What Happens When the Reformasi Movement Needs Reforming – The Rise of Rafizism

Published on 21 May 2026

What Happens When the Reformasi Movement Needs Reforming – The Rise of Rafizism

Zaim Mohzani

This article introduces “Rafizism” as a new political current emerging from dissatisfaction with the perceived compromises and failures of Malaysia’s Reformasi movement after gaining power. The author argues that reformist movements often lose their transformative energy once they enter government, creating space for new waves of political dissatisfaction.

Zaim Mohzani presents Rafizism as an attempt to reclaim progressive multiracial politics while resisting the rightward drift in Malaysian political discourse. The article frames the movement as a continuation of Reformasi and Bersih traditions but with a deeper frustration rooted in perceived betrayal by former reformists themselves. It argues that Rafizism may become a durable political force shaping Malaysia’s future political landscape.