Law & Paneir

Recent developments in the United States surrounding food safety particularly the banning of Red Dye No. 3 due to its link to cancer have reignited global conversations on the dangers hidden in everyday foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s move reflects a growing concern not only about acute foodborne illnesses but also about chronic exposure to harmful additives and contaminants present in ultra-processed foods. A growing body of research suggests strong correlations between these foods and serious health conditions, including various forms of cancer. As the American food industry faces scrutiny for years of regulatory delays and health risks linked to consumer products, countries like Malaysia should treat these signals as an opportunity for self-reflection and reform. In Malaysia, food safety concerns are more often associated with hygiene lapses and food poisoning incidents, especially in school canteens, bazaars, and roadside stalls. However, the global food landsc...

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) is facing a critical juncture in its political journey, as discussions surrounding a potential shift from Barisan Nasional (BN) to Perikatan Nasional (PN) continue to grow. The idea of joining PN, a relatively new coalition, may seem appealing to some, but the long-term consequences for MIC and its grassroots supporters could be dire. While the allure of short-term gains is tempting, MIC must resist the temptation to leave behind its historical alliance with BN, especially considering the implications of aligning with a coalition that is not only uncertain but also increasingly influenced by the conservative elements of PAS. MIC's Legacy Within BN Since its establishment in 1946, MIC has been a pillar of Barisan Nasional (BN), a coalition that has governed Malaysia for most of the country’s post-independence history. MIC’s role in BN has been vital for representing the Indian community and ensuring that their voices are heard in the natio...

More than two decades after the September 11 attacks, the world continues to reflect on the profound impact that day had on global security, foreign policy, and national resilience. In the United States, the annual memorial traditions have shifted to include a new generation that children and grandchildren of those who perished. But the relevance of 9/11 isn’t confined to memory or geography. It serves as a potent reminder that terrorism is not static; its forms, motivations, and methods constantly evolve. For Malaysia, which has experienced its own brush with violent extremism, the lessons of 9/11 remain highly instructive. The changing nature of terrorism demands more than reactive countermeasures as it requires proactive and adaptive strategies to protect national sovereignty. The Ulu Tiram Attack: A Wake-Up Call Malaysia received a stark reminder of domestic vulnerability with the May 2024 attack on the Ulu Tiram police station in Johor. A lone individual, initially suspected of be...

Recent developments in the United States, particularly the FDA’s move to ban Red Dye No. 3 due to its links with cancer, underscore the urgent need for modern food safety regulations that go beyond addressing immediate, visible risks. While the U.S. grapples with chronic exposure to harmful additives and ultra-processed foods, Malaysia continues to struggle with more fundamental issues: outdated legislation, inconsistent enforcement, and preventable food poisoning cases. The country’s key food safety law, the Food Act 1983, no longer meets the needs of a complex, globalized, and chemically altered food system. In light of recent food safety incidents, Malaysia must treat this as a pivotal moment to reform its food safety framework starting with a serious update to the Act itself. Despite some progress such as the reported 20% drop in food poisoning cases in early 2025 but major outbreaks continue to make headlines and shake public confidence. In July 2025, 427 students in Kota Bh...

The global geopolitical landscape is in flux, with shifting power dynamics, emerging global challenges, and evolving national interests. For Malaysia, as a key Southeast Asian nation, the strategic choices it makes in response to the United States’ grand strategy will have far-reaching consequences for its future in the region. Stephen Walt, the Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, presents a realist framework for U.S. foreign policy, arguing for restraint, strategic alliances, and a focus on economic and diplomatic power. In this analysis, we will examine how Malaysia should navigate U.S. grand strategy based on Walt’s insights, balancing its own national interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements in global power struggles. The Case for Restraint: Managing U.S. Overreach A central argument in Stephen Walt’s realist approach is the idea of strategic restraint. According to Walt, the U.S. has consistently overextended ...

More than two decades after 9/11, the global understanding of terrorism has evolved but so too has its complexity. The threat is no longer confined to large networks orchestrating spectacular attacks from afar. Instead, it often emerges through smaller, more fragmented acts that are no less dangerous. For Malaysia, this evolution has been both visible and sobering. The grenade attack at the Movida Bar in 2016, the Ulu Tiram police station assault in 2024, and the earlier Sauk siege in 2000 reveal a dangerous trajectory from organized insurgencies to lone-wolf extremism which all with roots in ideology, grievance, and fractured identity. Each of these incidents carries its own lessons, but all reflect a common failure to anticipate and pre-empt the signals of radicalization. In 2016, when a grenade was thrown into the Movida Bar during a football screening, the initial reaction was to treat it as an isolated criminal act. Only later was it recognized as Malaysia’s first ISIS-linke...

In a bold and controversial move that has sparked international criticism, U.S. President Donald Trump recently imposed steep tariffs reportedly as high as 50% on a broad array of Indian exports to the United States. These included everything from textiles and seafood to engineering goods, a clear departure from the traditional US-India economic partnership. The policy, combined with Trump’s inflammatory comments portraying India as a “dead economy” and accusing it of drifting into China's orbit, sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. While the immediate economic impacts are severe hurting Indian exporters and disrupting global supply chains but the long-term damage may be far more geopolitical. Trump’s actions have not only alienated the world's largest democracy but may also accelerate India’s pivot toward multipolar partnerships, including deeper ties with Russia, China, and other BRICS nations. The New York Times article analysing this situation underscored the i...

As the world’s geopolitical landscape shifts, Southeast Asia faces a critical juncture. The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and the growing alignment between China, Russia, and India are reshaping international relations, urging ASEAN to rethink its position. While the U.S. continues to exert economic pressure through mechanisms like tariffs and dollar dominance, the need for ASEAN to maintain regional autonomy has never been more apparent. Among the various strategic options available, Malaysia is uniquely positioned to lead ASEAN towards a future of digital sovereignty: an area of both immense potential and significant geopolitical importance. Digital infrastructure and governance have become key instruments of geopolitical influence in the post-pandemic world. With China’s ambitious Digital Silk Road Initiative and the U.S.’s digital multinationals shaping the global landscape, the digital realm has become a new front in the great power rivalry. However, ...

The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, may be remembered as a pivotal moment in the slow dismantling of U.S.-centric global supremacy. Originally conceived as a regional security forum, the SCO is now rapidly transforming into a geopolitical and economic bloc with ambitions far beyond Central Asia. The presence and active engagement of China, Russia, and India: three nations that collectively account for over a third of the world’s GDP (in purchasing power parity terms) and more than 3.5 billion people signal a coordinated challenge to the prevailing Western-led international order. These powers, bound by mutual distrust of Western economic coercion and frustrated by what they see as the moral hypocrisy of Western diplomacy, are consolidating around a new vision of global multipolarity. For Malaysia, this evolving landscape presents both opportunities and significant challenges. Situated at the crossroads of global trade routes and diplom...

Allegations that Malaysian military officers and journalists may have sold classified information to a smuggling syndicate have shaken public confidence and raised the spectre of internal espionage. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has responded swiftly, affirming a zero-tolerance approach and granting full authority to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate. But as alarming as this domestic breach is, Malaysia is not alone. Across the globe, insider espionage has repeatedly proven to be one of the most damaging threats a country can face. Learning from these international cases is crucial if Malaysia is to protect its sovereignty and reinforce its national security framework. One striking example is the case of Dickson Yeo Jun Wei, a Singaporean who was convicted in the United States in 2020 for acting as an undeclared agent for Chinese intelligence. Yeo targeted American military and government personnel through LinkedIn, gathering sensitive infor...