Thursday, 9 April 2026
BFM’s Richard Bradburry and Keith Kam interviewed Jia Yaw on the podcast Morning Brief to discuss Malaysia’s second ever climate litigation case. This judicial review is filed by six youths against the Malaysian government under the campaign ‘Mana Hutan Kami’.
Jia Yaw shared his perspectives on the legal significance of the recent judicial review filed by six Malaysian youths to challenge the government’s actions of earmarking land for development against its pledge to maintain 50% forest cover.
Listen to the podcast here: https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/malaysia-forest-rights-high-court-mana-hutan-kami-campaign
With a lens on sustainable development and environmental justice, Jia Yaw explores:
The significance of this judicial review as a constitutional law case, which emphasises the implicit environmental right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment under Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution which purports the Right to Life.
How this case represents a potential paradigm shift for environmental litigation in Malaysia, particularly in the progressive approach of broadening standing for applicants representing a wider community who are disproportionately harmed by ecological loss.
The courts’ role to uphold the legal duty of the government to protect every person’s right to a safe environment while balancing the need of development.
For more updates on the campaign and the progress of the case, visit: https://manahutankami.com/