This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on October 27, 2025 - November 2, 2025 “The investor-state dispute settlement system, with its roots in colonialism and extractivism, is not fit for purpose in the 21st century because it prioritises the interests of foreign investors over the rights of states, human rights and the environment.” — David Boyd, 2nd UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment “Investor-state dispute settlement mechanis