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.
Malaysiakini | The ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Rights will set out guiding principles for ASEAN member states to respect, promote, protect, and fulfill both substantive and procedural environmental human rights. The document, which will be discussed by member states this month, has come a long way but it is widely viewed as a watered-down version, with inadequate representation of indigenous people.
Free Malaysia Today | The former Prime Minister is facing one charge of making seditious statements during the Nenggiri by-election campaign in Gua Musang, Kelantan, last year. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the court that the defence intends to file a reference application to question the validity of certain provisions in the Sedition Act 1948 at the Federal Court.
Malaysiakini | Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin seeks the Federal Court’s determination in order to challenge the validity of his sedition charge linked to the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Perikatan Nasional chairperson’s counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad said the case involved legal issues of “unusual” difficulty that needed to be ventilated by the apex court.
Malaysiakini | Lawyer New Sin Yew pointed out that under the Local Government Act, a public place refers to any open space that has been set apart for the use of the public, to which the public shall at any time have access and a common right. Hence, there is no requirement to obtain consent from DBKL for the anti-corruption rally to be held at Dataran Merdeka.
The Star | Bar Council member New Sin Yew advised victims of lawyers’ professional misconduct to lodge a police report immediately, seek legal advice on their rights and options, and file a complaint with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (ASDB), which operates independently of the Malaysian Bar and Bar Council.
The Edge Malaysia | At the inaugural Malaysian Human Rights and Environmental Rights Dialogue held in Wisma Putra on Thursday, Malaysia’s representative to the AICHR Edmund Bon addressed the rampant violation of human rights in Southeast Asia, and said Malaysia cannot support the continuation of the atrocities being committed around the world.
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.
Malaysiakini | The ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Rights will set out guiding principles for ASEAN member states to respect, promote, protect, and fulfill both substantive and procedural environmental human rights. The document, which will be discussed by member states this month, has come a long way but it is widely viewed as a watered-down version, with inadequate representation of indigenous people.
Free Malaysia Today | The former Prime Minister is facing one charge of making seditious statements during the Nenggiri by-election campaign in Gua Musang, Kelantan, last year. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the court that the defence intends to file a reference application to question the validity of certain provisions in the Sedition Act 1948 at the Federal Court.
Malaysiakini | Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin seeks the Federal Court’s determination in order to challenge the validity of his sedition charge linked to the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Perikatan Nasional chairperson’s counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad said the case involved legal issues of “unusual” difficulty that needed to be ventilated by the apex court.
Malaysiakini | Lawyer New Sin Yew pointed out that under the Local Government Act, a public place refers to any open space that has been set apart for the use of the public, to which the public shall at any time have access and a common right. Hence, there is no requirement to obtain consent from DBKL for the anti-corruption rally to be held at Dataran Merdeka.
The Star | Bar Council member New Sin Yew advised victims of lawyers’ professional misconduct to lodge a police report immediately, seek legal advice on their rights and options, and file a complaint with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (ASDB), which operates independently of the Malaysian Bar and Bar Council.
The Edge Malaysia | At the inaugural Malaysian Human Rights and Environmental Rights Dialogue held in Wisma Putra on Thursday, Malaysia’s representative to the AICHR Edmund Bon addressed the rampant violation of human rights in Southeast Asia, and said Malaysia cannot support the continuation of the atrocities being committed around the world.
