escalating anti-government protests

For a mass working class party for workers, young people, poor farmers and the oppressed. Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, was inaugurated for a second term on Sunday, 20 October, but he has been facing a continuous wave of protests from young people, workers and others ever since the general election in April of this year. […]

Socialist change not climate change!

“Even an entire society, a nation or all simultaneously existing societies taken together are not owners of the earth, they are simply its possessors, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath it in an improved state to succeeding generations, as boni patres familias [good heads of households] Karl Marx (Capital, Volume 3) The call for an […]

West Papua: Mass demonstrations erupt against Indonesian repression

The Indonesian government has sent more than 3,700 police and military forces into West Papua following nearly three weeks of protests and mass demonstrations in the region. These were triggered when the Indonesian National Army (TNI) and right-wing vigilantes targeted several Papuan students in Surabaya in East Java, after allegations that they tried to destroy […]

Czechoslovakia 1968: Russian invasion crushes hopes of workers’ democracy

The task of implementing the socialist revolution there and everywhere remains the most pressing struggle of the world working class Robin Clapp, Socialist Party (CWI in England and Wales) national committee The year 1968 was tumultuous with workers’ accumulated frustrations igniting rebellion against capitalism and non-capitalist dictatorial Stalinist regimes alike. Brewing discontent in France spilled over into outright […]

China: Trump’s trade war draws closer

The world has moved closer to a trade war on multiple fronts as Trump’s administration rolls out its aggressive ‘America First’ trade policies, taking aim at both close US allies and major rivals. On 1 June, the US implemented its long threatened tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium imports from […]

Malaysia: A ‘people tsunami’ boots out party in power for six decades

On the 9th of May, the country held its 14th general election which saw the humiliating defeat for one of the longest-serving ruling parties in the world – the BN (National Front). This outcome has gone against the predictions of almost all the international and local media who predicted that BN will be once again […]

Malaysia’s sixty-year ruling party facing electoral defeat

The 14th Malaysian general election – GE14 – is going ahead on May 9th. The ruling National Front (BN) government is expected to face intense competition from the main opposition coalition, Alliance for Hope (PH), similar to that staged in the last two general elections of 2008 and 2013. This time it could be the […]

Anti-Trump Protests: In less than 24 hours 40,000 people answered our call!

Published On November 11, 2016 | By Bryan Watson | Socialist Alternative In Action The unthinkable has happened – Donald Trump has won.  Further, the Republicans have seized control of both chambers of congress. They are planning to unleash a storm of attacks against the most vulnerable in our society. This cannot stand.  We need […]

Solidarity Statement for ‘Repeal the 8th’ from Malaysia

Repeal the 8th is a movement that demands the abolition of a constitution in Ireland which criminalize abortion. We in Malaysia support ‘repeal the 8th’ movement and wish to stand in solidarity with our sisters in Ireland. September 28 marks the international day of action to fight for the rights of abortion and repeal the […]

Book Review: My Side Of History By Chin Peng

This book is important from a number of points of view. The author was the leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), which he joined as a 15-year old schoolboy, and which played an important role in two guerrilla struggles – in the Second World War and in the post-war 12-year ‘Emergency’, in reality […]

Scandal-ridden prime minister launches crackdown on dissent

Opposition weak and divided Recently, the National Front (BN) government in Malaysia won comfortably in two by-elections and in a state election in Sarawak. This is in spite of the fact that the prime minister, Najib Razak, and his party, UMNO (United Malay National Organization – the dominant party in the BN coalition), have been […]

Iowa results reveal crisis of establishment politics – Sanders and Clinton tie

“It’s too late for establishment politics, establishment economics!” Joshua Koritz, Socialist Alternative (CWI in the US) The results are in. Iowa Democrats and Republicans went to the caucuses yesterday and rejected the establishment’s picks. The Democratic caucuses were so close that neither candidate won a majority of the vote. The New York Times reports that […]

Workers strike at Contitech-IMAS factory

Solidarity campaign needed! Xekinima (CWI Greece) Reporters The IMAS factory, located in Volos, Greece, is owned by the German multination Continental / Contitech and produces conveyor belts and belt monitoring systems for mines (seehttp://www.contitech.de/pages/branchen/bergbau/bergbau_en.html). Continental’s main field is vehicle tires but its activity covers dozens of industrial products, mainly for the car/vehicle industry. Continental is […]

World relations, economy and the class struggle

There has been a profound change in the world situation and world relations since the CWI’s last World Congress in 2010 CWI International Secretariat The following is an edited version of a draft document on world perspectives, , that will be discussed at the January 2016 World Congress of the Committee for a Workers’ International […]

Devastating outbreak of Zika virus

Another healthcare system failure Isabel Keppler, LSR (CWI Brazil) The devastating outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in the Americas, just six months before the Olympic Games in Brazil, has once again exposed the failings of governments and the big pharmaceutical companies to protect public health. On 28 October 2015 the Ministry of Health in […]