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Hi my name is Ibrahim and I'm coming from Malaysia.
Geographically Malaysia is situated in South East Asia Region, which is divided into peninsular, Malaysia and Borneo Malaysia. The local thrash metal scene in around 87-90 started everything with a band like BLACKFIRE, SLAP DEATH, PUNISHER and ASSULT. In the early 90's punk and hardcore music arise in Malaysia as a continuity of thrash metal scene, more punk derived music band arise like MALARIA, STORMFISH, MMM, THE PILGRIMS (HIJRAH), DPSA and COLORFUL BULLETS but unfortunately these band are not leaving any recording legacy as a documentation of Punk/HC music but some of them had come out with some demos and rehearsal. The earliest proper recording is by the band called THE PILGRIMS and a Punk/HC compilation called 'A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS' and followed by others compilation like 'BREAKING THE WALLS' and 'THE BEGINNING'. Nowadays the Punk/HC music scene are growing bigger and bigger and I can't write every single band here because in every town we got the Punk/HC scene..
Here the bands come out with the musical direction and background and we got everything from crust, grind, ska, punk, HC, hip hop, thrash, indie-pop, garage rock and crossover, so its not fair to classified our scene as Punk/HC scene because we a different music genres in Malaysia. But the most important thing is the bands still believe I DIY spirit and the vision of Punk. Here is the report…
Actually Malaysia have 14 states, so I will cover starting from the northern region, Perlis the first state. Here we got a band called SILENT MAJORITY which had released their first demo, go down we got a the state of Kedah which is known as the major paddy producer in Malaysia. The scene here situated in two major town Alor Setar and Sg. Petani, here we got a band like SELF DEFENCE (HC), ARM IN ARM (HC) and FSF (Punk) which had released it EP under Asas Record. Moving to south we got the state of Penang which is known as the Pearl of The Orient, Penang witnessed the pioneer HC band called COLORFUL BULLETS and other band like SHOCKED which had released their tape entitled 'War Against War' and distributed by Japan's Peace Punk Recs. Others we got like IAN'S BAND (Ska Punk) HYPERDETERGENT (Experimental Pop)and MARY JANE (All female punk band). Moving down to the state of Perak (which I come from) which witnessed the rising of earliest thrash metal band like BRAINDEAD, GLOTTIS, LANGSUIR and NECROTIC CHAOS, but that doesn't mean that Punk/HC band is dead over here, among the pioneered in the Perak scene is KARATZ (Punk) which had released a split tape with Indonesia's NO MAN'S LAND. MUCK (Pop) fronted by the guy who run the Bodysurf music studio, other group which got a demo like NATRAH (HC), F.O.S (Ska Punk), PROTOKOL (Crust), HOT CHOC (Funk Metal), HEADCLEANER (Pop Punk), TOXIN 99% (Ska Punk) and many more. This state scene is documented through SIVERSTATE PUNK/HC COMPILATION which available through Crashover Recs. Moving to south we got the state of Selangor, Punk/HC scene located in two major town Shah Alam and Klang.
In Shah Alam we got a band like DIRTY DOGS (Punk) which had released an EP called 'Power That Be", REINFORCED (HC), UNCURE (Indie Pop), DISARM (Grind) and else. The scene here is documented through a compilation called 'S.A.U.S', which is released by Lavazza Zine. The second town is Klang which also known as a royal town for Selangor, here we got SECOND COMBAT (HC), SOCIAL EFFECTION (Grind) and EXTRATERISTRIAL (Indie Pop). Next destination is the Capitol City of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. One of the most happening scene in Malaysia and the early Punk/HC bands was hanging around here circa 87-92 at the underground sacred place called Central Market. Speaking of earliest band I would recommend CARBURETOR DUNG (Punk) which had released the new EP entitled 'Allure of The Manure', others like MASS SEPARATION(CRUST PUNK), NON PIORITY (HC) which had released the own EP under their own label, FULL TROATLE (Crust), FAST GAME (HC) and STAND STILL (HC, check out the cheapest gig vanue in the heart of KL called Actor Studio and the Punk/HC hanging out spot at Hameed's Restaurant. Moving out from KL trough out Selangor we got the state of Negri Sembilan, first we go to Seremban the biggest town in this state, here we got a band like SEASONAL ABYSS (Progressive Metal), POINTLESS JUDGEMENT (HC), FUCKCHOP (Electro-Punk) and PYSCHOTIC SUFFERANCE (Grind). This town scene is documented through a compilation called 'IN UNISON'. Second town is Kuala Pilah, the town, which contribute to early stages of Punk/HC scene in Malaysia like now defunct band of THE CRANKS (Punk) and THE ACT (Punk). The survivalist might be THE BOLLOCKS (Punk) - the group split last year which had successfully released a one demo and two EP, one of it was released under France's Tian An Men Recs and that means that scene almost dead, and there is a new band called SPIRAKEL and 76 SECOND to continue the Underground punk/HC scene in that town. and other one by Asas Recs. The eighth state is Melaka which known as a historical state in Malaysia, the scene here is totally new with a band like UPRIGHT (Oi!) and CHAOS THEORY(Punk). The next state is Johor, which can describe as the biggest scene in Malaysia and Johor is in border with Singapore in the south so frequently Singapore bands will play in Johor, we travel from the north part to the town called Segamat, here we a band called SURVERSIVE (Punk) which had released a demo and you can find more about Segamat through a compilation called 'VERY FRESH UNDERGROUND'.
Moving to south to the town of Kluang, here we got a band like INCREASE NOISE (Grind) which got several material like a split tape with Belgium's Agathogles, DIA (Thrash Punk) and BOMBSHELL (Metalcore). We go to the biggest town of Johor Bahru which have been an active scene since before, I would say PARKINSON (Crust) is the best, they have put three record so far, beside that this town had become the backbone of Malaysia HC scene band like KHARISMA, SIREN LIBERTY, ENDLESS PAIN, REPRISAL, SRIKANDI, etc…. Moving up a little to the north we got the town of Kota Tinggi, although the scene here is quite new but the got some outstanding bands like DEPPRESSED (Crust), ANGRY BATALLIONS (HC) and INFLICT (HC), the scene here is documented through a compilation called ''HIGH CASTLE COMPILATION'. Next to the east cost region of Malaysia which is riches with its sandy beaches and rainforest. First state, Pahang is among the pioneer scene in Malaysia with a Punk heritages like THE PILGRIMS a.k.a. HIJRAH which got 3 material also now a defunct band of MINORITY, new bands arise to continue the punk heritages like ENSLAVED CHAOS (Crossover) and DEP (Indie Pop) which had their own EP under Dull Entertainment Program Recs. The scene are not only progressing in Kuantan but also in other town like Maran with ANGST (Crust), Bentong with THE BLADE (Oi!) and Raub with SMASH THE SYSTEM (HC) and FACTORY EFFECT (Punk).
The sandy beaches of Trengganu where the Punk began in Malaysia with a legendary band called MALARIA (Punk) and others like STORMFISH, DPSA and STONE CROWES, but lately the scene is quite silence over here and there some who still active like KNOCKOUT (Reggae Ska Punk),GIG (Punk) and QUITE ROT (all female punk band) but two month ago a compilation represent some fresh act of Terengganu punk/HC scene called 'BOLLOK WOK' been released by Ronin Distro. Moving to the last state in peninsular Malaysia, Kelantan.here they also quite new with more approach on Oi! Music, the band likes PANIC and others.
Across the South China Sea to the Sarawak, the land of the headhunters, we go the major town of Kuching. Here the scene are fronted by a quite different musical direction which is Indie-Pop but there is Punk/HC band also like NSP (Indie-Pop), ROCKET FLOWER (Indie-Pop), FIST OF FURY (HC), RUDEBOY (Oi!) and else. Here we get more info through compilations called 'MIOW CITY ATTACK', which now got two volumes. Last state of Sabah, the land below the wind, the highest peak in South East Asia was situated here, Mount Kinabalu. Here the music is quite more aggressive with a band like PERPETUAL and GRINDFEST, both play Grind. We move to the literature (Zines and newsletter), we have a quite big zine scene over here which deals on political, anarchism, youth culture, DIY ethics, veganism and else. I couldn't write the entire zine scene but there is a few zine that I would like to recommend like those who addressing political issue like SOLIDARITAS (#1), SADIS (#1), MIND PARALYSED (#1) and REVOLTED (#3). In anarcho punk side we got BROKEN VISSION (#2) which is run by the vocalist of Parkinson. Punk music based zine like RAINCITY (#3), SECTOR TMPS (#5) and HIRTZ (#3). Thinking zine like NETWORK (#3), LOP SAO (#2) and EARTHSONDISCUSSION (#2). In the personal zine which absolutely will blow your mind with their writings like COMMON PEOPLE (#1) and PERIODICAL DISSONANT (#1). Here also we got a grind newsletter called KILL YOUR IDOL (#1). In HC side we got many zines like 90's CHOICE (#6), PANGCORE (#4),SOND OF SILENCE (#1) and many more. About the record label, we got several Punk/HC label which running independently. First ASAS RECS. Also a mailorder they have successfully released an EP by THE BOLLOCKS 'revolution' and FSF 'tolerate no more' and they got a huge catalogue of 7", CDs, Tape and Zines. Second ALTERNATIVE GARAGE ENTERTAIMENT, I think the oldest label, they have released 4 material so far from CARBURETOR DUNG, ANNALISE (UK's Melodic Punk Band), DAMAGE DIGITAL (Japan's Grindcore Band) and THE PILGRIMS. BROKEN NOISE RECS have a 5 materials like from Singapore's INSSERUCTION, DESCARATE and PROTEST, split tape/CD by PARKINSON and ANGST, re-released of SOCIAL CRIME (Japan's Crust Punk) and 3 way split between EXTINTECH, IRRITATE and PARKINSON . FIRST STANCE RECS. had a CD from REPRISAL and the tape from Singapore's AIR SICK PILOT, split between MORBIFIK (Indonesia) and GORB (malaysia), etc. GAMELAN RECS. which promotes HC in Johor got a stuff from SRIKANDI, SIREN LIBERTY and INTRUDE. DULL ENTERTAIMENT PROGRAMME got a stuff from ENSLAVED CHAOS, re-released of THE PILGRIMS demo and DEP. There is some other distro like KONTRABAWL, 7 SKIN, WAHDIAT, GRIND MALAYA, MKS DISTRO, PUSTAKA DISTRO, AWARENESS IS A CRIME, WELFARE DISTRO and else.

I think thats all from us in Malaysia, you can find our record in CD, tape and vinyl. One is released by Czech Republic's View beyond Recs. called 'HAPUSKAN ISA'. We here still with the DIY spirit but there is some band who take a short cut and signing with a commercial label like EMI, BMG and Sony but the band I've mentioned above are still struggle with DIY spirit. Its hard to mentioned all the bands/ zines/ label/ distro/ people in Malaysian punk/HC scene because everyday new things arise in our scene and feel free to contact the address that I provide in this report. I also run a zine called GANYANG which will entering #4, feel free to write to me at:
IBRAHIM
NGAH AHMAD/ 43 KG DUSUN HULU/ LAYANG-LAYANG KIRI/ 32800 PARIT/ PERAK/
MALAYSIA or E-mail: asianpunk@excite.com,
long live punk/HC!

Addresses
PARKINSON, BROKEN NOISE RECS., BROKEN VISION ZINE, ANGST : (
Jimbo/ 12
Jln
Lembah Jaya 24/ Tmn Desa Jaya/ 81100 JB/ Johor)
IAN'S BAND, SKATEMOST WANTED ZINE, OUR MUSIC RECORDING RECS.:
(Ian/ 5
Lintang Pekaka 9, Tmn Pekaka/ 11700 Penang)
REPRISAL, PUSTAKA DISTRO, FIRST STANCE RECS.: (Dicky/ PO Box 146/ Tmn
seri
Tebrau/ 80057 JB/ Johor)
ASAS RECORD & DISTRO : ( LBKL 64, Batu 4, Jln Gombak/ 56000 KL)
CARBURETOR DUNG, AGE : (14A/ Bukit Ceylon/ 56000 KL)
DEP, ENSLAVED CHAOS, DULL ENTERTAIMENT PROGRAMME RECS.: (Lee/ Lot 88/
Jln
Nuri/ Kg Bukit Sekilau/ 25200 Kuantan/ Pahang).
FOS, RAINCITY FANZINE, CRASHOVER RECS.: (zahid/ 137 Lrg 19/ Tmn
Seri
Kota 2/
34000 Taiping/ Perak)
INCREASE NOISE, UNDERGROUND DISTRO: (Amir, 5A Lrg 1, Kg Paga Kluang
Baru/
86000 Kluang/ Johor)
KONTRABAWL, NON PIORITY: (Rasydin Arshad/ 14 Jln 17/10/ Tmn
Koperasi
Polis/
68100 KL)
REVOLTED ZINE, DEPRESSED : (Hasri/ 138 (F) Air tawar 5/ 81900
Kota
Tinggi/
Johor)
90'S CHOICE ZINE, ZINE DISTRO: (Fida/ #9 Lrg sahabat/ Kg Tengah/ 86000
Kluang Johor)
GAMELAN RECS., SIREN LIBERTY, SRIKANDI: (Norhizam/ PO Box 45/ 81750 JB/
Johor)
THE BOLLOCKS, 76 SECONDS: (Adik/ B-20 Kg Baru/ Kuala Jemapoh/ 72000
Kuala
Pilah/ Negri Sembilan)