Liani MK, Author at New Naratif

New Naratif empowers Southeast Asians by giving them the information and tools to be fully engaged and participatory citizens.

An illustration in colour pencil and watercolour, divided into one large central image and three panels on the left and right sides. In the centre, a woman in a t-shirt and skirt bows her head and reaches out to her partner, a man in a t-shirt and slacks who is wiping tears off his face. A Malaysian flag hangs in the background, red and white stripes forming bars behind the couple. In the six panels, three on the left and three on the right, the same couple stand at a counter, speaking to different immigration officers in each panel. There are small Malaysian flags on the countertop. The first officer looks stern; the second holds up their paperwork, laughing at it; the third shakes a form at the man angrily; the fourth beckons to another officer; the fifth looks apprehensively at another set of documents; the sixth points to a counter off in the distance, directing them into another series of altercations.

Feature

Amid Tourism Push, Malaysia Keeps Binational Families Apart

by Liani MK and Charis Loke 21 January 202221 January 2022

Pandemic travel and immigration rules in Malaysia have left many binational families stressed, strained and separated for months, with officials deeming foreign spouses “non-essential”. Some have turned to online groups to support and advocate for each other.

Feature

Mothers Fight Sexism in Malaysia’s Citizenship Law

by Liani MK 21 December 202121 December 2021

Malaysia’s constitution allows Malaysian fathers—not mothers—to pass their citizenship to children born abroad. Six mothers successfully challenged this discriminatory policy in court, but must continue to take on a recalcitrant government.