2025 Malaysia Delegates
H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon
Representative of Malaysia to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Malaysia
Edmund is currently the chair of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and represents Malaysia on the Commission. He is a human rights lawyer who has been practicing in Malaysia for more than 20 years.
Edmund is currently the chair of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and represents Malaysia on the Commission. He is a human rights lawyer who has been practicing in Malaysia for more than 20 years.
Muhammad Syafiq Borhannuddin
Fellow, Center for Economics and Social Studies, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), Malaysia
Dr. Muhammad Syafiq Borhannuddin is currently a fellow at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), where he has been since 2017. He obtained his pre-university education in London, United Kingdom, before returning to Malaysia, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in international business. He embarked on graduate studies at the Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (CASIS; now known as Raja Zarith Sofiah-CASIS) in 2011, where he earned his Master of Philosophy in 2015 and PhD in 2022. His writings on civilizational dialogue, Islamic philosophical perspectives on emerging global issues, and Islamic perspectives on progress and development have been published in various Malaysian newspapers. He has spoken on numerous international platforms on a range of subjects, including in Kyushu Island for Japan Foundation, at the World Congress of Philosophy in Beijing, China, at TRT World’s Istanbul headquarters, Türkiye, and in Moscow, Russia, for the International Inventing the Future Symposium. In 2022, his first book, titled Ungku Aziz’s Vision of Development (IKIM), was published and launched by His Majesty Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Deputy King of Malaysia. His upcoming book is tentatively titled Modern Islamic Scholarship on Ethics: The Case of Fazlur Rahman (1911-1988). His current research focuses on the role of Islamic civilization in the multipolar world.
Dr. Muhammad Syafiq Borhannuddin is currently a fellow at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), where he has been since 2017. He obtained his pre-university education in London, United Kingdom, before returning to Malaysia, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in international business. He embarked on graduate studies at the Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (CASIS; now known as Raja Zarith Sofiah-CASIS) in 2011, where he earned his Master of Philosophy in 2015 and PhD in 2022. His writings on civilizational dialogue, Islamic philosophical perspectives on emerging global issues, and Islamic perspectives on progress and development have been published in various Malaysian newspapers. He has spoken on numerous international platforms on a range of subjects, including in Kyushu Island for Japan Foundation, at the World Congress of Philosophy in Beijing, China, at TRT World’s Istanbul headquarters, Türkiye, and in Moscow, Russia, for the International Inventing the Future Symposium. In 2022, his first book, titled Ungku Aziz’s Vision of Development (IKIM), was published and launched by His Majesty Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Deputy King of Malaysia. His upcoming book is tentatively titled Modern Islamic Scholarship on Ethics: The Case of Fazlur Rahman (1911-1988). His current research focuses on the role of Islamic civilization in the multipolar world.
Suzana MD Samsudi
Fellow, Center for Economics and Social Studies, IKIM, Malaysia
Suzana MD Samsudi is a fellow at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). She holds a bachelor's degree with honors in finance from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and a master’s degree in economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). In addition, she is a Certified Financial Planner accredited by the Securities Commission Malaysia. With over 25 years of combined experience in academia and the financial industry, she specializes in Islamic fund and wealth management. Recognized for her contributions, she was named among the 500 Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance (2021-2024) by Cambridge IFA. At IKIM, her research encompasses Islamic marketing, finance, the halal economy, and the Islamic Family Wellbeing Index.
Suzana MD Samsudi is a fellow at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). She holds a bachelor's degree with honors in finance from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and a master’s degree in economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). In addition, she is a Certified Financial Planner accredited by the Securities Commission Malaysia. With over 25 years of combined experience in academia and the financial industry, she specializes in Islamic fund and wealth management. Recognized for her contributions, she was named among the 500 Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance (2021-2024) by Cambridge IFA. At IKIM, her research encompasses Islamic marketing, finance, the halal economy, and the Islamic Family Wellbeing Index.
Eugene Yapp
Senior Fellow, Religious Freedom Institute, Malaysia
Eugene Yapp is a senior fellow with the Religious Freedom Institute of the South and South East Asia team (RFI SSEAT) and the Director for RFL Partnership, an organization for the promotion of religious freedom and inter-religious harmony in Malaysia. He is the Exco Member of a coalition of 27 civil society organizations in Malaysia called Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia and serves as the National Unity Programme Director for his own NGO, UID Sejahtera Malaysia, where he directs harmony initiatives including issues on interfaith and religious diversity. Regionally, he has been involved in consultations and work with the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights. He is a member of the International Council of Experts on Religious Freedom, which advises the Alliance of States on International Religious Freedom. He was formerly the Secretary-General of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Malaysia (the evangelical alliance of Malaysia). His work in Malaysia focuses on the promotion of national unity, conflict resolution, religious freedom, and inter-religious diversity working with local grassroots community in the poorer bottom 40% areas and the Muslim communities and NGOs. He writes articles for the St Charles Institute and the Religious Freedom Institute and co-authored the recently released Religious Freedom Institute’s Landscape Report on Malaysia.
Eugene Yapp is a senior fellow with the Religious Freedom Institute of the South and South East Asia team (RFI SSEAT) and the Director for RFL Partnership, an organization for the promotion of religious freedom and inter-religious harmony in Malaysia. He is the Exco Member of a coalition of 27 civil society organizations in Malaysia called Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia and serves as the National Unity Programme Director for his own NGO, UID Sejahtera Malaysia, where he directs harmony initiatives including issues on interfaith and religious diversity. Regionally, he has been involved in consultations and work with the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights. He is a member of the International Council of Experts on Religious Freedom, which advises the Alliance of States on International Religious Freedom. He was formerly the Secretary-General of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Malaysia (the evangelical alliance of Malaysia). His work in Malaysia focuses on the promotion of national unity, conflict resolution, religious freedom, and inter-religious diversity working with local grassroots community in the poorer bottom 40% areas and the Muslim communities and NGOs. He writes articles for the St Charles Institute and the Religious Freedom Institute and co-authored the recently released Religious Freedom Institute’s Landscape Report on Malaysia.
Raj Ravi David Jerry
Fellow, Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, BYU–Hawaii, Malaysia
A senior student at BYU–Hawaii from Malaysia, majoring in business human resources. Raj comes from the eastern part of Malaysia, where he grew up in a diverse community of religions, ethnicities, and dialects. His background shaped his understanding of different perspectives, and he deeply cares about topics related to humanity. Because of this, human dignity and religious freedom are subjects he is very passionate about discussing.
A senior student at BYU–Hawaii from Malaysia, majoring in business human resources. Raj comes from the eastern part of Malaysia, where he grew up in a diverse community of religions, ethnicities, and dialects. His background shaped his understanding of different perspectives, and he deeply cares about topics related to humanity. Because of this, human dignity and religious freedom are subjects he is very passionate about discussing.
Deneille M. Martin
Fellow, Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, BYU–Hawaii, Malaysia
A student at BYU–Hawaii from Malaysia, majoring in business human resources, and currently a research assistant for Dr. Po Nien (Felipe) Chou at the BYU–Hawaii Faculty of Religion. Coming from a diverse country and with experience in research, she is passionate about exploring topics related to human dignity and religious freedom and is excited to share what she has learned to benefit others
A student at BYU–Hawaii from Malaysia, majoring in business human resources, and currently a research assistant for Dr. Po Nien (Felipe) Chou at the BYU–Hawaii Faculty of Religion. Coming from a diverse country and with experience in research, she is passionate about exploring topics related to human dignity and religious freedom and is excited to share what she has learned to benefit others