CALONKINI | From remaining behind the lens to being in the headlines, Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir has never regretted his decision to resign as a news photographer and join active politics.

A proud skinhead, the 32-year-old known as "Acap" among his friends and former colleagues is equally comfortable wearing the newsboy cap or the more traditional songkok.

He told Malaysiakini in an interview that he is similarly ready to trade his well-worn jacket for a more formal suit.

“This (jacket) is a manifestation of my identity,” said Ashraf when asked about the “skinhead” patch on his right arm, a Malaysian flag on his left arm, and various punk-inspired pins that also adorned the jacket’s front.

"When I was younger - and I think all of us would have gone through this phase of searching for our identity - it came to a point where I found and identified with the skinhead identity. I felt it best relates to my working-class roots," he recalled.

More than that, Ashraf said he had been enamoured with the Nazi Punk subculture, translated into the local scene as a manifestation of Malay supremacy.

"But as time goes by, we learn about the reality of life. Now I choose the path of a skinhead against racial prejudice," he said.

While such display of nationalism and punk pride could perhaps come off as pretentious to certain individuals, one gets the sense that the father of one truly embodies the spirit of both ideologies - connected by a desire to stand out and push for change.

Unlike other politicians who choose to display their more serious sides, there is no mistaking Ashraf’s wide smile in his campaign posters and images. “Gambar kau sorang je lah yang senyum,” said a Bersatu member who came up to congratulate him during the interview, which was held at the party’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

Since joining politics, Ashraf said he has continued to speak up on issues surrounding education reform, as well as having a keen interest in the youth empowerment agenda.

An Arts and Design graduate from Universiti Selangor, Ashraf said he used to play an active role in Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung as its central committee member, as well as its Federal Territories deputy chief.

Ashraf was born in Pahang but grew up in Penang, where his parents still reside. He returned from Kuala Lumpur to the latter state earlier this year, with plans to contest there.

However, he was recommended and later formally announced as Bersatu's candidate for the Paya Besar parliamentary seat in Pahang.

Admitting that it was an unexpected decision, the Bersatu youth exco nonetheless said he is prepared for the challenge in an area seen as an Umno stronghold, due to it being a Felda settlement area.

With a background in student activism, Ashraf is also one of six candidates endorsed and supported by the Liga Pemuda group of youth activists.

Here is Ashraf’s story in his own words:

I JOINED POLITICS OUT OF A PASSION TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE. I want to change the mindset of Malaysians, and particularly, the Malays whose minds all this while have been corrupted.

THIS IS THE PATH THAT I CHOSE. So that I can bring change among Malaysians and the Malays. Make them brave enough to compete…not live as the majority but yet forced to be “beggars” in our own land. I don’t want to see that anymore.

JOURNALISM AND EDUCATION ARE NO LONGER MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I found that I can no longer educate the people, as both the fields of education and journalism has veered off course.

So I chose to join politics. I quote the words of Indonesian activist Soe Hok Gie, “Politics is dirty. But if you can’t avoid it, then jump right into it.”

WE ARE FACED WITH TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS. Even in photojournalism, sometimes we cannot use this or that photograph, even though it tells the real story.

Sometimes we know what happened cannot be published for whatever reason. There would be “invisible hands” that control the process, or “voices” saying we can’t write this or that.

To me, the people must know about all this.  

AS A STUDENT, I ACTIVELY CHAMPIONED VARIOUS EDUCATION ISSUES. Through NGOs, we conducted various motivational courses.

We wanted to ensure continuity of our projects and closely monitored the school students who participated. We develop the interests of problematic students through free tuition courses with a larger empowerment agenda.

I DON’T BELIEVE IN BEING CALLED A YB. I think I am a confident person and I get along well with the people.

Because for me, being an elected representative is not about becoming a “master” to the people.

'Yang Berhormat' is an honorary title, but your actual function is actually to serve the people. Maybe it comes with respect, but you have got to earn it.

You can’t just be a YB and demand respect without first doing anything to serve.

WE ARE NOT MASTERS OF ANYONE. I like going down to the ground. If I am given a responsibility, I will carry it out with full dedication.

I also think that I am a visionary, because I am constantly thinking about changing the mindset of Malays in Malaysia.

BEFORE GOING BACK TO PENANG THIS YEAR, I DID WORK IN PAHANG. I was born in Pahang and my wife's family is living in Paya Besar. So it is not like I have no connection or was “parachuted” into the area.

SIXTY PERCENT OF PAYA BESAR VOTERS ARE BELOW THE AGE OF 40. So it was the right decision to field a youth candidate.

My strategy will be to empower the youths while embracing the old. In terms of demographics, it is fairly balanced; a 50-50 split between men and women, and an 80 percent Malay electorate from 10 Felda settlements.

When we look at this data and the local landscape in Paya Besok, our focus on youth empowerment for second and third generation Felda settlers are very important.

FELDA SETTLERS ARE FACING A HOUSING CRISIS. In my own hometown of Felda Bilut, houses are built and sold for RM100,000.

The villagers can't afford these houses.

More than that, the government has also failed to empower the youths. There are no job opportunities.

So how can they afford to buy houses when they don't have jobs?

OUR AIM IS TO SET UP ONE SMALL HOME INDUSTRY IN ONE DISTRICT. These are the things that can empower youths, in line with changing times.

This is very important. There is a lot of "muscle power" in Paya Besar and a lot of natural resources.

The question is, how do we encourage more youth participation?

A WEAK NATION IS A NATION THAT FORGETS THE HISTORY OF ITS FIGHTERS. I believe in these words from former Indonesian president Sukarno.

Even P Ramlee once said, you can go as far as you want, do whatever you want, but so long as your foundation is strong, you will find your way back no matter how far you have strayed.

I am also inspired by the works of photojournalist Rahman Roslan. He came up with a series titled  "Between Two Rivers", based on the works of Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi.

It talked about how the river flowed from a high peak, enters the ocean, and returns back to the river.

We all came from the ground and will come back to the ground.

CALONKINI introduces new faces from all sides of the political divide who are candidates for the 14th general election.

These interviews are not an endorsement by Malaysiakini.

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