INITIATE.MY

Women Police Leadership Course: Engaging Civil Society
2025-08-27 08:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Shanghai)
Kuala Lumpur, 27 August 2025 — INITIATE.MY participated in the Women’s Leadership Course organised by the British High Commission and Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), delivering a presentation titled “Engaging Civil Society.” The session, led by Aizat Shamsuddin, explored how civil society organisations (CSOs) play an essential role in promoting tolerance, preventing violence, and strengthening democratic resilience.

Drawing from INITIATE.MY’s experience as a data-driven non-profit initiative, the presentation underscored the value of two-way dialogue between government institutions, law enforcement, and community actors. Participants examined how CSOs contribute to crime prevention, community oversight, and policy innovation through independent, ground-up engagement.

The discussion outlined both the opportunities and challenges in state–civil society collaboration. Issues of mistrust, differing approaches to security, and capacity gaps were addressed alongside practical solutions—building trust through sustained engagement, balancing soft and hard security methods, and empowering leadership across institutions.

Aizat also highlighted INITIATE.MY’s flagship programmes, including the Knowledge Hub on Tech Abuse Threats—a platform equipping over 20 civil society members with tools for data-driven advocacy—and the Peace Lab for Youth Leaders, which has trained 50 youth across Malaysia on peacebuilding, intersectional leadership, and social resilience with the involvement of law enforcement’s perspective with the goal to build mutual understanding between the community and authority.

The presentation emphasised that civil society engagement is not ancillary but central to national stability and peace. By bridging data, policy, and lived experience, initiatives like INITIATE.MY demonstrate how inclusive partnerships can strengthen public trust and build long-term social cohesion.

Aizat Shamsuddin presented at the Women’s Leadership Course organised by the British High Commission, RMP and PNP .

DRAPAC Workshop Discussion: Risk Assessment and Resource Sharing to Protect CSOs and HRDs from Tech-Facilitated Abuse Threats
2025-08-28 08:00 - 17:00
Kuala Lumpur, 28 August 2025 – On the third day of the Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly 2025 (DRAPAC25), INITIATE.MY, in collaboration with APCOM Foundation, World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS), and Cloudflare, co-organised a capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening the ability of civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) to navigate digital and physical threats. The session focused on advancing civic space, digital rights, and community resilience across the region. The session aimed to:

1. Build the capacity of CSOs and HRDs to identify and respond to intersecting digital and physical threats;2. Share expert strategies and grassroots approaches for improving security and resilience;3. Facilitate practical learning tailored to real-world contexts and risk environments.

Workshop Session

The workshop opened with a 40-minute breakout session to help participants rapidly assess threats and vulnerabilities. Participants were divided into two groups and tasked with:

1. Identifying their top three risks using a risk likelihood-impact matrix;2. Developing a short action plan with assigned responsibilities and deadlines;3. Mapping internal and external resources relevant to their security context.

Facilitators guided the groups through mapping:

1. Assets (people, data, devices);2. Threats (both digital and physical);3. Response actions across three core dimensions: people (roles, responsibilities, training), processes (SOPs, incident response protocols), and technology (multi-factor authentication, data backups).

This hands-on approach was designed to equip participants with tangible, context-specific strategies for improving protection and resilience in their respective organisations.

Sharing Session

Following the group exercise, a sharing session on available resources to address these risks by diverse practitioners across digital rights, security, and civic engagement sectors. Key highlights included:

1. A presentation on the Dash Chat project, a resilient messaging platform designed for high-risk contexts facing internet shutdowns and surveillance, particularly in under-connected regions.2. A global overview of civic space trends, with emphasis on Asia-specific digital threats and the introduction of a crisis response fund offering emergency grants for digital protection and advocacy.3. A focus on resources available forcollective protection and solidarity of LGBT HRDs from tech-facilitated abuse such as Shelter City, Digital Defender Partnership, AccessNow, IPPF+Front Line Defenders, and ProtectDefender.eu.4. A pro bono cybersecurity initiative providing DDoS protection and technical support for at-risk organisations, empowering CSOs and HRDs with access to professional-grade tools.

The session concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to integrating digital and physical security into their organisational practices. The workshop’s blend of expert insight, peer learning, and practical facilitation ensured that attendees left with both heightened awareness and actionable strategies.

This initiative under DRAPAC25 underscored the critical importance of cross-sector collaboration, innovation, and regional solidarity in protecting civic space and advancing digital rights across the Asia-Pacific.

Workshop participants engaged in a dynamic group discussion on strategies to strengthen protection against digital and physical security threats.

Workshop Discussion: Risk Assessment and Resource Sharing to Protect CSOs and HRDs from Tech-Facilitated Abuse Threats during DRAPAC25
2025-08-28 10:00 - 13:00
Join us for a focused workshop equipping civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) with strategies to strengthen protection against digital and physical threats, featuring:

👥 Speakers

– Jun Ng, Decent Design, User Experience and Discovery Lab (Open Technology Fund)

– Josef Benedict, CIVICUS Monitor Asia Pacific Researcher, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

– Numan Afifi, Shelter City Guest & Senior Research and Policy Officer, APCOM Foundation

– Nabila Hussain, Head, Southeast Asia Public Policy, Cloudfare

📅 28 August 2025 (Thu)🕒 10.00 AM – 1.00 PM MYT📍 Theatrette 1.12, First Floor, AICB Centre for Excellence, Kuala Lumpur

⚠️ This session is open to DRAPAC-registered participants only. If you’re not registered but interested in joining, email us at salam@initiate.my

🔹 Collaboration: INITIATE.MY, APCOM, CIVICUS, and Cloudflare

ISIS-AOD Workshop on Platform Design and Algorithmic Governance
2025-09-10 08:00 - 17:00
Kuala Lumpur, 10 September 2025 – INITIATE.MY participated in the Platform Design and Governance Workshop organised by Architects of Diversity, in collaboration with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia and supported by Luminate. The two-day workshop convened policymakers, researchers, legal professionals, and civil society representatives to strengthen collective understanding of platform governance, algorithmic accountability, and online safety in Malaysia.

The discussions focused on Malaysia’s evolving digital governance landscape and its complex intersections between technology, regulation, and civic trust. Participants explored a wide range of online harms—including scams, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), cyberbullying, hate speech, and disinformation—emphasising how algorithmic amplification and profit-driven platform design continue to challenge user safety, public trust, and social cohesion.

Deliberations reflected on the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability through regulatory frameworks such as the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) and the Online Safety Act (OSA). However, participants observed that enforcement remains fragmented, with regulatory overlaps and uncertainties surrounding platform licensing processes. The conversation further examined the tension between state regulation and platform self-governance, noting that uncoordinated or disproportionate interventions may risk both overreach and ineffective protection.

There was also broad reflection on existing legal provisions governing digital expression, including those that may be overly broad or open to misuse. Participants collectively emphasised the need for future-proof, rights-respecting legislation that balances accountability with freedom of expression, ensuring that safety measures do not undermine civil liberties. Transparency in content takedown processes, platform compliance, and the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms were highlighted as critical to maintaining public confidence and democratic integrity.

Through its participation, INITIATE.MY reaffirmed its commitment to advancing digital governance that centres human security, tech accountability, and democratic resilience.

Participants at the two-day Platform Design and Governance Workshop engaging in a closed-door session on Malaysia’s digital governance landscape and online harms to advance rights-based, accountable approaches to platform regulation.

International Youth Rationalisme Forum 3.0: ‘Exploring Solutions to the Growing Issue of Racial and Religious Extremism in Malaysia from Different Perspectives
2025-09-19 08:00 - 17:00
Kuala Lumpur, 19 September 2025 – The International Youth Rationalisme Forum 3.0: Exploring Solutions to the Growing Issue of Racial and Religious Extremism in Malaysia from Different Perspectives’ organised by the International Youth Rationalism Forum Committee gathered speakers of diverse background to encourage discourse and exchanges on addressing social inequality and all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, caste, gender, and superstitious beliefs.

The programme featured four speakers including Eow Shiang Yen, Partnerships & Communications Officer of INITIATE.MY. He analysed how structural factors and public perceptions interact in driving intolerance and division in his session on ‘Unpacking the Roots of Racial and Religious Extremism in Malaysia – Systems and Perceptions’ His presentation also called for systemic reforms such as strengthening legislation on hate speech, advancing restorative justice, and incorporating mediation as an alternative conflict resolution mechanism through community-based approaches.

Armand Azra bin Azlira, a historian and a researcher delivered his sharing on ‘Understanding Malaysia Beyond the Three Races – Inclusivity of the Orang Asli’, while Sharmini Aphrodite, a historian and writer shared Understanding Malaysia Beyond the Three Races – Inclusivity of Sabah and Sarawak, highlighting the need to recognise and integrate Malaysia’s indigenous and East Malaysian communities into national narratives of unity.

International Youth Rationalisme Forum 3.0 closed with a call for Malaysians to think rationally, engage openly, and build bridges of understanding. The forum affirmed that Malaysians can safeguard the nation’s harmony only by committing collectively to inclusivity, ethical communication, and sustainable conflict resolution.

Panelists and the organising committee of the Rationalisme Forum 3.0 recognised the importance of using a third space and open forum in improving inter-ethnic and inter-religious understanding.

Knowledge Hub Webinar: Are We Ready to Tackle Tech-Facilitated Harms?
2025-10-15 14:00 - 16:00
How prepared are we to confront the growing threats enabled by technology — from disinformation, online hate to crimes targeting vulnerable communities?

Bringing together experts from Malaysia and across the region, our panel will unpack how technology is reshaping the threat landscape from online extremism and disinformation to digital abuse — and what policy, platform, and community responses are needed to build safer online spaces.

Stay tuned for insights from:👤 Dr. Haezreena Begum, Criminologist & Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya👤 Tamara Yesmin Toma, Research Coordinator, Dismislab, Digitally Right, Bangladesh👤 Harris Zainul, Director of Research, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia💬 Moderated by Suyin Chia, Researcher, Initiative to Promote Tolerance & Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)

📅 15 October 2025, Wednesday🕓 2pm – 4pm MYT📍Zoom Platform

Peace Lab for Malaysian Leaders and Thinkers
2025-10-25 00:00 - 2025-12-31 23:59
APPLY FOR PEACE LAB FOR MALAYSIAN LEADERS AND THINKERS

⏳ Application Deadline Extended!

We are extending the participant application for the Peace Lab for Malaysian Leaders & Thinkers 2025 until 15 October 2025!

INITIATE.MY is delighted to invite you to apply for the Peace Lab for Malaysian Leaders and Thinkers, a three-month leadership programme running from October to December 2025.

Peace Lab offers a unique opportunity for Malaysian civil society leaders, community and youth leaders, media practitioners, and legal practitioners to enhance their knowledge, refine their advocacy skills, and contribute to promoting religious freedom and tolerance in Malaysia.

Programme Details•⁠ ⁠Programme Name: Peace Lab for Malaysian Leaders and Thinkers•⁠ ⁠Programme Period: October – December 2025•⁠ ⁠Application Link

For more information about the programme:

FAQs about the programme:

Be part of Malaysia’s next generation of changemakers.✨

Peace Lab for Malaysian Leaders and Thinkers Workshop
2025-10-25 08:00 - 2025-11-09 17:00
Online, 25 October, 1-2 November 2025; Kuala Lumpur, 7-9 November 2025 – A total of thirty participants from civil society, legal practice, media, academia, youth organisations and universities enrolled into the Peace Lab for Malaysian Leaders and Thinkers , a programme designed to strengthen their capacity in peacebuilding, digital resilience and community leadership. The initiative consisted of three online workshops and a three day in person workshop, covering five core themes: religious freedom and tolerance, radicalisation, peaceful conflict resolution, advocacy tools, and advocacy skills.

In the first online workshop session, participants explored how misinformation and harmful narratives affect public understanding of religious freedom and tolerance. They examined how misleading content distorts issues related to identity and belief, often turning minor disagreements into perceived threats. Participants also learned how false claims about religious communities move rapidly through memes, short videos, and private chats. They discussed how these narratives weaken trust in democratic protections, strain intergroup relations, and undermine efforts to promote respect and coexistence in the analysis of case studies.

In the second online workshop session, the programme then focused on the radicalisation process, emphasising how hate speech, polarising content, and algorithm driven feeds shape individual behaviour. Participants studied how generative artificial intelligence and deepfake materials enable harmful actors to manipulate emotions and reinforce ideological echo chambers. They looked at case studies where false or exaggerated stories pushed individuals toward closed-minded attitudesand encouraged hostility. In these discussions, participants recognised the importance of building digital literacy and community resilience to counter messages that normalise division or violence.

In the third online workshop session, participants examined how distorted narratives escalate tensions within communities and challenge peaceful conflict resolution. They analysed situations where misinformation amplified fear, directed blame and made constructive dialogue more difficult. The participants discussed how algorithms favour sensational content that deepens misunderstanding and accelerates conflict. They also explored how conflict sensitive communication, mediation practices and community based responses can reduce harm. Participants recognised that addressing misinformation requires not only fact correction, but also efforts to build empathy, trust, and practical mechanisms for resolving disputes.

During the in-person workshop, participants took part in panel discussions and dialogue sessions with practitioners serving in peacebuilding, media, community development, and stakeholder engagement. Participants focused on building practical advocacy skills, beginning with a session on effective community and stakeholder engagements. They explored strategies for organising inclusive community initiatives, strengthening networks, and fostering collaboration across different groups. A session on strategic communications then introduced approaches for creating impactful digital content, including podcasts, newsletters, and documentary style storytelling, while emphasising ethical and responsible communication. Participants also learned about effective documentation and reporting practices, which support transparency, accountability, and long-term project learning. These discussions encouraged participants to think critically about how they plan, communicate, and sustain their future Peace Lab initiatives.

On the second day of the in-person workshop, participants turned their attention to project design and practical implementation. They examined tools for constructing advocacy projects, including goal setting, stakeholder mapping, risk management, and monitoring and evaluation. Facilitators guided them through the development of their Peace Lab project concepts, and participants drafted and presented their ideas for feedback and refinement. This provided participants with a deeper understanding of how different actors approach peace and security issues, and how civil society can contribute constructively. Across both days, participants strengthened their skills in responsible communication, project planning, and collaborative engagement. They gained practical tools to design initiatives that promote inclusion, address community needs, and support peaceful interaction. The programme concluded with reflections and closing remarks, allowing participants to consolidate their learning and prepare for continued involvement in peacebuilding efforts.

As the Peace Lab workshop came to a close, participants left with a strengthened foundation in peacebuilding, advocacy, and community leadership. The combination of digital literacy, conflict sensitive communication, and practical project design equipped them to develop initiatives that respond to real community needs while fostering trust, inclusion, and resilience. Participants gained access toresource support to shape their ideas into meaningful actions that contribute to a more cohesive, informed, and peaceful Malaysian society.

Peace Lab participants celebrate the completion of an intensive learning journey, ready to apply their new skills to strengthen inclusion and resilience in Malaysian communities.
