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 Bin Borhannuddin obtained his pre-university education in London, United Kingdom, where he lived for six years, before returning to Malaysia to obtain his 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 a Master of Philosophy and a PhD. In the last eight years, he has served at a think tank under the Government of Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Office, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). At IKIM, he has served in multiple roles: academic, consultant, podcast founder, and co-host of Shaping Tomorrow (now in its 10th Season), speech writer, and special officer for international affairs to the Institute’s Director-General. He was awarded the IKIM Excellent Service award for 2021. In 2017, he was selected by the Japan Foundation as Malaysia’s representative for an exchange program to Japan for selected young Muslim leaders. In 2018, he presented at the World Congress of Philosophy in Beijing, China, and in 2022, his book on a distinguished Malaysian thinker was published, titled Ungku Aziz’s Vision of Development (IKIM, 2023). The book was launched by His Majesty Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Deputy King of Malaysia. He seeks to promote dialogue between civilizations on the global front and to promote the right synergy between scholars and practitioners to break away from systemic failures our nations are facing globally. His research interests lie at the intersection of traditional philosophies with the vision of the future, and the idea of progress in accordance with the Worldview of Islam and traditional philosophies.
Dr. Muhammad Syafiq Bin Borhannuddin obtained his pre-university education in London, United Kingdom, where he lived for six years, before returning to Malaysia to obtain his 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 a Master of Philosophy and a PhD. In the last eight years, he has served at a think tank under the Government of Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Office, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). At IKIM, he has served in multiple roles: academic, consultant, podcast founder, and co-host of Shaping Tomorrow (now in its 10th Season), speech writer, and special officer for international affairs to the Institute’s Director-General. He was awarded the IKIM Excellent Service award for 2021. In 2017, he was selected by the Japan Foundation as Malaysia’s representative for an exchange program to Japan for selected young Muslim leaders. In 2018, he presented at the World Congress of Philosophy in Beijing, China, and in 2022, his book on a distinguished Malaysian thinker was published, titled Ungku Aziz’s Vision of Development (IKIM, 2023). The book was launched by His Majesty Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Deputy King of Malaysia. He seeks to promote dialogue between civilizations on the global front and to promote the right synergy between scholars and practitioners to break away from systemic failures our nations are facing globally. His research interests lie at the intersection of traditional philosophies with the vision of the future, and the idea of progress in accordance with the Worldview of Islam and traditional philosophies.
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