IMAN Research

IMAN Research IMAN Research is a think tank focusing on society, beliefs, and perception. In Bahasa Malaysia, the word 'iman' means 'faith'. IMAN makes sense of all the above.

Religion is not only about faith and its practices. In Malaysia, it is also about economics and politics. Are the headlines we see and read the reality of public life in Malaysia? What are the politics and agenda behind religious life in the country, and who are its influencers? We are a boutique think tank. The team behind IMAN consists of academics, researchers, writers, journalists, policy spec

ialists, and civil society activists with more than 10 years of work experience within the public and private sectors. IMAN aspires to provide reliable information to a young Malaysia and the region on matters pertaining to society, religion and perception. This is crucial in the domains of peace and security, ethnic relations and religious harmony in multicultural societies. Malaysia is the ideal ecosystem to test out solutions between orthodoxy and modernity, Muslims and non-Muslims, and indigenous and immigrant populations. We aim to deliver sound policy solutions along with actions and measurable outcomes. We realise that it is urgent to partner our friends and neighbours to build, manage, and sustain strong communities and cities. IMAN works and partners with civil society organisations, academic bodies, and institutions from around the world. We currently chair the Malaysian chapter of the Southeast Asian Network of Civil Society Organizations on Countering Violent Extremism (SEAN-CSO).

In this week’s Substack essay, IMAN Research Director, Aziff, explores the socio-political charge behind ‘amok’. How has...
16/06/2026

In this week’s Substack essay, IMAN Research Director, Aziff, explores the socio-political charge behind ‘amok’. How has it perpetuated throughout Malay history and culture, and how has it materialised in contemporary politics. Aziff argues that amok has splintered into known phrases like ‘jangan cabar kesabaran kami’, and how what was once an act of sacred violence has become institutionalised. The Malay no longer needs to enact amok because the state has taken over the role of enacting amok.

Read more in our link in bio.

In our latest discussion, we’re unpacking the complex intersection of global power and local reality. From the reach of ...
12/06/2026

In our latest discussion, we’re unpacking the complex intersection of global power and local reality. From the reach of external political figures to the nuances of local minority representation, the rules of political engagement are changing rapidly.

Join the conversation on BFM 89.9 The Business Station BFM 89.9 as we break down these shifting dynamics and explore what it really means to have a seat at the table in today’s political climate. Tune in now via the link in our bio!

In collaboration with , our researcher Liew Liang Hong sat down with ‘Beyond The Ballot Box’ host Dashran Yohan () to ex...
09/06/2026

In collaboration with , our researcher Liew Liang Hong sat down with ‘Beyond The Ballot Box’ host Dashran Yohan () to explore the rise of China as a global powerhouse and whether its soft power is shaping the identity and political views of young, local Chinese.

The 8th and final episode is part of a mini-series that explores how young Malaysian Indians and Chinese understand identity, belonging, and their place in Malaysia today. It builds on IMAN’s earlier project, Orang Kita, which focused on Malay Muslim youth. To listen to the 8th episode, click the link in bio!
     

In this week’s Substack essay, IMAN Director, Dina Zaman reflects on the class dynamics within the different ethnic grou...
09/06/2026

In this week’s Substack essay, IMAN Director, Dina Zaman reflects on the class dynamics within the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. Why do the different Malaysian ethnic groups celebrate their community’s success—or ignore its working class—to varying degrees? How does class, an aspect not often acknowledged, shape how the different communities participate in Malaysian economic and democratic life?

Read the easay in our link in bio.

IMAN Research notes with concern the recent online discourse surrounding a highly selective, decontextualised excerpt fr...
05/06/2026

IMAN Research notes with concern the recent online discourse surrounding a highly selective, decontextualised excerpt from the book Malayland (2024), authored by our Co-Founder, Tengku Dina Zaman.

We reject the weaponisation of isolated quotes that distort original research intent. Reducing complex sociological research to sensationalised social media framing does a profound disservice to the critical work of national cohesion.

Read our full institutional statement.

“Are we misreading an entire generation?”Why so many Chinese youths are actually heavily detached from partisan politics...
29/05/2026

“Are we misreading an entire generation?”

Why so many Chinese youths are actually heavily detached from partisan politics and feel completely unrepresented by today’s leaders? In collaboration with Gun Shot Podcast and Liew Liang Hong from Iman Research, this episode dives deep into the minds of 120 Malaysian Chinese youth, and the findings are a massive wake-up call for our entire society.

What does this mean for Malaysia’s economic and political future?

Watch the full conversation now. Link in bio! 🔗

In the latest episode of BFM’s *Beyond The Ballot Box*, researcher Shalini Muniapan from IMAN Research dives into a cri...
29/05/2026

In the latest episode of BFM’s *Beyond The Ballot Box*, researcher Shalini Muniapan from IMAN Research dives into a critical conversation: the crisis of the Malaysian-Indian political imagination.

From dealing with systemic exclusion to navigating the fatigue of race-based political parties, this episode unpacks why so many young Malaysian Indians feel disconnected from the current landscape—and what meaningful political re-engagement could actually look like.

Is it a crisis of imagination, or a failure of systemic inclusion? Let’s talk about it.

In collaboration with  , our researcher Liew Liang Hong sat down with ‘Beyond The Ballot Box’ host Dashran Yohan to exp...
28/05/2026

In collaboration with  , our researcher Liew Liang Hong sat down with ‘Beyond The Ballot Box’ host Dashran Yohan to explore the key priorities of Malaysian-Chinese youth, including infrastructure and social harmony.

This episode is part of a mini-series that explores how young Malaysian Indians and Chinese understand identity, belonging, and their place in Malaysia today. It builds on IMAN’s earlier project, Orang Kita, which focused on Malay Muslim youth. To listen to the sixth episode, click the link in bio!

What can Malaysians learn from Taiwan, a nation at the edge of a geopolitical conflict? IMAN Researcher, Liew Liang Hong...
25/05/2026

What can Malaysians learn from Taiwan, a nation at the edge of a geopolitical conflict? IMAN Researcher, Liew Liang Hong recently came back from the island-state and reflects on the deep ties between the two countries and its people. More importantly, however, Taiwan offers lessons on how to build a security-minded society through investing time, policies and resources in the areas of defence.

Read this week’s Substack essay in the link in bio.

RSS and Hindutva are often treated as distant issue unfolding in India. This brief asks what happens when that ecosystem...
22/05/2026

RSS and Hindutva are often treated as distant issue unfolding in India. This brief asks what happens when that ecosystem starts to intersect with our own anxieties in Malaysia; like the temple demolitions with WhatsApp forwards, and TikTok clips framing the issue as “defending” faith and identity.

Through the lens of the Malaysian Indian community, it traces how genuine hurt over worship and dignity can be subtly rewritten by imported narratives, and how easily self‑respect can be nudged towards a harder, more exclusionary politics. The question is no longer just whether RSS is “here”, but whether we can protect our communities without becoming foot soldiers in someone else’s project.

Read the full IMAN Brief by Shalini Muniapan via the link in our bio.

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