Joseph Masilamany

Human Rights Watch is calling for a new investigation into the disappearance of the supporter of the opposition government-in-exile who went missing in Ampang (Malaysia). The advocacy group also warns of the risk of a possible transnational crackdown by Myanmar’s military junta. The activist fled in 2015 and was living under the protection of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Satellite images show US-sanctioned Russian tanker Perle, its transponders turned off for months, alongside another vessel 90 km off the east coast of Malaysia, in a likely ship-to-ship operation. According to Bloomberg, this is the first documented case of liquefied natural gas transfer. Russia’s energy strategy is turning towards Asia. The Arctic LNG 2 project has started to deliver gas to China.

The College General celebrated the anniversary of the founding of the historic priestly formation institution with a three-day celebration entitled ‘Discerning Gratitude, Fidelity and Hope’. Through homilies, testimonies and reflections, bishops and seminarians recalled the mission of the seminary, founded in 1665 in Siam, which continues to be a beacon of grace, fidelity and hope for the Asian Church in Malaysia.

The prime minister spoke at the launch of the Asatizah Professionals and Volunteers Network (APVN) whose aim is to boost the role of Islamic religious teachers in society. He stressed the need to find a balance between tradition and modernity, one example of which was the decision to allow lab-grown meat. Wong confirmed that more investments will be made in Islamic education.

The Kelantan State police chief has suggested amending the law so that minors who "consent" to sex are also prosecuted along with their adult partners. Malaysia’s federal government and NGOs have reacted harshly to the proposal, which would criminalise victims and reinforce the culture of blaming women. Instead, some groups want the law to protect consensual relationships between peers.

Datchinamurthy Kataiah, 39, will be hanged tomorrow in Changi Prison fourteen years after his arrest. His sister's appeal against a sentence that is ‘too severe and extreme for a naive act committed by a young man’. The appeal of 33 local NGOs for a moratorium after the Wong government promoted a case for commutation of the sentence for the first time. Currently, 40 people are on death row.

The son of a Protestant pastor, the young man has been on death row for years following a drug trafficking conviction. A group of Malaysian MPs from the prime minister's party are calling for urgent intervention by their country’s Home Affairs minister. Singaporean courts have rejected the clemency request as well as the latest request for a stay of execution.

State authorities have ordered an investigation into a viral video featuring allegedly supernatural elements during a traditional dance performance in Batu Pahat. Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi reiterated the ban on superstition and rituals contrary to Islamic law, calling on religious authorities and local communities to ensure the purity of the Muslim faith.

Yesterday marked the 68th anniversary of Merdeka, Independence Day, a time to assert a patriotic spirit that contrasts with a reality marked by discontent. Protests against the prime minister are mounting over the rising cost of living, declining opportunities, and lack of reform. Without quick results, people will “keep going to the streets,” expert tells AsiaNews.

A study published by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) finds a significant increase in the importance of religion compared to similar surveys in 2013 and 2018, but it is taking on "individualised and digital" connotations. Places of worship are losing their central role, while the use of online platforms to reach the faithful is growing.

The Malaysian state applies discretionary punishments (takzir), while critics and human rights groups warn of growing religious conservatism. A recently enacted law imposes sentences of two years or fines of up to US$ 700. For Terengganu official, Friday prayers are an “expression of obedience among Muslims”.

The Philippine Navy says video circulating online was produced by ‘artificial intelligence.’ Meanwhile, a warship from the archipelago has joined ASEAN exercises beginning today in Malaysia. The dispute is linked to unresolved territorial issues and the battle for security being fought (also) in the realm of information.