Kamal Aarif K.
Kuala Lumpur
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Malaysia
"If I were given the power to become a leader I would abolish the war industry and also the companies and corporations that continue to reap profits and power from killings and genocide."
"My red line is against those in power who are supposed to represent the interests of the people, but use their power to slaughter, kill, exploit, and oppress their own people whether in Palestine or here in Malaysia."
"My red line is against those in power who are supposed to represent the interests of the people, but use their power to slaughter, kill, exploit, and oppress their own people whether in Palestine or here in Malaysia."
I became an activist during COVID-19, when I saw how our government and leaders neglected the people and failed to protect our interests.
My spirit to act grew even stronger as I witnessed the genocide in Palestine unfolding before our eyes.
My activism focuses on challenging the global war industry, whether in the United States or here in Malaysia, which continues to be complicit in genocide and wars in places like Palestine, Yemen, and Lebanon.
One of my biggest challenges is the loneliness that can come with activism, when even family or friends do not fully understand. That is why building community is essential, finding people who understand our values, and why we fight.
I am motivated by ordinary people, the working class, who continue living, resisting, and staying strong despite oppression and discrimination.
Kamal Aarif K. is a psychology graduate and activist based in Malaysia.
Although long committed to mental health and social justice, his first real step into activism came after witnessing the live-streamed genocide of Palestinians following October 7 and joining the 24/7 encampments outside the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 2023.
Alongside comrades, he co-founded GEGAR, an anti-imperialist collective challenging US intervention and championing Global South liberation through mass mobilisation, direct action, and political education.
His work now focuses on confronting corporate complicity and the global military-industrial complex in genocides from Palestine to Congo, West Papua to Sudan. He is also active in the youth wing of the Socialist Party of Malaysia, working on issues ranging from Orang Asli rights to workers’ rights to forced evictions.
Meet The Photographer
Syahrin Aziz
My name is Mohd Syahrin bin Abdul Aziz, a photographer and visual journalist from Malaysia. My journey began with a Nikon FG film camera gifted to me when I was seven — a moment that sparked my lifelong fascination with light, emotion, and human stories.
I have a deep passion for photojournalism, which has opened my mind and taught me to see photography with greater precision and awareness. Through photojournalism, I learned that every frame carries a story and responsibility. Along the way, I was fortunate to learn hands-on from mentors such as Zainal Abdul Halim, Bazuki Muhammad, and Ron Haviv, whose guidance shaped my understanding of storytelling through images. I also draw great inspiration from world-renowned photographers like James Nachtwey, Daniel Berehulak, Gary Knight, John Stanmeyer, and several others whose works continue to influence my visual approach.
Over the years, I have documented Malaysia’s people and places — from the quiet resilience of fishermen along the Terengganu coast to the complex realities of urban workers in Kuala Lumpur. For me, photography is more than aesthetics; it is a form of truth-telling, a way to preserve moments that reveal who we are as a society.
Currently, I continue to explore new visual languages through both traditional and digital mediums. My goal is to tell stories that resonate — stories that reflect humanity, spark empathy, and leave behind a trace of understanding for the next generation.
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