Summary
In Malaysia, a complex web of oppression spans political, socio-cultural, and economic spheres. This multifaceted oppression manifests in various ways, ranging from explicit violations of human rights, such as excessive use of force against marginalized groups, arbitrary detentions, and suppression of dissenting voices, to subtler yet pervasive forms like microaggressions and entrenched systemic biases.
This policy paper explores:
(1) The fundamental pillars perpetuating an oppressive culture in Malaysia through the lens of Paulo Freire’s “banking” pedagogy.
(2) The prevalence of Paulo Freire’s “banking” model in education systems, workplace dynamics, policies, and mainstream media.
(3) An alternative educational approach—the “problem-posing” model proposed by Freire—where collaborative dialogue and critical consciousness form the central tenets of the model.
(4) Practical Philosophy as an adaptive framework that augments Freire’s ahistorical model, acknowledging the intersectionality defining oppression in Malaysia, where multiple oppressive experiences often intersect.
This paper advocates for the use of Practical Philosophy as the means to dismantle the web of oppression in our country. Readers are encouraged to play their part as citizens by engaging in critical inquiries and dialogues in their daily lives, as the first step toward a more rational, equitable, inclusive, and liberated Malaysia.
Author: Chew Zhun Yee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Malaysian Philosophy Society