Discussing the EXCAPE-URMI Project in Malaysia: A Reflexive Account of Process and Outcomes

Abstract

This paper provides a reflexive review of the EXCAPE URMI (Exploring Coloniality and Precarity Engagements amongst Urban-Poor Resilient Malaysian Indian Women) research project in Malaysia. It is a global and local collaborative effort over 19 months (2024–2025), investigating the intersections of coloniality and intergenerational poverty among urban-poor Malaysian Indian women in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. The project uses a Decolonial Critical Participatory Action Research (DCPAR) framework, which is relatively new in Malaysia, where participants are ‘co-researchers’ with the research team, in co-constructing knowledge. The review highlights how the project uses social media to share its findings, turning local stories into online accessible narratives, uncommon in traditional academic research. The project’s innovative ‘Decolonial Methods Toolkit’, which outlines the theoretical, methodological, and participatory frameworks used in the project, is intrinsic to the review. Together with the evaluation, the author’s reflexive stance is included, based on her first-hand experience in being a panel discussant at the project’s closing ceremony. The project is commended for its radical inclusivity, since such an approach may be part of pioneering research efforts in Malaysia. While honouring the project’s ambitious goals, this review includes personal reflexivity and suggestions on how to manage the complexities of this research initiative for the benefit of future endeavours.