Representatives from six ASEAN newsrooms met in Manila last November to discuss shared challenges in the media landscape and the state of democracy in the region. Hosted by Rappler, the gathering highlighted concerns amid Myanmar's upcoming elections. Contributions from Myanmar and Malaysia illustrate youth struggles under authoritarian pressures.
In November, representatives from Indonesia’s Tempo, Malaysia’s Malaysiakini, Myanmar’s Mizzima, Cambodia’s Kiripost, Singapore’s Straits Times, and Rappler gathered at Rappler’s Manila headquarters. They discussed the rapidly evolving media landscape, newsroom best practices, and potential collaborations to counter the impacts of AI and big tech on operations and revenues.
As an initial step, editors agreed to share perspectives on democracy in their countries, especially timely with Myanmar’s military junta scheduling elections from December 28. This two-part series begins with insights from Myanmar and Malaysia.
In Myanmar, democracy has deteriorated since the February 2021 coup. Gen Z youth are profoundly affected. Hnin, a 20-year-old who fled to Thailand, said, “I left home because my mom was so afraid. After my older brother joined the resistance, the fear grew worse.” Focused on IT studies, she dismisses the elections as irrelevant amid forced conscription and displacement. Ko Thet, 22, fighting in Kayin State as a drone operator, stated, “Our generation has to be the one that ends this.” Ma Thuzar, 27, working in Thailand, advised her family, “Don’t vote,” prioritizing survival over the junta’s “fake politics.”
In Malaysia, student activists at Universiti Sabah Malaysia leverage social media for protests against corruption, campus issues, and more, using WhatsApp and TikTok live streams. Ahead of the November 29 Sabah election, they organized the “Bah Bincang Kita” forum, crowdfunded for neutrality, discussing state rights, living costs, and inclusivity. Youth under 30 made up 31% of voters, influencing wins for PAS and Warisan. Analyst Bridget Welsh noted their decisive role, echoing the 2022 “Green Wave” that boosted Islamist gains.