About

Liani MK is a journalist based in Malaysia. Of mixed indigenous-diasporic heritage, her work focuses on the environment, human rights, culture, language and migration—with stories that centre women, migrant and indigenous experiences.

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Her passion for storytelling is also reflected through her creative pursuits in visual art, comics and film. Across these media, she has assumed professional roles as a producer, screenwriter, script editor, translator, proofreader, designer, photographer, editor and researcher.

 

She also enjoys co-learning, mentoring, editing and engaging in media advocacy with other journalists and grassroots organisations at the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD).
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As an undergraduate, Liani immersed in history and Southeast Asian studies—where she learnt Thai, played Indonesian gamelan, and researched a precolonial Tagalog writing script called baybayin.

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Awards​

• 2025 — Longlisted — Environmental Reporting Award, One World Media Awards

• 2024 — Honorable Mention — Excellence in Reporting on the Environment, Regional/Local, SOPA Awards

• 2024 — Finalist — Breaking Barriers, Large Division, Nonprofit News Awards (INNYS)

• 2023 — Honorable Mention — General Excellence Category, Solutions Journalism Network Awards

• 2022 — Winner — Said Zahari Young Journalist Award

• 2020 — Silver Award — Social Video, Talkshow/Interview Category, The Telly Awards

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Fellowships

• 2022 — Rest of World Feature Reporting Fellowship

• 2022 — APWLD Fellowship on Migration and Migrant Women’s Human Rights

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Grants​

• 2024/2025 — The Contrapuntal's Bridging Narratives Grant

• 2024 — Earth Journalism Network story grant for Indigenous Environmental Journalists

• 2024 — Earth Journalism Network's STRIDES story grant (managed by Malaysiakini) on Infrastructure Development

• 2023 — Earth Journalism Network story grant to support indigenous journalists to carry out environmental reporting in Asia Pacific

• 2022 — Thomson Reuters Foundation story grant on human trafficking and modern slavery in Malaysia

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Interviews

• 2024 — "Better Drainage in the Fight Against Floods"
  |BFM Earth Matters|Spotify|

• 2023 — "Grain's Anatomy—Heirloom Rice for Malaysia's Food Security" |BFM Earth Matters|Spotify|

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Performance/Recording

• 2017 — "Keselarasan Abu"—Insitu Sessions Volume 5

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Selected Clients and Platforms

• Malaysia — Macaranga, Malaysiakini, Justice for Sisters, KRYSS Network, Penang Monthly, Yahoo! News​ Malaysia

• Asia–Pacific — Kontinentalist, New Naratif, Project Multatuli, Southeast Asia Globe, ViddSee​

• International & Global — The New York Times, NPR, Rest of World

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