INITIATE’s First Live Storytelling Event: Salam Stage

INITIATE’s First Live Storytelling Event: Salam Stage

Petaling Jaya, 14 June 2025 一 INITIATE.MY and the Freedom Film Network (FFN) successfully organised Salam Stage, a live storytelling platform that amplified diverse voices through powerful personal accounts of courage, resilience, and hope. The event was supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Malaysia. Over 100 participants joined the event, representing an intergenerational audience that included Gen Z and Gen Y members from civil society, student networks, the press, and diplomatic missions.

Salam Stage used storytelling to humanise complex sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues in response to rising extremism and growing polarisation. The speakers are as follows:

1. Dr. Kua Kia Soong, a researcher and activist, talked about his reflection on the trauma and political legacy of
the May 13 violent riots, which he witnessed firsthand. He challenged official narratives by framing the
incident as a calculated power shift by emerging elites, not spontaneous racial violence. He called for a truth
and reconciliation commission, he urged Malaysians to seek truth from facts and confront history with
courage.

2. Dr. Haezreena Begum, a criminologist and legal scholar, highlighted the silenced stories of former detainees.
She emphasised the often overlooked humanity of former detainees, urging society not to define them by
their past. She called for empathy and second chances, reminding the audience that returnees and former
detainees deserve dignity, not stigma.

3. Khairi Anwar and Tan Meng Kheng, filmmakers, reflected on the backlash to their film Mentega Terbang,
which explores interfaith questioning through a young girl’s journey. In their session, “Challenging Sacred
Narratives”, they blended personal stories and performance to show how creative work can confront religious
taboos. Their session called on audiences to defend artistic freedom, create space for honest conversations
about faith, and support storytellers who dare to challenge taboo topics with courage and compassion.

4. Ruby Jusoh, a researcher, shared personal and cultural stories from Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan where she
highlighted the enduring strength of women in Malay traditions. Through figures like her grandmother, Mek
Zainab, and the matrilineal roles of Ibu Soko and Bundo Kanduang, she illustrated how tradition has long
upheld women’s leadership, resilience, and dignity.  She called on the audience to reclaim and celebrate
cultural traditions that honour women’s leadership, and to challenge narratives that erase or diminish the
power of women in society.

Salam Stage showcases INITIATE.MY’s public advocacy by bringing difficult issues to light through real and personal stories. It uses lived experiences and creative expression to make conversations about extremism and civic space more relatable. The event inspires people to take actions for a more just and peaceful Malaysia.

A group photo of the organising teams from INITIATE.MY and Freedom Film Network and the speakers of Salam Stage.