KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — The sight of hundreds of Umno youth members protesting in Penang today raised several eyebrows after they wore black t-shirts emblazoned with the raised fist logo reminiscent of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM).
Commenting on the bizarre choice, PSM secretary-general A. Sivarajan said the Malay party had appropriated the logo globally associated with socialism, solidarity and resistance to increase its popularity, without ever understanding its meaning.
“For them to suddenly use this, it is a very populist move. It is as if they are showing that they too are capable of protesting, they too are rising for public issues,” Sivarajan told Malay Mail Online over phone.
“Umno Youth is using whatever they can to attract the youths. It has nothing to do with their policy or stand.”
In comparison, Sivarajan said PSM has registered itself with the clenched fist logo in recognition of its symbol of struggle for leftists and left-wing politics.
The logo was believed to have originated in ancient Assyria as a symbol of resistance in the face of violence, but variations of the fist have since been picked up by various oppressed groups and social democratic parties.
A white fist on a black background, also called the “Aryan Fist”, has also been used by white supremacists and racists in the United States since the 1980s to symbolise “white power”, in response to the black fist used by the African-American Black Power movement.
PSM’s logo is a white fist on a red background.
Sivarajan said PSM in unworried by Umno Youth’s use of the logo, saying that it will be just another fad that will most likely not continue beyond today.
“I don’t think Umno will continue to use the logo. They are not holding just to one principle.
“This will not affect us. Many in the public has known PSM, and what we do. There is no confusion,” Sivarajan said.
Hundreds of Umno Youth members, clad in black shirts emblazoned with the Malay words “Pemuda Bangkit” or “Youths Rise”, marched to Komtar today demanding the resignation of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Leading the demonstrators dubbed “Himpunan Pemuda Bangkit Pulau Pinang 2016, Ride Against Corruption” were Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun and Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim.
