Malaysia’s highest court has dismissed a legal challenge to protect the Shah Alam Community Forest, marking the end of a three-and-a-half-year fight by conservation groups. The decision has raised serious concerns about the future of forest protection in the country, and what it could mean for public participation in environmental decisions. Joining us to help unpack what this ruling means, and what comes next, are Alicia Teoh, Founder and Secretary of the Shah Alam Community Forest Society, and Dr Teckwyn Lim, Advisor of the society.

Malaysia’s highest court has dismissed a legal challenge to protect the Shah Alam Community Forest, marking the end of a three-and-a-half-year fight by conservation groups. The decision has raised serious concerns about the future of forest protection in the country, and what it could mean for public participation in environmental decisions. Joining us to help unpack what this ruling means, and what comes next, are Alicia Teoh, Founder and Secretary of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://shahalamforest.org">Shah Alam Community Forest Society</a>, and Dr Teckwyn Lim, Advisor of the society.

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

Earth Matters

Bukit Cherakah Forest Battle: The Story & What’s Next

What are the realities facing Orang Asli communities in Malaysia today? It’s a question that touches on everything from education and healthcare to identity, representation, and the way development is carried out on the ground. This is Part One of a two-part special based on the policy brief “Orang Asli Advancement and the Right to Land, Territories and Resources,” published by the Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC). We speak to Dr Colin Nicholas, Founder and Coordinator of the Center for Orang Asli Concerns. about those lived realities, who the Orang Asli are, how policy has shaped their experiences, and why some approaches to development may be falling short.

What are the realities facing Orang Asli communities in Malaysia today? It’s a question that touches on everything from education and healthcare to identity, representation, and the way development is carried out on the ground. This is Part One of a two-part special based on the policy brief “<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4cEzrdY">Orang Asli Advancement and the Right to Land, Territories and Resources</a>,” published by the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://coac.org.my/">Center for Orang Asli Concerns</a> (COAC). We speak to Dr Colin Nicholas, Founder and Coordinator of the Center for Orang Asli Concerns. about those lived realities, who the Orang Asli are, how policy has shaped their experiences, and why some approaches to development may be falling short.

Orang Asli in Malaysia: Lived Realities

A rare earth processing facility in Gebeng is back in the headlines, following the government’s decision to grant it a 10-year licence renewal. While new conditions have been introduced, civil society groups say longstanding concerns over radioactive waste, transparency, and accountability remain unresolved. At the same time, a separate agreement linking Malaysia’s rare earth supply to a foreign defence department is raising fresh ethical and legal questions. To unpack all of this, we speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia.


Image Credit: Shutterstock

A rare earth processing facility in Gebeng is back in the headlines, following the government’s decision to grant it a 10-year licence renewal. While new conditions have been introduced, civil society groups say longstanding concerns over radioactive waste, transparency, and accountability remain unresolved. At the same time, a separate agreement linking Malaysia’s rare earth supply to a foreign defence department is raising fresh ethical and legal questions. To unpack all of this, we speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://foe-malaysia.org/">Sahabat Alam Malaysia</a>. Image Credit: Shutterstock

What’s at Stake in Rare Earth Processing?

For this month's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Datuk Dr John Payne, the Chief Executive Officer of Bringing Back Our Rare Animals or BORA, who has spent decades working on wildlife conservation across Malaysia, particularly in Sabah. But beyond the field, he is also a prolific author, having written everything from wildlife guides and conservation manuals to deeply reflective works on species loss, restoration, and what we’ve learned along the way. Together with co-host Surin Suksuwan, the co-founder of Sunda Shelves, we explore the books that shaped John's early interest in nature, how his writing has evolved over the years, and what he hopes readers, especially those outside the conservation world, will take away from his work. 

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with Sunda Shelves, an independent bookstore with a passion for wild places and thoughtful reads.

For this month's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Datuk Dr John Payne, the Chief Executive Officer of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bringingbackourrareanimals.org/">Bringing Back Our Rare Animals</a> or BORA, who has spent decades working on wildlife conservation across Malaysia, particularly in Sabah. But beyond the field, he is also a prolific author, having written everything from wildlife guides and conservation manuals to deeply reflective works on species loss, restoration, and what we’ve learned along the way. Together with co-host Surin Suksuwan, the co-founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/sundashelves">Sunda Shelves</a>, we explore the books that shaped John's early interest in nature, how his writing has evolved over the years, and what he hopes readers, especially those outside the conservation world, will take away from his work.&nbsp;Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with Sunda Shelves, an independent bookstore with a passion for wild places and thoughtful reads.

Bukit Cherakah Forest Battle: The Story & What’s Next

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