Rumah Api: The Home of DIY Punk in Kuala Lumpur

Rumah Api is an alternative space in Kuala Lumpur dedicated to spreading the DIY punk ethos of nonconformity and counterculture within the local scene. It puts broader social values into practice through self-organization, solidarity, and people working together to build stronger communities. Inspired by spaces such as 924 Gilman in the US, Ungdomshuset in Copenhagen, and Köpi in Berlin, Rumah Api, which translates as “House of Fire,” is committed to making punk a genuine alternative movement for young people in Malaysia. Fundamentally opposed to all forms of discrimination and violence, this anarchist punk house has been targeted and attacked numerous times by the police, Malay Power skinheads, and the city council.

Despite a long and exhausting struggle, which included helping to mobilize local communities against the controversial Sungai Besi–Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) and attempting to save the old punk house situated along its planned route, the building was eventually demolished. The people of Pekan Ampang ultimately lost their fight against the Malaysia 2020 Vision development plans, along with a unique space that valued self-governance and freedom over power and profit.

Interested in the current state of Rumah Api after the crew relocated to a new home in a city council-owned building, we spoke with Man Beranak, one of the original founding members of the collective punk house.

Can you start with a brief introduction to Rumah Api and how it came to be?

We started around the end of 2010. Before it became Rumah Api, the place was called Gudang Noisy and was run by someone else. After its tenant fell behind on the rent and ended up owing a lot of money, the landlord kicked him out. He was a close friend of mine and asked me to take care of the place. That’s how my friends and I started Rumah Api as a collective punk house.

Why did you change locations, and what is different about the current space compared to the old house? I understand that you were forced to leave because of a controversial highway project affecting the entire community in Pekan Ampang. What actually happened?

We changed locations because the government wanted to demolish the building to make way for a new highway called SUKE. They forced us to leave and paid compensation to Rumah Api and the landlord. We protested and distributed flyers to inform people about how damaging the highway would be for the area and its residents. In the end, however, the landlords agreed to have the building demolished because they received a lot of money from the government.

Tell me about Kuala Lumpur and the place where Rumah Api is currently situated. What is the situation with the authorities? Do you still face threats of eviction or police raids at punk gigs, even at the new location?

Kuala Lumpur sucks. There is always a huge amount of traffic. Rumah Api is now located on the 18th floor of a city council building in Pandan Indah. So far, we haven’t had any problems with the authorities at the new place.

What are the guiding principles and values of Rumah Api? Do you see punk as a vehicle for social change, and how do you continue to engage with society outside the punk subculture?

Rumah Api still operates according to punk principles: no racism, no sexism, no homophobia, and so on. The wider community in Kuala Lumpur knows about Rumah Api. Some people agree with what we are doing, while others do not. Most of the opposition comes from our support for LGBTQIA+ causes because, as you know, Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country. Maybe it will take more time to change these attitudes.

How many people are involved in running Rumah Api, and what kind of group dynamics do you maintain? How do you make decisions, and who can participate in the collective?

Right now, almost 20 people are involved in running the space. Anyone can participate, and when it comes to making decisions, we vote. Decisions are made by majority rule.

What kind of activities take place in the space? Do you still have Really Really Free Market and Food Not Bombs groups operating in Kuala Lumpur? What other antiauthoritarian and autonomous collectives outside Rumah Api do you work closely with?

Besides gigs, we now host a talk show and our own radio podcast, and we also produce a zine. We stopped organizing the Really Really Free Market and Food Not Bombs because it is difficult for us to run them in the new place. As far as I know, Food Not Bombs was taken over by people who are not involved with Rumah Api, although I am honestly not sure whether it is still active. Other autonomous collectives we are closely connected with include The Wall in Batu Pahat, Johor, and The Key in Melaka.

Do you still organize the Chaos in Rumah Api festival? How did it begin, and what were the most exciting parts of putting together an event like that?

We stopped organizing the festival last year, in 2017. I think we might try to do it again at the new place this year, but we will see. Meeting so many new and old friends from around the world was always the most exciting part of the festival.

What does the hardcore punk scene in Malaysia look like at the moment? Are there any great bands, zines, or labels from the local scene that you would recommend checking out?

The scene is doing great right now. There are many good bands and labels, as well as a record store and lots of hardcore punk shows happening every week.

You can check out some local bands here.

You can also find some local labels and zines here.

What are some of the best foreign bands that have played at Rumah Api recently?

D.O.A., M.D.C., The Restarts, Mob 47, Lubricant, Daily Ritual, Lich King, Rotten Sound, Wormrot… There are too many to list.

Would you say there is a strong DIY network connecting people and collectives involved in hardcore, punk, crust, grindcore, screamo, and other scenes across Southeast Asia? Is there a sense of mutual support between them?

Yes, we have a strong local DIY network, as well as contacts throughout Southeast Asia. Whenever one of the collectives in the region gets into trouble, solidarity initiatives take place across Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

What is the political situation in Malaysia from your perspective? How does the global political climate affect the country, and what are the most pressing issues you face in your daily life?

We have been constantly fucked over by this country for a long time. The former prime minister was extremely corrupt, and we are suffering because of the country’s bad economic policies. Right now, the current prime minister is trying to repair the economy.

We need to support one another to survive the damage.