Malaysia

by Joseph Masilamany | MALAYSIA

In the indigenous communities of Sabah and Sarawak, Gawai and Kaamatan are currently being celebrated. Many local Catholics today see these festivals as examples of Christian inculturation. And although some ancient rituals have faded over time, the spirit of gratitude, brotherhood and homecoming remains central.

by Joseph Masilamany

Out of 107 recorded cases, 43, or about 40 per cent, involve parliament. This is the highest figure in the last 11 years, when the survey began. For the report, it is "a mirror held up to our society." Meanwhile, the arrest of a journalist is fuelling fears about freedom of the press and information.

| 31/03/2026
| MALAYSIA
by Joseph Masilamany

Malaysian political groups slam Philippine lawmaker Robert Padilla's claim to the Malaysian state in northern Borneo and warn of the risk of tensions within ASEAN. The statement on the oil- and gas-rich region comes as the Philippines is in the throes of an energy crisis. This has reignited a dispute that dates back to the 19th century.

| 28/03/2026
| PHILIPPINES - MALAYSIA

To boost local employment, the government has announced new steps that include higher salary thresholds for visa applications and limited stays, even for high-income migrants. But without investment in training, Malaysia risks only a shortage of skilled labour and rising costs.

| 26/03/2026
| MALAYSIA
by Joseph Masilamany

Residents set up an imposing structure with 1,400 oil lamps for the 27th night of the fast. Part of the preparations for Eid al-Fitr, the initiative engages the community in a collective effort. Well known in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia, the tradition was revived more than ten years ago.

 

| 17/03/2026
| MALAYSIA
by Steve Suwannarat

In a news release, the NGO denounces the conditions of the Muslim refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. More than 5,000 are held in migrant detention centres. Since Malaysia never ratified the refugee convention, it does not formally recognise their status.

| 13/03/2026
| MALAYSIA
by Joseph Masilamany

Zobaidul Amin, 28, is in Alaska where he is set to be brought to trial. Wanted since 2022, he is accused of running an international online sexual exploitation ring. The case highlights the vastness of these networks, based on encryption, cloud computing, and cryptocurrencies. Cooperation between local and Western police is growing, while Asia remains the operational hub for such offences.

| 06/03/2026
| MALAYSIA – BANGLADESH – UNITED STATES
Editor's choices
 
by Shafique Khokhar
In his encyclical, Pope Leo XIV singles out Pakistan's first female prime minister as a public figure who promoted the greatness of humanity. A Muslim, she was assassinated in 2007 in Rawalpindi. Pakistani Catholics expressed gratitude towards her ...
| 28/05/2026
| PAKISTAN – VATICAN
 
by Alessandra De Poli
In May 1956, the hospital near the factory reported an “unknown illness” that was later found to be caused by mercury discharges from the Chisso Corporation. Decades later, the wound remains open in this Japanese city. PIME missionary Fr. ...
| 27/05/2026
| JAPAN
 
by A priest in China
A priest living in the People's Republic of China writes a letter on the "administrative regulations" that prevent people under 18 from participating in religious activities. China’s constitution protects religious freedom, with no reference ...
| 26/05/2026
| CHINA
 
by Giorgio Bernardelli
Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical letter, presented today at the Vatican, represents a comprehensive reflection on the "new paradigm" that technological transformations are bringing to today's world. For the pontiff, it is not enough to dictate ...
| 25/05/2026
| VATICAN
 
The unexpected success of "Dear You”, a film produced on a small budget and in a local dialect, is reviving interest in China about the important role played by letter writing, which for over a century migrants used to send money and news to their ...
| 22/05/2026
| CHINA
 
by Andrea Ferrario
Data on the performance in the first quarter of 2026 confirm the difficulties of China’s southern coastal province, which was the laboratory of the reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping but is now suffering from the downsizing of Hong Kong and the ...
| 21/05/2026
| RED LANTERNS
 
by Nirmala Carvalho
The appeal made at the funerals of the three Baptist leaders killed in recent days during renewed clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Naga tribal groups: “I forgive those who killed my father in the name of the Lord and in the broader interest of peace.” ...
| 18/05/2026
| INDIA
 
One year on from the lightning war of May 2025, India and Pakistan continue to celebrate the conflict as a national victory. But behind the patriotic rhetoric, new military vulnerabilities are emerging, along with a growing arms race and unresolved tensions ...
| 11/05/2026
| INDIA - PAKISTAN
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”