About WeirdKaya
WeirdKaya is a Malaysian digital news and lifestyle platform for young Malaysians, publishing on weirdkaya.com, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. We cover current affairs, society, viral and community stories, entertainment and lifestyle, explained in plain language for a Gen Z and millennial audience.
WeirdKaya is owned and operated by Headline Media Sdn Bhd (202101025979 (1426279-H)), based in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia. The same group also publishes Kaya Bestie (personal finance) and 文字碌碌 (Chinese-language education content). This policy applies to everything published under the WeirdKaya name, on the website and on our social channels, and to every writer, editor, designer and video producer who works on it.
This policy was last reviewed on 29 September 2026. We review it at least once a year and whenever our practices change.
Editorial independence and funding
Our editors alone decide what we cover and how we cover it. WeirdKaya is funded by advertising, sponsored content and branded campaigns.
- We do not accept payment to publish, change, delay or remove a news story.
- Commercial work is produced separately from newsroom decisions and is always labelled (see Sponsored content and advertising).
- Any owner, investor or major commercial relationship that could reasonably be seen as a conflict is disclosed in the story it affects.
Accuracy and verification
Every WeirdKaya story is checked by a second person, an editor, before it is published. Being fast matters to us, but being right matters more: if we cannot verify a claim, we do not publish it as fact.
Our standard checks
- Facts, names, figures, dates and quotes are checked against the original source, not against another outlet’s version of it.
- Official information (policies, statistics, court outcomes, statements) is confirmed with the issuing body: a ministry, agency, court document, police statement or the organisation’s own channels.
- Numbers are given with their unit, date and source, and Malaysian data is used wherever it exists.
- Headlines and social captions must be supported by the body of the story. We do not publish headlines that exaggerate or misstate what happened.
Viral and social media posts
Many of our stories start as posts shared by Malaysians online. Before we write about one, we:
- Find the original post and poster, not a repost or screenshot of a screenshot.
- Check the account, the date and whether the photos or video are new or recycled (reverse image search where needed).
- Contact the poster or the people involved where possible, and seek comment from any business, agency or person accused of wrongdoing.
- Look for independent confirmation: a police report, official response, second witness or on-the-ground check.
- Make clear in the story what we have confirmed and what is still only claimed by the poster. Unconfirmed claims are attributed (“according to the post”, “the netizen claimed”) and never stated as fact.
If a story cannot pass these checks, we hold it.
Sourcing and attribution
Readers should always be able to tell where our information came from. Every story names its sources and links to the original wherever one exists.
- Primary sources first. We prefer official documents, direct statements, court records, data releases and first-hand accounts over second-hand reports.
- Credit other outlets. When a fact or quote first came from another news organisation, we say so and link to it. We do not present another outlet’s reporting as our own.
- Rewrites of existing news add value: context, a local angle, an explanation of what it means for readers. They are not copies.
- Quotes are reproduced accurately. Translated quotes (from Malay, Chinese, Tamil or other languages) are marked as translated, and we keep the meaning, not just the words.
- Social media posts are cited by the poster’s public name or handle, unless naming them would put them at risk (see Privacy).
Anonymous sources. We use unnamed sources only when the information is important to the public, cannot be obtained on the record, and the source would face real harm (such as losing their job or their safety) if named. The editor must know the source’s identity and agree to the anonymity. We explain in the story why the person was not named, and we never grant anonymity for personal attacks.
Types of content we publish
Every article carries a label so readers know what kind of content they are reading. The label appears on the article page and in its structured data.
| Label | What it means |
| News | Factual reporting of what happened, verified and attributed. No writer opinion. |
| Viral / Community | Stories that began on social media, reported to the standards in Accuracy and verification. |
| Explainer | Background and context on an issue, policy or trend, citing official sources. |
| Opinion | The writer’s personal view, clearly marked and bylined. Not the view of WeirdKaya. |
| Entertainment & Lifestyle | Features, listicles, food, travel and pop culture. |
| Sponsored / Advertorial | Paid for by a brand or partner. See below. |
News stories are written in a neutral, third-person voice. Opinion and personal first-person pieces are always labelled as such.
Sponsored content and advertising
Sponsored content pays for our free journalism, and readers will always know when they are reading it.
- Every paid article, video or social post is labelled “Sponsored”, “Advertorial” or “In partnership with [brand]” at the top, and uses the platform’s paid-partnership tag on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
- Sponsored articles are published under a “WeirdKaya Partner Content” byline, not a news reporter’s byline, and are marked as sponsored in their structured data. Outbound links in them are marked rel=”sponsored”.
- Sponsors can review sponsored content for factual accuracy about their product. They cannot review or influence any news story.
- We do not run sponsored content that is misleading, promotes illegal gambling, scams, unlicensed investment schemes or unapproved health claims, or that attacks a person or group.
- Display ads are visually separated from editorial content and are never styled to look like our articles.
How we use artificial intelligence
WeirdKaya uses AI tools to work faster, but a human editor is responsible for everything we publish. No story is published without a person reviewing it.
Where we may use AI
- Finding trending topics and monitoring public sources
- Drafting, summarising, translating and suggesting headlines, which a writer then rewrites and fact-checks
- Transcribing interviews and videos
- Resizing images, removing backgrounds and producing graphics from verified data
What we do not do
- Publish AI output without human review and fact-checking
- Use AI-generated images or video to depict real people or real news events
- Invent quotes, sources or data, or let AI decide what is true
- Credit AI as an author. Every story carries the name of the person accountable for it.
Where AI played a significant part in creating a piece (for example, an illustration or an AI-assisted translation), we say so in the article. Any synthetic image is clearly labelled as AI-generated.
Fairness, privacy and sensitive topics
We aim to be fair to everyone we write about, especially ordinary people who did not choose to be in the news.
Right of reply. Anyone accused of wrongdoing in our stories is given a fair chance to respond before publication where possible. If they reply after publication, we update the story with their response and note the update.
Privacy
- We do not publish private details such as home addresses, phone numbers, IC numbers, car plates or workplaces of private individuals unless it is essential to the story and in the public interest.
- We blur or crop out faces and identifying details of bystanders and private people in viral content where their identity adds nothing to the story.
- We will not name or identify victims of sexual offences, and we do not encourage doxxing or pile-ons against anyone featured in our stories.
Children. We do not identify children who are victims, witnesses or accused in crimes or court proceedings, in line with Malaysian law. We avoid identifying children in viral content without a parent’s or guardian’s consent.
Crime and courts. People charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty. We report what is said in court and in official statements accurately, and we avoid commentary that could prejudice ongoing cases.
Race, religion and royalty. We report on these topics with care, accuracy and respect for all communities, and we do not publish content intended to stir up hatred between groups.
Suicide and self-harm. We follow responsible reporting guidelines: no description of methods, no sensational headlines, and every such story includes information on where to get help, such as Befrienders KL (03-7627 2929).
Images, video and copyright
We only publish images and video we have the right to use, and we credit the people who made them.
- Photos and clips taken from social media are credited to the original poster, and we seek permission where we can.
- Stock and licensed images are used within the terms of their licence. We do not take images from other news outlets or wire services without a licence.
- Photos are not edited in ways that change what they show. Composites, illustrations and AI-generated visuals are labelled.
- Screenshots of posts are used to show what was said, with private information of uninvolved people blurred.
If you believe we have used your work without permission, email [email protected] and we will credit it or take it down promptly.
Corrections and updates
When we get something wrong, we fix it quickly and openly. We do not quietly edit or delete mistakes.
| Types | When we use it | What readers see |
| Correction | A factual error: a wrong name, number, date, quote or claim | A dated note at the bottom of the article stating what was wrong and what is correct |
| Clarification | The facts were right but could be misunderstood | A dated note explaining what we have clarified |
| Update | New information after publication, such as an official response | A dated “Updated” line at the top, with the new information in the story |
| Retraction | A story is fundamentally wrong and cannot be fixed | The story is replaced by a note explaining why it was withdrawn |
- Significant errors are corrected within 24 hours of being confirmed, and the same correction is posted on any social channel that carried the story.
- Spelling and grammar fixes that do not change meaning are made without a note.
- The “last updated” date on an article changes only when the content itself changes meaningfully.
To report an error, email [email protected] with the article link and what you believe is wrong. We reply to every report.
Conflicts of interest and staff conduct
Our team must not let personal interests shape what we publish.
- Staff declare to their editor any personal, family, financial or political connection to a person, company or issue they are assigned to cover, and are reassigned where needed.
- We do not accept cash, gifts beyond a token value, or free trips in exchange for coverage. Media invitations and review products that we do accept are disclosed in the story.
- Staff do not use information gained at work for personal gain.
- Writers do not post content on personal accounts that would undermine WeirdKaya’s fairness on issues they cover.
- We never pay sources for news information.
Feedback, complaints and our team
We want to hear from readers, including when you think we got it wrong.
For Complaints For Errors and Corrections, Story Tips and Press Releases, Complaints about our Journalism or Advertising and Partnerships Related Issues, you may send an email to [email protected] and address your issues to us.
How complaints are handled. Every complaint is read by an editor and acknowledged within 3 working days. We aim to reach a decision within 14 days and tell you what we have done. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Malaysian Media Council (Majlis Media Malaysia), the industry’s independent self-regulatory body.
Our editorial team. Our editors and writers are listed on our About Us, each with a profile page showing their role, areas they cover and their articles.
| Roles | Editors |
| Editor-in-Chief | Esther Lee |
| Managing Editor | Sarah Yeoh |
| News Editor | Jann Firdaus |
We welcome story suggestions from readers and regularly follow up on tips sent to us through our social channels.
