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Today
Security Policy Transformation
The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) is a data-driven non-profit organisation in Malaysia dedicated to promoting tolerance and preventing violence through policy research, capacity building, and consultations. With a firm belief in democratising the security sector, the organisation has expanded its work to focus on broader security policy. INITIATE.MY collaborates with United Nations agencies, government agencies, law enforcement, civil society, tech companies, and youth groups to address pressing security challenges.
2021
Evolving into INITIATE.MY

KMU Malaysia established INITIATE.MY as a research arm of the organisation, signifying a shift towards evidence-based advocacy on religio-political tensions, conflicts, and extremism. This evolution reflected not only the organisation’s experience but also the team’s growth and deeper commitment to policy-driven impact and comprehensive change.

2017
Backlash and Re-strategising

KMU Malaysia became a target of doxing, death threats, and offline intimidation from far-right extremist actors due to its Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue for Youth (IIDY) programme, which fostered dialogue between youth and Christian and Muslim minority communities.

These threats forced some programme participants and organisation members into trauma, forced counseling, and even temporary relocation overseas. The situation worsened with the politicisation of race and religion in the lead-up to Malaysia’s 14th General Election (GE14), where other human rights defenders also faced similar hostility.

In response, KMU Malaysia re-strategised, reducing high-risk faith-based engagements in Malaysia’s highly regulated religious environment and shifting its focus towards policy research and advocacy as a more strategic and impactful approach.

2015
Founding for Peace and Pluralism

Founded by a group of young people, including former radicals, Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU Malaysia) was established to promote universal values such as compassion, equality, and coexistence. Through interfaith workshops and dialogues, it engaged youth, faith leaders, and communities, offering an alternative to exclusionary, coercive, and violent narratives.

For example, KMU Malaysia contributed to public discourse through publications below.

  • Kebersamaan on promoting social cohesion.
  • #UlamaBersamaWanita on advocating against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the name of religion.

 

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