Recent research in Malaysia has shown that gangs, created by certain NGOs, are linked to the ruling party to preserve an authoritarian state.
To put it simply, said French researcher, Sophie Lemiere, "Gangs are connivance (complicit) militants. They are systematic political actors that play a role in the construction and sustainability of the authoritarian state."
Lemiere (left), who has just received her PhD from Sciences-Po Paris on the subject of ethno-nationalist and Islamic movements in Malaysia, was in Penang to present her research to students from Universiti Sains Malaysia's humanities school yesterday.
Her paper focussed on gangs involved in what is called 'connivance (or complicit) militancy', where the groups studied in her research are Pekida and its assimilated or satellites groups.
Her research was conducted throughout Peninsula Malaysia from 2008 to April this year.
Her aim was to provide a snapshot of the behaviour of gangs’ between two general elections (March 2008 and May 2013) and how their allegiances and roles have adapted to the political climate and opportunities presented.
Lemiere explained that gangs in the context of Malaysia are "secret political arrangement by which political actors or political parties subcontract legal or illegal actions to serve its interest".
This range from advocacy, demonstrations and violence directed at groups or individuals, she added.
"The gangs are entrepreneurs of mobilisation and violence and offers services in exchange for money or advantages and thus become political actors," she said.
"Muscle and numbers are needed by political parties - when challenged by opponents - in action, campaign, demonstrations, and controversies," she added.
In her one hour talk, Lemiere shared her research about gangs creating so-called NGOs to support political parties, especially Umno.
To put it simply, said French researcher, Sophie Lemiere, "Gangs are connivance (complicit) militants. They are systematic political actors that play a role in the construction and sustainability of the authoritarian state."
Lemiere (left), who has just received her PhD from Sciences-Po Paris on the subject of ethno-nationalist and Islamic movements in Malaysia, was in Penang to present her research to students from Universiti Sains Malaysia's humanities school yesterday.Her paper focussed on gangs involved in what is called 'connivance (or complicit) militancy', where the groups studied in her research are Pekida and its assimilated or satellites groups.
Her research was conducted throughout Peninsula Malaysia from 2008 to April this year.
Her aim was to provide a snapshot of the behaviour of gangs’ between two general elections (March 2008 and May 2013) and how their allegiances and roles have adapted to the political climate and opportunities presented.
Lemiere explained that gangs in the context of Malaysia are "secret political arrangement by which political actors or political parties subcontract legal or illegal actions to serve its interest".This range from advocacy, demonstrations and violence directed at groups or individuals, she added.
"The gangs are entrepreneurs of mobilisation and violence and offers services in exchange for money or advantages and thus become political actors," she said.
"Muscle and numbers are needed by political parties - when challenged by opponents - in action, campaign, demonstrations, and controversies," she added.
In her one hour talk, Lemiere shared her research about gangs creating so-called NGOs to support political parties, especially Umno.
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