Earth Matters

For years, residents, activists and the Bukit Kiara longhouse community fought plans to develop part of Taman Rimba Kiara, a dispute that eventually made its way to the country's highest court. In 2023, the Federal Court ruled that the proposed development was unlawful, securing a landmark victory for those seeking to preserve the park. But throughout that long struggle, campaigners repeatedly stressed that saving Taman Rimba Kiara was only part of the story. The other part involved a promise made more than four decades ago to families relocated from the Bukit Kiara estate in 1982, many of whom have spent the past 44 years living in temporary longhouses while waiting for permanent homes. Now, under a new proposal by the government, 98 longhouse families will receive new homes, while part of the land will be gazetted as public open space. We find out about the latest developments from Leon Koay and Khairudin Rahim from the Save Taman Rimba Kiara Working Group, and Sivakumar Muniandy, Secretary of the Bukit Kiara Longhouse Residents Association.

Listen to our previous coverage:

TTDI vs DBKL: Green Lung or Built Blocks? 

TTDI vs DBKL: Taman Rimba Kiara - Not Out Of The Woods Yet 

TTDI vs DBKL: A Problematic Plan 

TTDI vs DBKL: Appeals, Land Conversions, Unmeaningful Public Consultation
It Takes a Village - The Story of Saving Taman Rimba Kiara 

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 More than 1,500 Orang Asli and supporters recently gathered in Putrajaya to submit a memorandum calling for greater recognition and protection of Indigenous customary lands. The demonstration comes amid growing concerns over land disputes affecting Orang Asli communities across the country, including the recent demolition of homes belonging to a Jakun community in Pekan, Pahang. We take a closer look at why land rights remain such a pressing issue, what's at stake for Orang Asli communities, and what advocates are calling on the government to do next, with Eliana a/p Tan Beng Hui, Programme Coordinator from Apa Kata Wanita Orang Asli and Albert Bansa, an Environmental Campaigner with Greenpeace Malaysia.

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Forest restoration is often described as a long game. Trees that are planted today may take decades to mature, and ecosystems can take even longer to recover. Yet restoring degraded ecosystems requires more than patience, it often depends on the commitment of individuals willing to invest their own time, energy and resources for results they may never fully see. In Sungai Buaya, Selangor, photographer, conservationist and Green Tree co-founder David Lok has spent years personally funding a forest restoration initiative that brings together Orang Asli communities, conservationists and forestry authorities. He joins us to discuss the challenges and rewards of restoring a degraded landscape, what meaningful progress looks like over decades rather than years, and how a new exhibition of his works, Forest Speaks, is helping to support the effort.

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As we mark World Oceans Day today Coral Triangle Day in June, it's worth remembering that Malaysia sits within one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth. Our waters are home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sea turtles, sharks, and countless other species that support fisheries, tourism, livelihoods, and coastal communities. But a new report suggests that many of these ecologically important areas overlap with active and proposed offshore oil and gas development. Produced by RimbaWatch with technical contributions from SkyTruth and support from the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, the report titled Reefs at Risk: Mapping Fossil Fuel Threats to Sensitive Marine Environments in Malaysia, presents the first comprehensive mapping of how Malaysia's offshore fossil fuel industry intersects with what it calls Sensitive Marine Environments. To discuss the findings and what they could mean for marine conservation, governance, and the energy transition, we're joined by Adam Farhan, Co-Founder and Director of RimbaWatch, and Angelina Dacanay, Southeast Asia Energy Transition Lead at the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).

Image Credit: Inside Climate News

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What does meaningful climate engagement actually look like for young people today? Beyond headlines and social media, how do we create spaces for real conversations, collaboration, and action? Those are some of the questions at the heart of the Rainforest Youth Summit, which returns this year in Sarawak with a programme focused on sustainability, culture, innovation, and youth leadership. We learn more about the summit’s journey so far, what attendees can look forward to this year, and why these conversations matter now more than ever from Dr. Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, the CEO of the Sarawak Tourism Board, and Marina Abdullah, the Summit Director of the Rainforest Youth Summit.

Listen to the interview with Fijian climate activist Dylan Kava, an attendee of this year’s summit, here.

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On this episode of Nature Reads, we speak to guest Ir. Dr. Kribanandan G Naidu, Immediate Past President of Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves. We discuss the books, experiences, and ideas that inspired Dr Kriban’s connection to nature and conservation, the history and importance of urban green spaces like Bukit Kiara, and the newly updated edition of the thoughtfully crafted guidebook, Bukit Kiara: A Sanctuary in the City. 

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with independent bookstore Sunda Shelves.

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The school holidays are around the corner, along with a string of long weekends and public holidays, which means many Malaysians are probably already planning road trips and quick getaways. And with all the recent conversation around fuel subsidy rationalisation and rising travel costs, suddenly that nearby nature escape is sounding a lot more attractive. Luckily, Malaysia is full of ecotourism gems worth discovering, especially during Visit Malaysia Year 2026, so today, we’re taking a road trip around Peninsular Malaysia, exploring nature-based destinations to the north, south, east, and west of Kuala Lumpur, with some help from Andrew Sebastian, CEO of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia (ECOMY).

Image Credit: Shutterstock, Visit Johor 2026

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Across the Pacific, communities are already living with the realities of the climate crisis. From rising sea levels to stronger storms and threats to food security, many island nations are facing impacts despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global carbon emissions. At the same time, activists and young leaders from the region are continuing to push for climate justice and greater global accountability. We discuss Pacific climate realities with Dylan Kava, a Fijian environmental advocate, political activist, and the Strategic Communications Lead at the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, who will also be in Malaysia soon for the Rainforest Youth Summit. He shares more about his journey into activism, the climate-related challenges already facing Pacific nations, and why youth voices are becoming increasingly important in shaping climate action.

Image Credit: We Are Young Pacific Leaders Facebook

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Urban forests often quietly disappear before people realise what has been lost. But in the case of Bukit Dinding, a growing community of residents and environmental advocates have been working hard to ensure this important green space remains protected. From conservation work and biodiversity documentation to raising awareness about development concerns, Friends of Bukit Dinding has become a strong voice for urban environmental stewardship in Kuala Lumpur. To tell us more, we’re joined by Adrihazim Rashid, President of Friends of Bukit Dinding, and Inci Syafruddin, Vice President of the organisation.

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For decades, global climate talks have largely focused on reducing emissions. But at a landmark conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, countries, scientists, Indigenous leaders and civil society groups gathered to tackle a much more direct question: how do we actually move the world away from fossil fuels themselves? The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, has been described by some observers as a possible turning point in global climate diplomacy, with participating nations calling for clearer roadmaps, fairer financing, and a faster transition away from coal, oil and gas. So what really happened at Santa Marta, what were the big conversations and tensions in the room, and could this mark the beginning of a new phase in global climate action? To help us unpack it all, we’re joined by Nithi Nesadurai, the Director & Regional Coordinator at Climate Action Network Southeast Asia (CANSEA), who attended the conference in person.

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