Macaranga Mentorship on Climate Disinformation and Indigenous People

Mentorship story findings shared in largest indigenous gathering in Malaysia

22 August 2026: Macaranga was at the World Indigenous People’s Day 2026 (PHOAS 2026) celebration in Kampung Rantai, Apin-Apin, Tambunan.

Through a panel discussion and photo exhibition, journalists Rebecca Chong and Patrick Mosinoh Jr presented findings from the Macaranga Climate Disinformation and Indigenous People project, focusing on disinformation and the use of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in journalism.

The session also provided a safe and open space for Indigenous participants to ask questions about the role of the media, how journalists can better understand their communities, and how their concerns and struggles can be highlighted more accurately and responsibly in the news.

The event was launched by Bulawan Sigah Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who called for Orang Asal to be recognised as partners in development and for their rights to land, resources and basic infrastructure to be respected.

Themed ‘Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being”’ the event also highlighted the role of Indigenous midwives as custodians of traditional knowledge, culture and community wellbeing.

The 3-day programme brought together Indigenous communities and organisations from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia to exchange knowledge, strengthen solidarity and discuss issues ranging from self-governance and renewable energy to women’s rights, healthcare and community-led conservation.

Above: Journalist Rebecca Chong sets up exhibition of Macaranga project stories (pics: Patrick Mosinoh Jr). Below, top left: Rebecca Chong and Patrick Mosinoh Jr present story findings and answer questions from participants (pics: courtesy PACOS Trust).

From maps to guardianship and culture, journalists cover responses to climate disinformation

29 July 2026: The second part of our project has concluded with in-depth stories by 4 journalists on issues related to climate disinformation and indigenous people in Malaysia.

>> Rebecca Chong and Patrick Mosinoh Jr covered the Bajau traditional marine stewards in the Tun Saharan Marine Park who are threatened with eviction over the lack of land titles.

The Star‘s 2-parter: A park, a people, a dilemma and Guardians without a home
TVS’s news segment: Memelihara Alam Sekitar: Antara Konservasi dan Komuniti
Macaranga’s full investigative feature: Traditional Fisher-Guardians Test Meaning of Conservation

>> Pocketimes’ Liew Yimin covered how Orang Asli communities are using old and existing maps and creating their own community maps to document and prove ownership of their traditional lands: The Orang Asli Land Dispute: How Do You Prove This is Your Home?

Yimin also produced an-indepth video on the protest itself: Even a court ruling can be ineffective? A lawyer points out the root cause of conflicts over ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples.

>> Despite being icons of Orang Asli culture, the Mah Meri are at risk of being displaced and the mangroves central to their culture destroyed, as a port in their homeland gets greenlighted.

In the final phase of our project, 4 journalists are tackling blue carbon and local/indigenous communities: look our for the series in Macaranga.

This project aims to increase coverage on and capacity in reporting on climate disinformation and indigenous people in Malaysia. The goal is to boost access to relevant and reliable public interest information and inform constructive public debate around climate change and Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to climate action in Malaysia.

Project journalists start to investigate climate disinformation

28 April 2026 (updated 6 July 2026): Journalists from 3 different newsrooms have embarked on investigating issues related to climate disinformation and indigenous people in Malaysia.

Following Macaranga‘s March workshop on these issues, 3 selected participants have begun working on their respective stories in Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Langat and Semporna.

They will be mentored by Macaranga.

At the same time, 4 journalists have started looking at climate disinformation in blue carbon which will be published in an upcoming series in Macaranga.

This mentorship aims to increase coverage on and capacity in reporting on climate disinformation and indigenous people in Malaysia. The goal is to boost access to relevant and reliable public interest information and inform constructive public debate around climate change and Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to climate action in Malaysia.

Eighteen enthusiastic participants soak in constructive journalism on climate and communities

27 April 2026: Macaranga‘s workshop on constructive journalism, climate disinformation and indignous people drew a mix of journalists and communicators/activists.

Their expertise ranged from text to broadcast, freelancing to newsroom, community organising to indigenous rights. About half were indigenous.

What they worked on:

Identify “red flags” in the narratives and framing of climate issues, specifically impacting Orang Asal communities.
Understand how to apply FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) standards to protect community integrity and build trust in their reporting.
Apply the three pillars of Constructive Journalism to move past “feel-good” stories and highlight credible, scalable responses that honour Indigenous agency.
Develop pitches for one of 3 story grants and a 3-month long mentorship by Macaranga.

Best of all, everyone shared ideas and experiences and came up with great ideas together!

With thanks to Rimba Ilmu, Universiti Malaya.

This workshop is part of the Macaranga Mentorship on Climate Disinformation and Indigenous People.

Call for Applications ~ For Journalists: Reporting on the Environment

[UPDATE : 13.2.26 APPLICATIONS CLOSED] Tired of fighting fake climate news? Or writing bad news? Let’s do something about it. Macaranga invites journalists to join a 3-day workshop on Constructive Journalism, Climate Disinformation and Indigenous People from 3-5 March 2026. Apply here by 13 February 2026.

Reporting on the environment today involves more than just documenting crises; it requires navigating a landscape where news fatigue and disinformation can often overshadow the truth. Journalists are uniquely positioned to guide the conversation back to credible, community-focused storytelling that explores the full complexity of an issue, highlights potential solutions, and builds engagement.

In Malaysia, Indigenous communities are often at the heart of these stories and suffer disproportionately from climate disinformation. This free three-day workshop is designed to equip journalists and media practitioners with practical tools to move beyond traditional “doom and gloom” narratives. We will focus on the Constructive Journalism framework centered on solutions, nuance, and democratic conversation to elevate reporting that is both accurate and impactful.

Objectives

Learn to identify “red flags” in the narratives and framing of climate issues, specifically impacting Orang Asal communities.
Understand how to apply FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) standards to protect community integrity and build trust in your reporting.
Apply the three pillars of Constructive Journalism to move past “feel-good” stories and highlight credible, scalable responses that honour Indigenous agency.
Gain hands-on experience in moving from binary conflict toward nuanced, evidence-based narratives.
Design engagement strategies that help your stories reach and resonate with your target audience.

Story Grant Opportunities
All participants will be eligible to apply for one of three story grants (MYR3,000 each). Following the workshop, you will have 14 days to refine your pitches for formal submission. The three selected grantees will then have three months to complete their stories. During this time, they will receive one-on-one mentoring to help bring their constructive journalism stories to publication.

Eligibility & Logistics

Open to all full-time and freelance journalists in Malaysia working in any local language (print, television, online, or radio). The workshop will be conducted in a mix of English and Bahasa Malaysia.
This training is free. You will receive a travel stipend to attend the workshop within KL/PJ.*
Selected participants must commit to the full three-day programme (March 3–5, 2026). A RM100 refundable commitment fee is required to secure your spot.
Successful applicants will be notified by February 17, 2026.
The organiser’s decision on applications is final

Trainers

Nadiah Rosli – Nadiah is a freelance environmental journalist and Managing Director of Tocang Links, an interdisciplinary consultancy. Trained in Constructive Journalism and formerly with Internews and Ocean Discovery League, she brings expertise in science communication and training design. She has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities and mentoring journalists to produce solutions-oriented, community-led storytelling.

Wong Siew Lyn – Siew Lyn runs Macaranga and as mentor/editor has led 4 other mentorships for journalists from multiple newsrooms from workshop to publication. She has undergone Constructive Journalism training and has reported on and worked with indigenous communities for 3 decades.

Mustafa Along – Mustafa Along is an Indigenous rights defender and environmental activist. He is the founder and chairman of Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan (JKOAK), and since 2008, has led Temiar grassroots movements in Gua Musang to protect native customary lands from encroachment. Besides advocating for land rights, Mustafa champions Indigenous education and healthcare, focusing on the long-term well-being and rights of his community.

Queries: Email macarangamy@gmail.com

Updated: 29.1.26 Corrected the wording from “reimbursed for travel expenses”