KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — More than 100 people, including a layer of young students, attended the “Socialism 2013-Delinking from Global Capitalism” conference, organized by the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) here Nov. 30 – Dec 1. Speakers from a number of different political organizations and countries addressed political developments in Malaysia and the world.

The opening panel “Socialism as the Alternative Model and Political System” featured several presentations, including one about Venezuela led by Manuel Guzmán, the Venezuelan Ambassador to Malaysia; one on the impact of the capitalist crisis in Europe and Malaysia; and another about Islam and socialism.

A lively debate broke out at the panel on “Middle East in Turmoil,” above, about the record of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood, the mobilizations of workers and youth that helped bring down his regime and the role of women in the struggle.

Other panels took up the history and role of the Malaysian Communist Party in the struggle against British colonial rule, the 2013 election campaigns of the PSM and other parties in Malaysia and challenges in building a “coalition of the left.”