Bantuan Demokrasi di Malaysia: Peranan Promoter Berprofil Rendah (Democracy Assistance In Malaysia: The Role of Low Profile Promoters)

Abstract

This article highlights the conduct of low-profile democracy promoters in Malaysia with regards to the polemical foreign funding issue that has raised much debates in Malaysian politics since 2011. In contrast with high-profile democracy promoters such as the United States (US), Open Society Foundations (OSF), and German political foundations (Stiftungen), low-profile democracy promoters are bound by a healthier diplomatic code of conduct. Low-profile promoters focus on amicable approach by conducting regime-compatible programs such as good governance, gender equality, marginalized communities, environment, and civic education. This emphasis corresponds with the concept of pluralism in the promotion of democracy and the idea that perceives democracy as a long-term process. They also constraint themselves from conducting programs that could intervene with the status quo such as electoral and political party assistance. The implication to Malaysian civil society organizations is that, they should increase their engagements with low-profile democracy promoters to avoid their activities from being overshadowed by rhetoric of high-profile promoters.