Tag Archives: climate disinformation

In-Depth

Traditional Fisher-Guardians Test Meaning of Conservation

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Bajau residents of two islands in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park are battling eviction due to the lack of land titles, forefronting the tension between conservation and indigenous communities. Versions of this story were first published in The Star.

BEFORE dawn breaks over Pulau Sebangkat, Sabah, 36-year-old fisherman Mohd Gadafi Ahmad puts on a security vest, climbs into a boat and heads out to sea. His destination is not a fishing ground.

Instead, he patrols the waters around his island home in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park (TSMP), watching for fish bombers and other activities that could damage the coral reefs he has spent years helping to protect.

(Feature image: One last house remains standing on the coast after hundreds of Bajau islanders were evicted from Pulau Bodgaya in 2024; mango orchards were also partly cleared [left]. |  Image by Patrick Mosinoh Jr)

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In-Depth

Can Malaysia expand its busiest port without displacing a cultural icon?

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Malaysia is going full speed ahead with the proposed Carey Island port, suggesting work could start by September. But the island’s Indigenous Mah Meri still do not know how their villages and the mangrove forests which support their world-renowned culture — will be impacted. Story co-published with Eco-Business.

THE EVE of the Hari Moyang festival (Ancestor’s Day) is traditionally a family affair in Kampung Sungai Kurau, a village on the edge of Selangor’s Carey Island.

As twilight falls on 18 March, adults and children of the Indigenous Mah Meri community gather around hand-built wooden shrines in their gardens. They have spent hours weaving nipah palm leaves and gathering fresh flowers to decorate the shrines, no two of which are the same.

(Feature image: Using mangroves bounty, the Mah Meri community worship ancestral spirits on Hari Moyang in sanggar (shrines), both in the sea, with Westport visible, and within mangrove forests.   |  Image by Samantha Ho

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Training

Macaranga Mentorship on Climate Disinformation and Indigenous People

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. 

>> 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. 

Macaranga Workshop on Constructive Journalism, Climate Disinformation and Indigenous People 2026 (Lee Kwai Han/Macaranga)

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

Workshop climate disinformation announcement

[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.

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