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On a quiet Sunday morning, 12 October 2025 in Seri Kembangan, something extraordinary took place — a moment that might seem small on the surface, but carried the weight of an awakening long overdue.

The first-ever initiative in Malaysia focusing exclusively on multidiverse men’s emotional health and inner struggles, titled “Suara Lelaki: A Safe Space to Be Heard, Support & Grow,” was successfully conducted.

Confidentiality was key. Each participant was identified only by a unique code name, a system that allowed them to speak freely without fear of judgment or exposure.

Before the main dialogue began, participants engaged in a series of visual, physical, breathing, and craft-based exercises that symbolized their inner worlds, activities that helped them unpack emotions long buried beneath daily pressures.

The program began with “Why We Are Here”, followed by the “Brotherhood Charter”, a symbolic foundation for the day. Participants, a mix of professionals, therapists, and ordinary men, both young and senior, were introduced to a set of shared principles and respectful boundaries. This unique charter drew inspiration from the Constitution of Medina, a historical model that not only offered guidelines for coexistence but also fostered mutual respect and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Following that was the “Identity Cloud” activity, where participants explored and shared their core values. The exercise revealed surprising insights, many realized how they were unique and special in their own ways.

When asked about the purpose and meaning behind the initiative, Krish paused before answering softly:

“It’s not about me or any organization. It’s about those valuable stories, those raw, pure emotions we witnessed in the room. The feelings the men shared, despite differences in age or race, were powerful. Majority of them, for the first time, they felt seen and heard — not as leaders or workers, but as human beings.”

He added:

“The response from participants, both during and after, was beyond words. Some stayed back just to say thank you.
I can only thank God and all the good souls who helped us reach this stage especially my multiracial brothers and co-facilitators : Joshua, Terry, Fai, and Ikram. But this is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come.”

Printed on the program’s poster were words that captured the heart of the initiative:

“Communities suffer. Not from the echoes of broken men’s rage. But from the insufficient voices of healed men”

That line, Krish explained, was not just a slogan, it was a painful truth reflected in Malaysia’s social reality, where men’s struggles often go unnoticed until it’s too late and there is not much platform for those healed men themself to contribute back to the community.

“We’ve built a society where men are told to suppress, not express. Yet the same silence that hides their pain is what breaks families, friendships, and communities. That’s why we need spaces like this, not to fix men, but to hear them before they collapse.”

“Stories connect us beyond everything. Dialogue opens the space for understanding. Together, they build empathy, something men truly need but rarely receive. Through this pilot, we’ve shown it’s possible to create an inclusive, emotionally safe space for men from all backgrounds.”

Krish’s inspiration didn’t come overnight. With over a decade of activism experience across Malaysia and Southeast Asia, he noticed a consistent pattern: while mental health programs run by professionals were essential, they often struggled to reach ordinary men.

“Many men are still unfamiliar with these programs because of stigma,” Krish shared.
“Everyone is telling men what to do and giving advice but few are truly listening.
We can’t expect men to join mental health programs if they’ve never experienced being heard.”

A key turning point came during the KAICIID Southeast Asia Dialogue Cities Conference in Davao, Philippines (2024), where Krish served as a Youth Facilitator and Assistant City Coordinator for Kuala Lumpur.

“During one session, women’s groups raised concerns about the imbalance in empowerment, that men, too, are suffering silently. That moment struck me deeply. It made me reflect on my own life : a journey marked by trauma, violence, survival, and eventually, healing. I realized not every man gets that chance. That’s when I decided to start something that could help others find their path before it’s too late.”

Supported by local professors, counsellors, and psychiatrists, Krish began a research initiative to study both men’s and women’s emotional patterns. After receiving a mini seed grant from KAICIID and Cerita Caravan, he spent months in training and preparation before launching this historic pilot project.

“We’re not here to replace existing professional mental health services,” he emphasized.
“We’re here to build an innovative bridge to connect ordinary men with awareness, empathy, and accessible professional support.”

The “Suara Lelaki” storytelling and dialogue program serves as a pilot project under the larger “Understanding Men Program,” currently in its research phase. The pilot functions as a testing ground to gather stories, experiences, feedback, and data — forming the foundation to secure greater support and resources to grow the initiative, expand the dialogue series to more cities, and develop a full-scale camp.

The vision is bold yet simple: to build a safe, private, and non-judgmental sustainable ecosystem where men can express, learn, and heal together : addressing root issues such as emotional suppression, uncontrolled anger, childhood trauma, absence of father figures, addiction, social isolation, and toxic masculinity.

As part of the post-program commitment, participants received a Mental Health Toolkit, with plans to form ongoing support groups and expand the dialogue series to other Malaysian cities and then Southeast Asian cities and eventually work together with Global Men Mental Health Organisations. The initiative also aims to engage local government agencies and mental health institutions for larger-scale implementation.

Krish ended the session with a reflection that resonated deeply with everyone present:

“An empowered man uplifts, protects, and empowers the women around him.
That’s the true meaning of strength and purpose.
When men heal, families heal and when families heal, communities rise.”

He smiled before concluding:

“Empowered men have the power to reshape their community, their faith, their nation and the world.”