Malaysian

Displacement of Indigenous Bajau Laut Sparks Outcry as Malaysian Government Uses Colonial Laws to Silence Critics

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In June, the Malaysian government faced backlash after authorities destroyed the homes and boats of the Bajau Laut, an indigenous group in Borneo dependent on the sea for their livelihoods. The actions displaced families, leaving them without shelter or means of support. The destruction drew widespread criticism, particularly after videos of the incident circulated on social media. In response to the public outcry, the government arrested Mukmin Nantang, a human rights advocate who highlighted the plight of the Bajau Laut, charging him with sedition under a colonial-era law from 1948. Sedition … Read more

Malaysian State to Publicly Can First Man for Unmarried Proximity under Tightened Sharia Enforcement

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KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia — A sharia court in Terengganu, a state in northern Malaysia, has drawn severe criticism, with some accusing it of adopting Taliban-like enforcement methods, following its recent decision to sentence a 42-year-old father of five to caning. This marks the first instance in the state where punishment will be administered for being in close proximity with a woman who is not his wife. The man, who works in construction, was reportedly caught on three different occasions participating in what is locally known as ‘khalwat’, or close proximity between unmarried couples. Following these … Read more

Landmark Ruling: Malaysian Federal Court Declares Kelantan State Sharia Laws Unconstitutional

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Malaysian federal court ruled on Friday that several Kelantan state Sharia laws are unconstitutional. The decision came after lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Natasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, filed a petition challenging the constitutionality of provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 which dealt with offenses such as destroying places of worship, sodomy, sexual harassment, use of intoxicating substances, incest, and others. The petition was based on Article 4 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution, which states that any law inconsistent with … Read more

Malaysian Government Initiates Royal Inquiry into Mahathir’s Controversial Decision: Anwar Ibrahim Faces Scrutiny

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in Malaysia will investigate former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to withdraw from a review of a territorial dispute with Singapore, which he made shortly after taking office in 2018, according to the Chief Secretary of the Malaysian government. This move comes after considerable tensions between Mahathir and his rival Anwar Ibrahim, who recently became the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Such inquiries are rare in Malaysia and hold significant authority to subpoena witnesses. The upcoming inquiry will mark only the 14th in Malaysia’s history since … Read more