Voice of Malayan Democracy: The Communist Party of Malaya’s Revived Radio War (1981–1990) was launched at a book launch seminar on 3 March 2025. Authored by Dr Ong Wei Chong, Senior Associate Fellow, National Security Studies Programme, RSIS; the book contains selected transcripts from the Voice of Malayan Democracy (VMD) broadcasts. The VMD provides a glimpse into the Communist Party of Malaya’s (CPM) world view in the latter part of the so-called Second Emergency (1969–89) and sheds light on why the party persisted with its armed struggle despite dwindling international and local support.
Professor Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore University Professor and Emeritus Professor of the Australian National University, delivered the keynote address. He underscored how the CPM’s adoption of the term “democracy”, along with its conscious effort to appeal to Malay audiences, marked a deliberate reframing of its political project. He also observed that it was striking for a movement in Southeast Asia to fight under banners such as “revolution” and “democracy,” concepts rooted in Western political history and lacking direct equivalent in many Asian languages, but nevertheless continue to shape political imagination in the region.
In his introductory remarks, Dr Ong situated the VMD within the broader context of the Second Emergency and the story of its predecessor, the Voice of Malayan Revolution (VMR), which was intimately intertwined with that of the VMD. Both the VMR and VMD reflected changes in the relationship between the CPM and the Chinese Communists – from active support to clandestine assistance, and finally cessation of all material aid to the CPM’s cause. He concluded that the VMD is not only a key repository of the CPM’s thinking and internal party debate, but will continue to deepen understanding of how proxy conflicts backed by great powers played out in Southeast Asia.
At the panel discussion moderated by Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, Professor of National Security Studies and Dean of RSIS, Prof Kumar drew on his own research on Freedom News and elaborated on various forms of propaganda and the key features of psychological campaigns, inviting the panellists to reflect on lessons from the VMD and their relevance today.
Mr Kwa Chong Guan, Senior Fellow, RSIS, highlighted the book’s value in highlighting the CPM’s attempt to define and justify its role in a rapidly changing world which it was increasingly disconnected with. He also contended that it is an interesting analysis into the failure in conducting a psychological warfare campaign as part of military strategy and operations to convey selected information to influence emotions, attitudes, reasoning, and behaviour of its target audience in conflict zones.
The panellists drew links between the VMD material and contemporary topics like psychological warfare, propaganda, social cohesion, and religion. With some insightful contributions from the audience, the discussion converged on the view that the book makes a significant contribution to the often-overlooked history of the Second Malayan Emergency and opens up important questions for further research.
Watch the book launch seminar here:
