From COMINGO to ACE: A New Chapter for Malaysian Indian Civil Society

The formation of the Association for Advocacy & Community Empowerment (ACE) did not happen overnight. It is the result of nearly two decades of organising, advocacy and community work within the Malaysian Indian community.

The journey began after the historic HINDRAF Rally on 25 November 2007, which sparked an urgent conversation about inequality and exclusion. In response, a coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs came together as COMINGO to voice community concerns and engage the government on issues raised by the rally.

Over time, COMINGO evolved into i-25, an informal coalition responsible for monitoring the government’s ILTIZAM-25 promises to the Indian community after the 2018 General Election. This platform allowed NGOs, activists and community leaders to coordinate efforts, track progress and hold decision-makers accountable.

By 2024, it became clear that a more formal, structured body was needed to sustain policy advocacy, community empowerment and government engagement. On 7 April 2025, ACE was officially registered, bringing together 16 national-level organisations under one umbrella.

Today, ACE stands as a united voice for the Malaysian Indian community, guided by the tagline “Advocating Change, Empowering Community.” We work to connect grassroots realities with national policy conversations, ensuring that community experiences shape the decisions that affect their lives.

This blog marks the beginning of a new chapter. Over the coming months, we will share stories from our member organisations, updates on our advocacy, and ways you can partner with us to build a more just and inclusive Malaysia.