Climate Disinformation in Malaysia: Appropriating Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

In Malaysia, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) – who make up 11% of the population and largely reside in climate-vulnerable forested areas – are disproportionately affected by “climate disinformation”. Amplified by the rapid expansion of digital media since the early 2000s, such disinformation manifests in greenwashing narratives, the promotion of false climate solutions, the denial of deforestation, and the appeal to “wellbeing” in order to justify continued carbon-intensive business practices. This report examines how these narratives reinforce and intensify the marginalisation of IPs, stemming from the appropriation of their rights by the majority Malay population. Such impacts include their exclusion from decision-making processes, forced evictions from ancestral lands, large-scale deterritorialisation and the criminalisation of those calling for accountability. Together, these dynamics result in the cyclical impoverishment and dispossession of IPs. The report advances targeted recommendations for government institutions, international bodies, civil society, the media and technology companies. Ultimately, addressing climate disinformation is essential for restoring the dignity of Indigenous communities and safeguarding inclusive, rights-based and effective climate action in Malaysia.