Communism in Malaysia has existed since the 20th century. Communism was a major force during the Malayan Emergency that began in 1948. Between 1968 and 1989 during the Cold War, a communist insurgency took place and was suppressed by the government, and the ideology ultimately failed to take root in the country. After the end of the Cold War, the communist movement has left an enduring legacy on modern Malaysian politics. In the modern era, communists have often been portrayed as villains in media and education, with racial elements typically associated with ethnically Chinese Malaysians. Malaysian censorship of perceived communist media has taken place.
