The Quiet Revolution of Humanists Malaysia

Why we picked it

Not attending the World Humanist Congress in Ottawa? Everyone is welcome to this free and rare opportunity to hear a story of courage, strategic advocacy, and rare diplomatic successes in one of Southeast Asia’s most religiously restrictive countries. In Malaysia, atheism is viewed not merely with disapproval but as a threat. A government minister’s call for atheists to be “hunted down vehemently” reflects the risks of promoting secular values. Against this backdrop, Humanists Malaysia remains a small but determined movement working to change attitudes and, ultimately, laws. Though few—“glistening specks of sand on the vast beach of Malaysians”—its members are becoming increasingly visible. A.J. Surin is Founder & President of [Humanists Malaysia](https://humanists-malaysia.org/), an environmental, constitutional & human rights lawyer, and a prominent advocate for freedom of thought, conscience, and belief in Southeast Asia. His work is driven by a deeper commitment to minimizing exi