Malaysiakini has won the Society of Publishers in Asia (Sopa) 2025 Award for excellence in reporting on human rights issues.

The award was granted to S Vinothaa, Azneal Ishak, Khoo Shiyuan, Aidila Razak, Ooi Choon Nam, and Amin Landak for their contribution to “Heavy metals found in Kelantan Orang Asli blood, community fear poisoned by mining”.

The report by Kini News Lab, a Malaysiakini unit specialising in data journalism and innovative storytelling, is part of a series on the plight of the Temiar community in Gua Musang after their main water source turned red due to mining activities linked with chromium contamination.

In delivering the award, the judges commended the “powerful reporting” with scientific tests and data, strengthening the case beyond personal reportage.

The judges also hailed the impressive multimedia and data visualisation techniques, which helped to clarify and amplify written words, highlighting that the perseverance, commitment, and courage of the journalists had aided in raising the report to the top.

The main water source for the Orang Asli of Kampung Kelaik has turned a copper red after mining activities nearby began

The three-part series, which was produced with support from the Pulitzer Centre, was also previously awarded a gold award at the MPI-Petronas Malaysia Journalism Awards 2024.

Another Malaysiakini report, which secured an MPI award, also emerged as a finalist for the Sopa Award for excellence in reporting on the environment.

The Kini News Lab report, titled “Timber grab: The truth behind Pahang oil palm plantations”, highlighted how Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang logging activities had disrupted the water supply in villages near Hulu Tembeling, Pahang.

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini also bagged the Sopa Award for excellence in video reporting through its documentary, co-produced with investigative collective The Fourth Alliance, on “baby snatching” affecting stateless families in Sabah.

The documentary was based on Malaysiakini’s exposé on the issue in 2023, which was recognised with a Sopa Award last year as well as the Kajai Award.

An illustration of Aimah, a Bajau Laut woman who has her baby taken from her at a Sabah hospital

The news portal’s reporting on the Sabah corruption scandal implicating several state assemblypersons also received an honourable mention for Sopa’s Scoop Award, with the award going to RK Anand, Ng Ling Fong, Hariz Mohd, and Alyaa Alhadjri.

The judges said the entry stands out for exposing alleged corruption by state leaders through multiple, secretly recorded videos provided by a whistleblower, highlighting that the reports had generated a “large reaction” - including an investigation by the MACC.

The scandal is centred around a series of videos, documents, and screenshots of text messages implicating Sabah politicians in discussions about bribes in exchange for supporting a businessperson’s application for a mining exploration licence.

Despite repeatedly seeking protection, the businessperson-turned-whistleblower, known only as “Albert”, is expected to be charged in court next week, alongside two state assemblypersons.

Sopa was founded in Hong Kong in 1982 to encourage best practices in the publishing industry, set a high bar for journalistic standards, and be a voice for press freedom and journalists’ rights in Asia Pacific.

The annual Sopa Awards for Editorial Excellence was established in 1999 to recognise and reward great journalism. The annual awards are highly coveted and have become a highlight of the regional media calendar.

It has become widely regarded as the “Pulitzer Awards of Asia”.