ABOUT US
Progresif is a bilingual (English and Malay) platform that promotes progressive ideas within the context of Malay/ Muslim society in a changing world.
By progressive, we mean perspectives that weave the context of society with shared universal values, vision of a better future and the presence of diverse and evolving traditions.
We offer critical reflections on societal issues with an educative approach that can lead to a more compassionate and inclusive society for all.
We often see an over-representation of the Malay Muslim identity through a singular lens. Often, it lacks a progressive and critical engagement with the changing context of society.
Hence, we focus primarily on Malay and Muslim issues to provide greater nuance and alternative views that are often ignored, marginalised or buried. We recognise the need to provide a credible platform for writers and social commentators to engage with ideas and contested perspectives in Malay Muslim societal context.
However, being progressive is also about inclusivity. We therefore welcome views from all writers and social commentators, including those who identify as Malay only, primarily Malay/Muslim, or non-Malay/Muslim.
We accept articles in any of the following themes:
1) Arts and Culture
2) Economics
3) Education
4) Gender and Sexuality
5) History
6) Interfaith
7) Islamic Law
8) Language & Literature
9) Philosophy
10) Social Issues
11) Politics
12) Theology
As much as we appeal for rigour in standards for the perspectives articulated in every article, we respect the writer's right to their opinion. We are not responsible for the views and opinions hold by the writer. They remain solely the views and opinions of the writer.
Editorial Team
- Academic advisor: Dr Azhar Ibrahim
- English editor: Md Suhaile
- Malay editor: Mohamed Imran
- Team of sub-editors
- Podcast editor: Syahirah Azib
Contact Us: salam@progresif.net
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ARTICLES
Latest Articles
Creeping Islamism in Malaysia is a subject that comes up time and again in the media. Topics range from interfaith relations to the constitution and hudud laws. Though, few are as controversial and personal as women and gender roles in the domestic realm. The discourse is often polarised, with activists uncritically labelled as ‘conservatives’ or ‘liberals’. But away from catchy headlines, what is the actual orientation of activists from Female Muslim (Muslimah) NGOs? To that end, I interviewed 14 Muslimah activists and explore their religious orientation using Mannheim’s sociology of knowledge (SoK) approach.
Over the years, the Malay Muslim (MM) community has seen a myriad of issues surfacing in public discussions. They form a cluster of developmental concerns that can broadly be categorised as, socio-economic, religious, cultural, and inter-communal. These four clusters of issues often overlap and are not mutually exclusive.
Setiap kali kita memperkatakan atau membicarakan tentang bahasa, yang sering menjadi fokus ialah perkara-perkara berkaitan nahu, sebutan baku, struktur tatabahasa, laras kata, loghat dan sebagainya, yang secara dasarnya bersifat teknikal. Jarang sekali kita membicarakan isu-isu berkaitan kuasa dan pemberdayaan, sedangkan ketiga-tiga perkara ini sangat berkait rapat, terutama sekali apabila kita memikirkan peranan bahasa dalam transformasi sosial. Perlu dijelaskan bahawa yang ingin dipermasalahkan bukan perkara-perkara teknikal berkaitan bahasa itu sendiri, tetapi obsesi terhadap perkara-perkara tersebut sehingga ianya menjadi sesuatu yang dominan di sfera publik, sehinggakan isu-isu yang substantif dipinggirkan dan jarang atau tidak langsung diberi penekanan.
Salah satu fenomena penting yang terjadi di negaera-negaera Muslim di era modern adalah lahirnya pembaharuan pemikiran Islam. Para pembaharu muncul untuk mengarahkan umat Islam untuk mengubah cara pandang mereka, sehingga Islam terasa lebih segar, lebih relevan, dan lebih berghairah menyambut perubahan. Di Indonesia, ada seorang tokoh pembaharu bBernama Nurcholish Madjid (1939-2005), atau akrabnya dipanggil Cak Nur. Meskipun ada lebih ribuan sarjana dan ahli Islam di Indonesia, namun hanya sedikit yang bersungguh-sungguh tumbuh menjadi pemikir, ahli falsafah, dan pembaharu. Cak Nur adalah salah satunya.