The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) launches Peace Lab for Malaysian Leaders and Thinkers as the third edition of its flagship programme to advance religious freedom and tolerance in Malaysia by building upon the previous editions: Peace Lab for Youth in 2021 and Peace Lab for Religious Leaders and Thinkers (PLRT) in 2024. 

This programme will bring together civil society, community and youth leaders, media professionals, and legal practitioners. Participants will gain intersectional knowledge and practical advocacy tools over three months to address intolerance and restrictions on freedom of belief in Malaysia and beyond.

The design of Peace Lab: Malaysian Leaders and Thinkers guides participants through five main activities:

• Recruits 30 diverse participants through a competitive application process.
• Delivers at least 30 hours of hybrid workshops on human rights, extremism, hate speech, and the abuse of technology.
• Equips participants to implement profession-linked advocacy projects with seed grants and mentorship.
• Documents lessons learned through reports and peer presentations.
• Convenes participants for a summit and graduation in March 2026 to present outcomes and adopt a joint declaration of recommendations and next steps.

The programme aligns with Malaysia’s Federal Constitution by upholding fundamental liberties and freedom of religion; with the Malaysian Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (MyPCVE) by fostering resilience and prevention-focused engagement; and with the National Unity Action Plan by strengthening social cohesion. At the global level, it advances the UDHR’s guarantees of freedom of belief and expression, the Marrakesh and Beirut Declarations’ emphasis on interfaith solidarity, and the UN SDGs, particularly Goals 4, 10, and 16.