Aliran in Malaysia: A Public Interest Group Assuming the Role of the Liberal Press

Abstract

Abstract This article studies how the Malaysian public interest group, Aliran, has attempted to foster a civic culture and create a liberal press. Aliran believes these are necessary for the advancement of democracy in Malaysia. The organization's journal, Aliran Monthly, follows the liberal press method of scrutinizing what it sees as the four estates of government, the executive, the legislative, the judiciary, and the Malaysian press. The Aliran Monthly advances the group's goal of creating a civic culture by fostering the idea that the country's citizens should insist upon the accountability of the four estates. By providing a dissenting opinion, the Aliran Monthly sees itself as assisting the citizens of Malaysia in evaluating the individuals and institutions that govern them.