Coffee Beyond the Cup: What the Forest Already Knew Published: 23 March 2026 Article From Sarawak forests to global cafés, the story of Liza A. Ahngau traces Liberica coffee, memory, and resilience in challenging market-driven narratives and reconnecting coffee with land, community, and climate survival beyond a simple cup of coffee. Liza A. Ahngau
Breaking Silence Published: 22 July 2025 Article In Malaysia, where LGBTIQA+ identities are often pushed into the shadows, speaking out is an act of defiance, pride is not just a celebration - it is a quiet act of resistance. Breaking Silence is a powerful reflection on survival, resistance, and the quiet resistance of community. Through personal reflections and cultural critique, Mitch Yusof blends truth and history into a call for justice - and a future where no one has to hide to be safe. Mitch Yusof
Endangered Beauties: Challenges in Conserving Malaysia’s Wild Orchids Published: 22 January 2025 Article Ecological threats like poaching, habitat destruction and human-induced climate change not only endanger animals but also plants, in particular highly sought-after ones, like orchids. Malaysia is endowed with rich biodiversity which includes thousands of wild orchid species. Rexy Prakash Chacko
From Baku to Borneo: Multilateralism and Dissonance in Global Climate Action Published: 16 December 2024 Article Multilateralism is vital for addressing global challenges like climate change, yet the outcomes of COP29 in Baku exposed a stark disconnect between high-level policies and grassroots realities. Evelyn Teh
Developing Regenerative Aquaculture in Southeast Asia Published: 23 October 2023 Article Regenerative aquaculture is emerging as a promising solution to address the sustainability challenges faced by the aquaculture industry in Southeast Asia. A mutually beneficial approach integrating Gracilaria seaweed and brackish water tilapia in pond systems in Johor, Malaysia, has shown great potential for establishing regenerative practices for the future. Adibi Rahiman M. Nor
Crisis Averted for Now: Malaysia’s 15th General Election and What Lies Ahead Published: 28 November 2022 Article Malaysia’s highly anticipated 15th General Election (GE15) on 19 November 2022, originally intended as a way to end the prolonged political instability over the last two and a half years, had resulted in everything but that for the initial few days. There was no clear resolution – until the King stepped in issuing a call for a unity government. The PH, BN and GPS coalitions ultimately came together to form a federal government, and on Thursday 24 November, Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister was appointed and sworn in: Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Tricia Yeoh
Traffic Congestions in Malaysia and the Lessons We Must Learn Published: 22 July 2022 Article Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things everywhere in the world. For better or worse, it has altered the social and economic aspects of life in unprecedented ways. But it has also allowed the time and space for nature to take a breather and heal - presenting us with inspiration and the opportunity to build back better. But if there is one conundrum that remains ever-present in the life of an urban Malaysian, it would be the insufferable traffic congestion. It did not only persist; it intensified. Evelyn Teh
Malaysia’s Hysterical Obsession over One Transwoman and the Struggle for True Political Reform Published: 20 January 2022 Only Sajat, a successful entrepreneur and social media influencer in Malaysia, has been targeted by the government and the public for years - mostly because of her gender identity. Serene Lim
Women’s Public Testimonies in Malaysia Reveal Persisting Gaps in Gender Equality Published: 15 December 2021 Article A brief report of Women’s Tribunal Malaysia, an inclusive public online forum, gathering 26 women from diverse backgrounds to offer testimonies on the discrimination they face in various aspects of their lives – with a spotlight on three fronts. Activists and lawyers acting as informal advocates and judges then offered recommended next steps to best effect change. Emily Ding
Malaysian Politics: What Just Happened and the Political Outlook Published: 20 October 2021 Article It is never a dull day in Malaysian politics, but there seems to be a brief pause – for the time being. Malaysia has therefore seen three federal governments over a period of two years, with tremendous upheaval in between. This piece unpacks the political developments over the last two years in its various phases, and ends with examining the country’s future political outlook. Tricia Yeoh
When All Else Fails, the People Mobilize: The Sea Warriors of Johor, Malaysia, Act to Survive COVID-19 and Climate Change Impacts Published: 18 August 2021 Article The Sea Warriors’ Market, a local initiative which strengthens fishermen incomes, has been severely interrupted by coronavirus, and people have little choice but to be resilient and creative in adjusting to their challenging circumstances. Serina Rahman
Restoring Our Ecosystem: A Call to Malaysia and the World Published: 4 June 2021 Article World Environment Day is an apt moment for humanity to reflect on its relationship with the environment and what can be done to restore natural ecosystems. This article looks into Malaysia’s commitment to ecosystem restoration. Julian Theseira
Queering Malay Identity Politics in the Malaysian Digital Space Published: 14 May 2021 Article The internet we have today has become as real as any social spaces we occupy in-person. So much of our lives are integrated digitally now and opting out of the digital space is no longer a choice for us. Today, to be online is to exist and to be seen. Serene Lim
Abandonment: The New-Normal for Migrant Workers? Published: 29 April 2021 Article Migrant workers amidst the pandemic in the Global South have gone through the same experience as those who are displaced. The health crisis has brought the plight of migrant workers to another level, in what it is considered here as ‘abandonment’. Pamungkas A. Dewanto
COVID-19, Health Borders, and the Purity of the Thai Nation Published: 9 October 2020 Article This article examines the ad-hoc policy and regulation applied by the Thai government in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Thai government erected a ‘health border’ to control mobility of the people, as well as set up a governing body, the Center of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) under the emergency decree. Jiraporn Laocharoenwong
Labouring Situations and Protection among Foreign Workers in Malaysia Published: 20 August 2020 Article In normal days, low- to medium-skilled foreign workers in Southeast Asia often experience various forms of discrimination, let alone in times of COVID-19 pandemic. Such a situation has shown that Southeast Asian countries are not ready yet for cross-border people’s mobility. Pamungkas A. Dewanto
Malaysia: Will We Ever Shake Hands Again? Published: 16 June 2020 Article Now that Malaysia has moved from MCO to a ‘conditional MCO’ to a ‘recovery MCO’, life is getting back to some kind of normal. But as Dr Jemilah warned, society must understand we can never return to the "old normal". "That innocent and simple pre-COVID-19 world is in the past," she said. We can't think of "after the pandemic" as it is here to stay. We have to think about how to live with COVID-19. Philip Golingai
The Twists and Turns of Coalition Politics in Timor-Leste and Malaysia: Are We Moving to the Right Direction? Published: 18 March 2020 Article On 24 February, Mahathir Mohamad, the 7th prime minister of Malaysia resigned unexpectedly followed by a week-long political fiasco in the form of ‘betrayal’ with lawmakers jumping ship to one another. On 25 February, the prime minister of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak sent a letter of resignation dated 24 February to the president, Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres Khoo Ying Hooi
Redefining Development and the Hidden Cost of Land Reclamation in Penang Published: 1 December 2019 Article Perhaps, the meaning of ‘development’ would only be reimagined and broadened when there is a tangible evidence showing that land creation doesn’t necessarily lead to the economic growth as promised. And that a less-orderly, poorer neighbourhood is not necessarily a place devoid of socioeconomic potential. It is commonly assumed that a society and its economic capacity will eventually fall into decay if it does not possess new land for capital to grow. Perhaps it is the lack of foresight and wisdom in the managing the existing land that has been the core problem. Evelyn Teh
Sliding down the Slippery Slopes of Unsustainability: Rampant Hill Development in Penang Published: 12 June 2019 Article The island of Penang, on the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia has a very hilly topography. Almost 50% of land is hilly, and 39% is classified as Class III and above, having slopes more than 25⁰ in gradient. Underlain mainly by weathered granitic bedrock, this rugged topography has been a bane for development, as it presents a myriad of engineering and environmental challenges. What is fueling this rampant hill slope development and how is it impacting people's lives in Penang Island? This article seeks to explore these questions and look at what's the best way forward. Rexy Prakash Chacko
