Beyond the Hashtag: What “Nothing about Us without Us” Actually Means
We see it quoted all over Malaysian social media, but what does it actually imply?
Too often, organizations and policymakers use this phrase as a marketing slogan while practicing “tokenism” — like inviting a representative (of an OKU group)
to a photoshoot, but giving the representative zero power to change the outcome.
On a mobile screen, true inclusion can be broken down into 3 levels. Where do most Malaysian initiatives actually sit?
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LEVEL 1: Doing TO them (The Failure)
• What it looks like: Designing public transport without consulting OKU groups, or creating rural development plans without Orang Asli input.
• The Reality: This is paternalism disguised as help.
LEVEL 2: Doing FOR them (The Tokenism)
• What it looks like: Holding a town hall to “inform” a community about a decision that upper management has already finalized.
• The Reality: It creates the illusion of inclusion without sharing any real power.
LEVEL 3: Doing WITH them (The Goal)
• What it looks like: Co-designing policies where the affected community has equal voting rights, budgetary oversight, and leadership roles.
• The Reality: This is true inclusion. This is what the statement actually demands.
The Takeaway:
If you are planning an initiative to “help” a specific group, and those people are not leading the committee or co-writing the blueprint, you are violating the very quote (Nothing about Us without Us) you are sharing.
Stop planning for us. Start listening to us.”
Moses Choo, Blind Advocate, 6 July 2026
