Law & Paneir

The rise of digital technologies has transformed how extremist actors operate, particularly in the Global South, where online platforms, encrypted apps, and gaming spaces have become fertile ground for spreading radical ideologies. In Malaysia, a country with one of Southeast Asia’s highest internet penetration rates and a deeply interconnected society, this reality presents an urgent challenge. Violent extremism is no longer confined to physical gatherings or traditional recruitment; it now thrives in digital shadows where identity politics, grievances, and misinformation intersect. The line between online radicalisation and offline mobilisation has blurred, and Malaysia is increasingly at risk of becoming a digital battleground for extremist narratives. Malaysia’s hyper-connected landscape amplifies this danger. With nearly the entire population online and social media embedded in daily life, extremist groups can easily reach young audiences searching for identity, belonging,...

The recent statement by Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin that China supports the development of a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) underscores Malaysia’s cautious but strategic approach to maritime diplomacy. Behind the diplomatic language lies Kuala Lumpur’s balancing act by protecting its territorial sovereignty and economic interests while maintaining stability and constructive relations with Beijing. Malaysia’s treatment of the COC process reflects its deliberate caution: an understanding that preserving and protecting national territory requires both firmness and finesse. Malaysia’s approach to the South China Sea is defined by three interlocking objectives: safeguarding sovereignty, preserving regional peace, and avoiding great-power entanglement. On sovereignty, Malaysia has long maintained that disputes must be resolved through diplomacy and international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Kuala Lumpur reje...

The accelerating convergence of quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and stablecoin technologies has placed Malaysia’s financial sector at a crossroads. These innovations promise efficiency, speed, and inclusion but they also introduce unprecedented vulnerabilities that could destabilise the nation’s economy and sovereignty. As financial crimes become more sophisticated, borderless, and automated, the idea of creating a national intranet: a semi-closed digital ecosystem similar to China’s “Great Firewall” or its “national internet” is gaining quiet traction in security circles. The question is not simply technological but existential: can Malaysia afford to remain open in a world where cyber and financial terrorism can paralyse an economy in minutes? To understand why this debate matters, one must first appreciate the growing complexity of financial terrorism. Unlike traditional terrorism, which relies on physical violence, financial terrorism weaponises economic systems by...

Youth violence in schools is a rising concern in both Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Although these two nations differ in context and systems, recent incidents have revealed troubling similarities. The rise in school-based knife crimes, particularly those involving students, signals deep structural and emotional challenges that require immediate attention. Comparing Malaysia’s recent high-profile school stabbing in Bandar Utama with the UK's long-standing issue of youth knife crime offers valuable insights into shared vulnerabilities and the urgent need for cross-sector solutions. In the UK, knife-related incidents in schools have been steadily increasing. Teachers report students carrying knives to school, and violent altercations have become more frequent in certain areas. While there are varying reasons behind this trend ranging from gang involvement to personal protection—the root issue often ties back to emotional distress, lack of adult support, and easy access to weapo...

As the Russia-Ukraine war drags into its third year, its impact has stretched far beyond the borders of Eastern Europe. What began as a regional conflict has become a global litmus test for power, ideology, and influence. For Europe, the war has exposed deep vulnerabilities not just in military terms, but in its economic stability, political cohesion, and moral authority. From Malaysia’s vantage point in Southeast Asia, the shifting tides of this conflict present a unique opportunity to reassess long-standing global hierarchies and revisit the legacy of Orientalism in framing international relations. The Western response to the war, particularly from European capitals, has relied heavily on moral narratives. Russia has been framed as a revisionist power led by an authoritarian regime, threatening the liberal democratic order. This portrayal echoes Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, a framework where the West historically cast the East as irrational, backward, and dangerous. ...

Malaysia stands at a critical juncture in the evolving digital landscape, where three converging technologies i.e. quantum computing, stablecoins, and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping not only the global economy but also the very nature of crime. These forces, each revolutionary in their own right, are colliding to produce a perfect storm of vulnerabilities. As Malaysia continues to pursue its national digitalisation agenda, it must also confront the darker implications of this technological convergence: the rise of transnational cybercrime, illicit finance, and data manipulation. The challenge now is not just to innovate, but to safeguard. The most immediate technological shock comes from Google’s unveiling of its Willow quantum chip, which recently demonstrated a verifiable quantum advantage: meaning it performed a specific computation far faster than any classical supercomputer could manage. While the experiment was highly specialised, the implications ripple across ...

When the United States launched its sweeping tariff overhaul in 2025, global attention gravitated toward its implications for China and Mexico. Yet the deeper, more troubling story lies elsewhere in how these trade measures are disproportionately impacting developing and least-developed countries. Malaysia’s decision to enter negotiations with the U.S. for sectoral exemptions reveals how middle-income nations are trying to preserve trade stability in a rapidly shifting global system. However, for countries without strategic leverage or economic heft, the path forward is far more precarious. Malaysia will host the ASEAN Leaders Summit from October 26 to 28, where its trade minister, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, is scheduled to meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The goal is to hammer out a bilateral tariff agreement that could exempt certain high-value Malaysian exports including semiconductors, agriculture products, and processed manufacturing goods from the newly imposed tari...

The global security landscape is shifting rapidly. The recent remarks by MI5 Director-General Ken McCallum point to a “new era” where the threat is no longer limited to traditional terrorism. Today, states like Russia, China, and Iran are using espionage, sabotage, digital propaganda, and even proxy violence to destabilise rival nations. This convergence of state hostility with extremist tactics signals a significant evolution in the threat environment, one that Malaysia must urgently recognise. For decades, Malaysia’s national security apparatus has been shaped around internal stability, counter-insurgency, and conventional counter-terrorism. These remain relevant, but they are no longer sufficient. The threats we face now are more complex, diffuse, and layered. They involve cyber intrusions into government databases, attempts to manipulate domestic narratives through disinformation, and the radicalisation of young people via encrypted social media platforms. In short, we are no...

I am writing in response to the article titled "MIC ready to move forward, with or without BN," to offer a different perspective that MIC should remain with Barisan Nasional (BN) rather than align with Perikatan Nasional (PN). The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) now stands at a defining crossroads. Long seen as a steadfast component of BN, MIC is currently grappling with a fundamental question: should it maintain its historic alliance with BN or explore a realignment with the emerging coalition, PN? While the public debate has intensified, it's crucial to unpack who is actually driving this conversation and whether the grassroots of MIC are being heard or sidelined. At the heart of this dilemma lies not just political strategy, but existential concerns about MIC’s relevance, direction, and commitment to the Indian community it claims to represent. More Than just a BN Appendage Since its formation in 1946, MIC has been a vocal advocate for the Indian community i...

The recent killing of a 16-year-old student at SMK Bandar Utama 4 in Petaling Jaya has shaken Malaysia to its core. The suspect, a 14-year-old boy allegedly stabbed the victim more than 200 times. This horrifying act is not only a tragedy for one family but also a chilling mirror reflecting cracks in our collective capacity to detect and respond to youth in deep psychological distress. The brutality of the act immediately raises a question: is this a classic “crime of passion,” or something far more complex and disturbing? Crimes of passion typically involve personal emotions such as rage or jealousy, usually directed at someone the perpetrator has a close relationship with. In this case, reports indicate there was no prior interaction between the suspect and the victim. This absence of an emotional bond points toward something deeper: psychological detachment, obsession, or internal turmoil. In criminological terms, the alleged 200 stab wounds reflect what experts call “overkill...