Macaranga Wrap-Up is our monthly segment where we take a step back and look at the top environmental news stories making headlines across Malaysia, with the help of environmental journalists and co-founders of Macaranga, Law Yao Hua and Wong Siew Lyn. June has been an interesting month, from a landmark global recognition for a forest reserve in Sabah, to a rare win for wildlife conservation in Sarawak involving a critically endangered langur, and also renewed efforts to clamp down on illegal e-waste in Malaysia. Yao Hua and Siew Lyn join us to unpack what these developments mean.



Image Credit: Dr Ahmad Bin Ampeng / Mazidi Abd Ghani / WWF-Malaysia / Shutterstock

Macaranga Wrap-Up is our monthly segment where we take a step back and look at the top environmental news stories making headlines across Malaysia, with the help of environmental journalists and co-founders of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.macaranga.org/">Macaranga</a>, Law Yao Hua and Wong Siew Lyn. June has been an interesting month, from a landmark global recognition for a forest reserve in Sabah, to a rare win for wildlife conservation in Sarawak involving a critically endangered langur, and also renewed efforts to clamp down on illegal e-waste in Malaysia. Yao Hua and Siew Lyn join us to unpack what these developments mean.Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379308885_First_recorded_sighting_of_the_Critically_Endangered_Tricolour_Langur_Presbytis_chrysomelas_cruciger_Thomas_1892_Primates_Cercopithecidae_in_Jemoreng_Protected_Forest_Sarawak_Malaysia">Dr Ahmad Bin Ampeng</a> / Mazidi Abd Ghani / WWF-Malaysia / Shutterstock

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Macaranga Wrap-Up: June 2025

Across Malaysia, questions about Orang Asli land rights have been back in the headlines, from the detention of villagers in Pahang over a land dispute, to communities facing displacement, environmental damage, and development carried out without meaningful consultation. One of the latest flashpoints is Pulau Carey in Selangor, where the Mah Meri community in Kampung Sungai Kurau says a proposed port expansion could threaten their fishing grounds, cultural heritage, and way of life. We speak with Lanuza Layon, Chairperson of the Kampung Sungai Kurau Village Development and Security Committee, and Sarah Amer, a Community Organiser from Gerimis Art Project, about what is happening on the ground, and what it reveals about the broader struggle for Orang Asli land rights in Malaysia.



Read more about the issue here and here.

Across Malaysia, questions about Orang Asli land rights have been back in the headlines, from the detention of villagers in Pahang over a land dispute, to communities facing displacement, environmental damage, and development carried out without meaningful consultation. One of the latest flashpoints is Pulau Carey in Selangor, where the Mah Meri community in Kampung Sungai Kurau says a proposed port expansion could threaten their fishing grounds, cultural heritage, and way of life. We speak with Lanuza Layon, Chairperson of the Kampung Sungai Kurau Village Development and Security Committee, and Sarah Amer, a Community Organiser from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gerimisart.com/">Gerimis Art Project</a>, about what is happening on the ground, and what it reveals about the broader struggle for Orang Asli land rights in Malaysia.Read more about the issue <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-westport-expansion-save-the-mah-meri-of-pulau-carey">here</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/artivismforoa">here</a>.

Development and Displacement in Orang Asli Lands

Illegal e-waste is not a new issue in Malaysia, but recent events have brought it back into the headlines in a big way, from enforcement raids to high-profile investigations and new policy measures. In our previous episode, we spoke about the situation here in Malaysia and the recent developments that have brought the e-waste issue into sharp focus. In this second part of our two-part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, including the global systems that drive the e-waste trade and the longer-term solutions that might help break the cycle. Helping us to unpack these and more are Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), and Wong Pui Yi, a researcher with the Basel Action Network.


Listen to Part 1 HERE.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

Illegal e-waste is not a new issue in Malaysia, but recent events have brought it back into the headlines in a big way, from enforcement raids to high-profile investigations and new policy measures. In our previous episode, we spoke about the situation here in Malaysia and the recent developments that have brought the e-waste issue into sharp focus. In this second part of our two-part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, including the global systems that drive the e-waste trade and the longer-term solutions that might help break the cycle. Helping us to unpack these and more are Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://foe-malaysia.org">Sahabat Alam Malaysia</a> and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://consumer.org.my/">Consumers Association of Penang</a> (CAP), and Wong Pui Yi, a researcher with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://ban.org/">Basel Action Network</a>. Listen to Part 1 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/illegal-e-waste-in-malaysia-part-1-a-problem-exposed">HERE</a>.Image Credit: Shutterstock

 Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia Part 2: A System Revealed

Malaysia’s illegal e-waste trade has been making headlines in recent weeks, from major enforcement raids and large seizures at ports to corruption investigations involving senior officials. Authorities say the scale of the problem runs into billions of ringgit, raising serious concerns about pollution, public health, and enforcement gaps. In this first of a two part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a closer look at what’s been happening with Wong Pui Yi, researcher with the Basel Action Network, and Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) to explore these developments, and what they have revealed about the scale of the problem, and also the risks faced by communities and the environment. 



Listen to Part 2 HERE.


Image Credit: Astralis Technology

Malaysia’s illegal e-waste trade has been making headlines in recent weeks, from major enforcement raids and large seizures at ports to corruption investigations involving senior officials. Authorities say the scale of the problem runs into billions of ringgit, raising serious concerns about pollution, public health, and enforcement gaps. In this first of a two part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a closer look at what’s been happening with Wong Pui Yi, researcher with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://ban.org/">Basel Action Network</a>, and Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://foe-malaysia.org">Sahabat Alam Malaysia</a> and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://consumer.org.my/">Consumers Association of Penang</a> (CAP) to explore these developments, and what they have revealed about the scale of the problem, and also the risks faced by communities and the environment.&nbsp;Listen to Part 2 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/illegal-e-waste-in-malaysia-part-2-a-system-revealed">HERE</a>. Image Credit: Astralis Technology

Macaranga Wrap-Up: June 2025

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