The Irrawaddy | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon expressed support and empathy for Myanmar people in Malaysia, and urged them to make contact with relevant organisations during Malaysia’s tenure this year as Chair of ASEAN. He said that AICHR is looking at different platforms, workshops and initiatives to do what it can within the power and influence it has.
Khmer Times | Cambodia participated in the 40th AICHR meeting from 11 to 14 February 2025, represented by Pa Ponnarada from the Cambodian Human Rights Committee. The meeting was chaired by Edmund Bon Tai Soon, AICHR Chair for 2025.
Malay Mail | The Federal Court was told that the conviction and death sentence imposed on six former UPNM students for the murder of a navy cadet officer is unsafe and should be set aside. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing two of the six, submitted that the prosecution failed to meet the required standard to secure the two convictions.
Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad told the Federal Court bench that the benefit of the doubt should be given to the accused, as there was conflicting evidence before the court in the trial of six ex-UPNM students convicted of murder. The court also heard that the trial was “tainted” as prosecution witnesses were coached into giving testimony against the accused.
AICHR | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon and Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn met and discussed Malaysia’s human rights priority areas for 2025: peace, environmental rights, sustainable development and inclusive growth. Edmund Bon also shared ideas on strengthening AICHR to enhance its work in mainstreaming and integrating human rights in ASEAN.
ASEAN | Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with the Chair of AICHR, Edmund Bon. They exchanged views on AICHR’s work in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region, and discussed collaboration in support of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship priorities in 2025, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
AICHR | The AICHR’s 40th meeting from 11 to 14 February 2025 was chaired by Edmund Bon, Chair of AICHR in 2025 and Representative of Malaysia to AICHR. He highlighted the ASEAN chairmanship theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” and emphasised the need for an ASEAN-led, ASEAN-owned, and whole-of-ASEAN approach to advance peace, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.
Modern Diplomacy | ASEAN is hardly unified and still has not found a viable consensus on how to deal with the continuing conflict in Myanmar after three years of engagement and ever-escalating violence. The Extended Informal Consultation hosted by Thailand on 20 December 2024 demonstrated that the limits of ASEAN influence have been tested and found wanting.
Eco Business | SUHAKAM, legal professionals, and local environmental and human rights advocates are calling for the “right to a clean and safe environment” to be included in Malaysia’s Federal Constitution. This will empower victims who are adversely affected by climate change to seek justice and uphold their rights to secure and healthy living conditions.
Thai PBS World | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon said that AICHR’s priorities this year include the right to peace, and the right to development. The new AICHR Representative from Thailand, Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang said that his three-year term will focus on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, environmental rights, and the rights of migrant labourers.
AICHR | Key points that emerged from the AICHR transition workshop on 10 February 2025 included the need to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration on human rights; and for AICHR’s work to be impactful through its adaptability, flexibility, and being balanced on the promotion and protection aspects of human rights.
Bernama | The 40th Meeting of AICHR marks the first AICHR meeting under the stewardship of Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR and Chair of AICHR 2025, Edmund Bon Tai Soon. Wisma Putra said Malaysia aims to advance key thematic areas such as the right to peace, the right to development, business and human rights, environmental rights protection, and climate change.
New Straits Times | As ASEAN and AICHR chair for 2025, Malaysia will seek to address pressing human rights challenges across the region through an ASEAN-led and ASEAN-owned approach while strengthening AICHR’s institutional framework to shift towards a more protection-centric body.
Astro Awani | Mesyuarat ke-40 AICHR menjadi platform penting bagi Malaysia sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN 2025 untuk memimpin agenda hak asasi manusia dan pembangunan mampan di rantau Asia Tenggara. Acara ini merupakan mesyuarat pertama di bawah kepimpinan Wakil Malaysia ke AICHR dan Pengerusi AICHR bagi tahun 2025, Edmund Bon Tai Soon.
Free Malaysia Today | At AICHR’s first meeting for 2025 from Feb 11 to 14, to be chaired by Malaysia’s AICHR Representative Edmund Bon, he will advocate reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability, and regional collaboration, aiming to expand AICHR’s role beyond its current advisory function.
ASEAN Malaysia 2025 | Mesyuarat AICHR ke-40 merupakan yang pertama di bawah kepimpinan Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Wakil Malaysia ke AICHR dan Pengerusi AICHR 2025. Antara agenda mesyuarat adalah deklarasi-deklarasi ASEAN yang dicadangkan mengenai hak alam sekitar, pertumbuhan inklusif, pembangunan mampan dan hak kepada pembangunan.
ASEAN Malaysia 2025 | Matters on the agenda of the retreat and 40th meeting of the AICHR from 11 to 14 February 2025 include the proposed ASEAN declarations on environmental rights, inclusive growth, sustainable development and right to development. This marks the first AICHR meeting under the stewardship of Representative of Malaysia to the AICHR and Chair of AICHR 2025 Edmund Bon.
Scoop | As ASEAN and AICHR Chair for 2025, Malaysia stated its commitment to strengthening AICHR’s institutional framework by shifting towards a more protection-centric approach, enhancing transparency and accountability, and deepening collaboration with ASEAN sectoral bodies and dialogue partners. Malaysia also seeks to foster stronger engagement with civil society organisations.
The Malaysian Reserve | Malaysia is urging ASEAN member states to take a stronger, more unified stance on climate action as it assumes the regional bloc’s chairmanship this year, stating that climate change is not just an environmental issue but also closely linked to security, economic stability and regional wellbeing.
New Straits Times | Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Malaysia has seen good progress and is working towards a consensus to have the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Rights signed during its chairmanship this year.
The Irrawaddy | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon expressed support and empathy for Myanmar people in Malaysia, and urged them to make contact with relevant organisations during Malaysia’s tenure this year as Chair of ASEAN. He said that AICHR is looking at different platforms, workshops and initiatives to do what it can within the power and influence it has.
Khmer Times | Cambodia participated in the 40th AICHR meeting from 11 to 14 February 2025, represented by Pa Ponnarada from the Cambodian Human Rights Committee. The meeting was chaired by Edmund Bon Tai Soon, AICHR Chair for 2025.
Malay Mail | The Federal Court was told that the conviction and death sentence imposed on six former UPNM students for the murder of a navy cadet officer is unsafe and should be set aside. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing two of the six, submitted that the prosecution failed to meet the required standard to secure the two convictions.
Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad told the Federal Court bench that the benefit of the doubt should be given to the accused, as there was conflicting evidence before the court in the trial of six ex-UPNM students convicted of murder. The court also heard that the trial was “tainted” as prosecution witnesses were coached into giving testimony against the accused.
AICHR | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon and Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn met and discussed Malaysia’s human rights priority areas for 2025: peace, environmental rights, sustainable development and inclusive growth. Edmund Bon also shared ideas on strengthening AICHR to enhance its work in mainstreaming and integrating human rights in ASEAN.
ASEAN | Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with the Chair of AICHR, Edmund Bon. They exchanged views on AICHR’s work in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region, and discussed collaboration in support of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship priorities in 2025, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
AICHR | The AICHR’s 40th meeting from 11 to 14 February 2025 was chaired by Edmund Bon, Chair of AICHR in 2025 and Representative of Malaysia to AICHR. He highlighted the ASEAN chairmanship theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” and emphasised the need for an ASEAN-led, ASEAN-owned, and whole-of-ASEAN approach to advance peace, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.
Modern Diplomacy | ASEAN is hardly unified and still has not found a viable consensus on how to deal with the continuing conflict in Myanmar after three years of engagement and ever-escalating violence. The Extended Informal Consultation hosted by Thailand on 20 December 2024 demonstrated that the limits of ASEAN influence have been tested and found wanting.
Eco Business | SUHAKAM, legal professionals, and local environmental and human rights advocates are calling for the “right to a clean and safe environment” to be included in Malaysia’s Federal Constitution. This will empower victims who are adversely affected by climate change to seek justice and uphold their rights to secure and healthy living conditions.
Thai PBS World | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon said that AICHR’s priorities this year include the right to peace, and the right to development. The new AICHR Representative from Thailand, Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang said that his three-year term will focus on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, environmental rights, and the rights of migrant labourers.
AICHR | Key points that emerged from the AICHR transition workshop on 10 February 2025 included the need to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration on human rights; and for AICHR’s work to be impactful through its adaptability, flexibility, and being balanced on the promotion and protection aspects of human rights.
Bernama | The 40th Meeting of AICHR marks the first AICHR meeting under the stewardship of Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR and Chair of AICHR 2025, Edmund Bon Tai Soon. Wisma Putra said Malaysia aims to advance key thematic areas such as the right to peace, the right to development, business and human rights, environmental rights protection, and climate change.
New Straits Times | As ASEAN and AICHR chair for 2025, Malaysia will seek to address pressing human rights challenges across the region through an ASEAN-led and ASEAN-owned approach while strengthening AICHR’s institutional framework to shift towards a more protection-centric body.
Astro Awani | Mesyuarat ke-40 AICHR menjadi platform penting bagi Malaysia sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN 2025 untuk memimpin agenda hak asasi manusia dan pembangunan mampan di rantau Asia Tenggara. Acara ini merupakan mesyuarat pertama di bawah kepimpinan Wakil Malaysia ke AICHR dan Pengerusi AICHR bagi tahun 2025, Edmund Bon Tai Soon.
Free Malaysia Today | At AICHR’s first meeting for 2025 from Feb 11 to 14, to be chaired by Malaysia’s AICHR Representative Edmund Bon, he will advocate reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability, and regional collaboration, aiming to expand AICHR’s role beyond its current advisory function.
ASEAN Malaysia 2025 | Mesyuarat AICHR ke-40 merupakan yang pertama di bawah kepimpinan Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Wakil Malaysia ke AICHR dan Pengerusi AICHR 2025. Antara agenda mesyuarat adalah deklarasi-deklarasi ASEAN yang dicadangkan mengenai hak alam sekitar, pertumbuhan inklusif, pembangunan mampan dan hak kepada pembangunan.
ASEAN Malaysia 2025 | Matters on the agenda of the retreat and 40th meeting of the AICHR from 11 to 14 February 2025 include the proposed ASEAN declarations on environmental rights, inclusive growth, sustainable development and right to development. This marks the first AICHR meeting under the stewardship of Representative of Malaysia to the AICHR and Chair of AICHR 2025 Edmund Bon.
Scoop | As ASEAN and AICHR Chair for 2025, Malaysia stated its commitment to strengthening AICHR’s institutional framework by shifting towards a more protection-centric approach, enhancing transparency and accountability, and deepening collaboration with ASEAN sectoral bodies and dialogue partners. Malaysia also seeks to foster stronger engagement with civil society organisations.
The Malaysian Reserve | Malaysia is urging ASEAN member states to take a stronger, more unified stance on climate action as it assumes the regional bloc’s chairmanship this year, stating that climate change is not just an environmental issue but also closely linked to security, economic stability and regional wellbeing.
New Straits Times | Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Malaysia has seen good progress and is working towards a consensus to have the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Rights signed during its chairmanship this year.
