Malaysia’s government has requested that the social media giants Meta and TikTok present a plan of how they intend to clamp down on offensive content on their platforms, as the government reported a sharp increase in content removal requests. According to a joint statement yesterday from the Communications and Multimedia Commission and the Malaysian police, the … Read more
Earlier this month, Malaysia’s apex court delivered a landmark ruling in the case of Nik Elin, invalidating 16 provisions of Kelantan state’s Sharia criminal law as unconstitutional. Malaysia operates under a dual-legal system, with both civil and Sharia laws. This pivotal ruling sets a clear precedent, prohibiting state legislatures from enacting Sharia criminal laws, such … Read more
Malaysia’s last general election, in November 2022, concluded with a somewhat paradoxical outcome: in addition to electing long-time opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Harapan coalition, it also delivered the Islamist party PAS more federal seats than any other single party in parliament. Since then, some local and international observers in academic, think tank, … Read more
Advertisement The world of politics has much in common with that of the canine. A tenacious terrier can cower a huge Beauceron, while a bulldog’s submissive posture might lead it to be chased out of the pack, its fierce face notwithstanding. This reality is encapsulated by the current political predicament facing Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar … Read more
Advertisement In Malaysia’s six state elections earlier this month, the right-wing Malay-Muslim coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN), maintained the substantial momentum that it gained at the general election in November 2022. The polls saw PN’s influence solidify across the Malay-majority states, bolstering its control in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah, while also making inroads into Pakatan Harapan … Read more
ASEAN Beat | Politics | Southeast Asia In Saturday’s six state elections, Anwar’s government and the Malay nationalist opposition each retained control of three states. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, centre, speaks to media as deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, fifth from left, attends with others a press conference after announcing the result of state election at UMNO … Read more
Advertisement On August 12, Malaysian voters in six of the country’s 13 states will go to the polls to elect new state assemblies. The elections figure as a referendum on the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a stress-test for his “unity” government, nine months after his appointment following a close-run general election. Bridget … Read more
Advertisement The recent prosecution of Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, the caretaker chief minister of Kedah state and a prominent member of the Malaysian Islamist Party (PAS), under the Sedition Act highlights the challenges that Malaysia faces in its ongoing battle against right-wing extremism. With state elections due on August 12, this development has ignited a … Read more
Advertisement The Swiss watchmaker Swatch announced yesterday that Malaysian authorities raided its stores and confiscated 164 watches featuring the rainbow pride flag, the latest sign of the growing intolerance facing the country’s LGBTQ community. According to Swatch, Ministry of Home Affairs officials raided 11 outlets on May 13 and 14 and seized the watches because … Read more