Malaysiakini | The Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s application to refer four constitutional questions under the Sedition Act to the Federal Court, as the questions are complex and require determination by the apex court. Muhyiddin was represented by counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad.
IOM | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon emphasised the importance of addressing challenges in today’s development context arising from climate change and human mobility, and their effects, particularly on marginalised communities, including migrant workers. He added that bodies and mechanisms must be strengthened to be future-ready in addressing global and regional challenges.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia | If implemented effectively through a robust Regional Plan of Action, the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Rights has the potential to become a transformative document in shaping regional human rights and environmental policies through 2045 and beyond. After official adoption, the drafting of an official Action Plan must follow.
ASEAN | The 17th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (ASCCO) focused on the End-Term Review of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025. Insights were shared on the implementation of the Blueprint for the last 10 years, including on the challenges encountered and lessons learned.
The Star | Commenting on the proposed tribunal for bullying cases, Bar Council member New Sin Yew said cases involving minors should be handled by experts rather than conventional law enforcement. He added that preventive measures are equally crucial for children’s overall well-being.
The Star | Bar Council member New Sin Yew voiced his support for a legal system that encourages mediation, which will reduce the number of cases filed in court. He added that mediation must be conducted by certified and trained people to ensure fairness.
Astro Awani | Malaysia wajar mempertimbangkan penubuhan sebuah Kementerian Hak Asasi Manusia khusus bagi memperkukuh reformasi institusi dan menangani isu baharu berasaskan hak asasi, kata Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Antara Kerajaan ASEAN Mengenai Hak Asasi Manusia (AICHR) yang juga wakil Malaysia ke AICHR, Edmund Bon Tai Soon.
BFM | Listen to New Sin Yew speak on the Court of Appeal’s decision that the words “annoy” and “offensive” in section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act are unconstitutional. He is one of the lawyers who represented activist Heidy Quah in her constitutional challenge.
Malaysiakini | The Court of Appeal has struck down a provision in the Communications and Multimedia Act that criminalises content that “annoy” or is “offensive”. New Sin Yew, lawyer for activist Heidy Quah, said that the court ruled that including the words “annoy” and “offensive” in section 233 of the Act was not permissible, was disproportionate, and amounted to a prohibition of free speech.
Free Malaysia Today | The Court of Appeal has unanimously struck down as unconstitutional the words “offensive” and “annoy” in the statute that criminalises the online transmission of offensive comments. New Sin Yew was one of Heidy Quah’s lawyers in the matter.
Malay Mail | Lawyer New Sin Yew commended the Court of Appeal’s “good”, “progressive” decision in Heidy Quah’s constitutional challenge. He added that civil society is expected to closely watch how the government uses the new version of section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which criminalises “grossly offensive” online remarks.
Malay Mail | The Court of Appeal today unanimously ruled that it is no longer a crime in Malaysia to make “offensive” online comments with the intention to “annoy”. New Sin Yew is one of the lawyers who represented activist Heidy Quah in her successful constitutional challenge.
The Phnom Penh Post | The Cambodian Human Rights Committee issued an urgent appeal to UN and ASEAN agencies concerning unlawful barbed wire deployment and related actions by Thai armed forces. One of the appeal letters was sent to Edmund Bon Tai Soon, the Chair of AICHR.
Khmer Times | The Cambodian Human Rights Committee has called on the UN and ASEAN human rights bodies to urgently intervene following what its president described as “unlawful” incursions by the Royal Thai Armed Forces into Cambodian territory. A letter was sent to AICHR Chair Edmund Bon.
AICHR | The 6th Interface Meeting between AICHR and CSOs with a Consultative Relationship with AICHR allowed the sharing of insights, challenges, and good practices in promoting and protecting human rights in ASEAN. Parties also explored ways to enhance cooperation and reaffirmed the importance of sustained and meaningful engagement between AICHR and the CSOs.
The Star | AICHR has begun a series of workshops in Jakarta to discuss mechanisms for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, international peace frameworks and approaches, and protecting human rights of all in conflict situations, while using a case study simulation to explore practical applications of ASEAN’s peace initiatives.
Kompas | Bon menjelaskan, semasa kepimpinan Malaysia, AICHR menyasarkan untuk menghasilkan panduan penanganan konflik dan membina perdamaian. Kandungannya berupa langkah-langkah yang perlu diambil apabila berlaku konflik di rantau ini ataupun dalam negeri negara-negara anggota ASEAN.
Kementerian Luar Negeri Malaysia | AICHR akan menganjurkan tiga bengkel di Jakarta untuk membincangkan mekanisme pencegahan konflik dan pembinaan keamanan, kerangka dan pendekatan keamanan antarabangsa, serta perlindungan hak asasi manusia dalam situasi konflik.
ASEAN IPR | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon praised the “Advancing Gender-Responsive Conflict and Crisis Prevention in ASEAN” policy research report, calling it “the answer to a lot of questions”. He added that it contains a lot of really good recommendations, such as establishing a regional conflict and crisis prevention mechanism.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia | AICHR will convene three workshops in Jakarta to discuss mechanisms for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, international peace frameworks and approaches, and protecting human rights of all in conflict situations.
Malaysiakini | The Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s application to refer four constitutional questions under the Sedition Act to the Federal Court, as the questions are complex and require determination by the apex court. Muhyiddin was represented by counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad.
IOM | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon emphasised the importance of addressing challenges in today’s development context arising from climate change and human mobility, and their effects, particularly on marginalised communities, including migrant workers. He added that bodies and mechanisms must be strengthened to be future-ready in addressing global and regional challenges.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia | If implemented effectively through a robust Regional Plan of Action, the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Rights has the potential to become a transformative document in shaping regional human rights and environmental policies through 2045 and beyond. After official adoption, the drafting of an official Action Plan must follow.
ASEAN | The 17th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (ASCCO) focused on the End-Term Review of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025. Insights were shared on the implementation of the Blueprint for the last 10 years, including on the challenges encountered and lessons learned.
The Star | Commenting on the proposed tribunal for bullying cases, Bar Council member New Sin Yew said cases involving minors should be handled by experts rather than conventional law enforcement. He added that preventive measures are equally crucial for children’s overall well-being.
The Star | Bar Council member New Sin Yew voiced his support for a legal system that encourages mediation, which will reduce the number of cases filed in court. He added that mediation must be conducted by certified and trained people to ensure fairness.
Astro Awani | Malaysia wajar mempertimbangkan penubuhan sebuah Kementerian Hak Asasi Manusia khusus bagi memperkukuh reformasi institusi dan menangani isu baharu berasaskan hak asasi, kata Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Antara Kerajaan ASEAN Mengenai Hak Asasi Manusia (AICHR) yang juga wakil Malaysia ke AICHR, Edmund Bon Tai Soon.
BFM | Listen to New Sin Yew speak on the Court of Appeal’s decision that the words “annoy” and “offensive” in section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act are unconstitutional. He is one of the lawyers who represented activist Heidy Quah in her constitutional challenge.
Malaysiakini | The Court of Appeal has struck down a provision in the Communications and Multimedia Act that criminalises content that “annoy” or is “offensive”. New Sin Yew, lawyer for activist Heidy Quah, said that the court ruled that including the words “annoy” and “offensive” in section 233 of the Act was not permissible, was disproportionate, and amounted to a prohibition of free speech.
Free Malaysia Today | The Court of Appeal has unanimously struck down as unconstitutional the words “offensive” and “annoy” in the statute that criminalises the online transmission of offensive comments. New Sin Yew was one of Heidy Quah’s lawyers in the matter.
Malay Mail | Lawyer New Sin Yew commended the Court of Appeal’s “good”, “progressive” decision in Heidy Quah’s constitutional challenge. He added that civil society is expected to closely watch how the government uses the new version of section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which criminalises “grossly offensive” online remarks.
Malay Mail | The Court of Appeal today unanimously ruled that it is no longer a crime in Malaysia to make “offensive” online comments with the intention to “annoy”. New Sin Yew is one of the lawyers who represented activist Heidy Quah in her successful constitutional challenge.
The Phnom Penh Post | The Cambodian Human Rights Committee issued an urgent appeal to UN and ASEAN agencies concerning unlawful barbed wire deployment and related actions by Thai armed forces. One of the appeal letters was sent to Edmund Bon Tai Soon, the Chair of AICHR.
Khmer Times | The Cambodian Human Rights Committee has called on the UN and ASEAN human rights bodies to urgently intervene following what its president described as “unlawful” incursions by the Royal Thai Armed Forces into Cambodian territory. A letter was sent to AICHR Chair Edmund Bon.
AICHR | The 6th Interface Meeting between AICHR and CSOs with a Consultative Relationship with AICHR allowed the sharing of insights, challenges, and good practices in promoting and protecting human rights in ASEAN. Parties also explored ways to enhance cooperation and reaffirmed the importance of sustained and meaningful engagement between AICHR and the CSOs.
The Star | AICHR has begun a series of workshops in Jakarta to discuss mechanisms for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, international peace frameworks and approaches, and protecting human rights of all in conflict situations, while using a case study simulation to explore practical applications of ASEAN’s peace initiatives.
Kompas | Bon menjelaskan, semasa kepimpinan Malaysia, AICHR menyasarkan untuk menghasilkan panduan penanganan konflik dan membina perdamaian. Kandungannya berupa langkah-langkah yang perlu diambil apabila berlaku konflik di rantau ini ataupun dalam negeri negara-negara anggota ASEAN.
Kementerian Luar Negeri Malaysia | AICHR akan menganjurkan tiga bengkel di Jakarta untuk membincangkan mekanisme pencegahan konflik dan pembinaan keamanan, kerangka dan pendekatan keamanan antarabangsa, serta perlindungan hak asasi manusia dalam situasi konflik.
ASEAN IPR | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon praised the “Advancing Gender-Responsive Conflict and Crisis Prevention in ASEAN” policy research report, calling it “the answer to a lot of questions”. He added that it contains a lot of really good recommendations, such as establishing a regional conflict and crisis prevention mechanism.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia | AICHR will convene three workshops in Jakarta to discuss mechanisms for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, international peace frameworks and approaches, and protecting human rights of all in conflict situations.
