Malaysia's freedom of expression further stifled – Amnesty report

Global rights group Amnesty International in its annual overview said the Malaysian government has failed to fulfil commitments to reform restrictive laws, threatening civic space and furthering rights violations.

The findings were recorded in its 2023-2024 State of the World’s Human Rights report launched yesterday, delivering an assessment of human rights in 155 countries, including parts of the world suffering from the consequences of ongoing conflicts.

“If the government is truly committed to improving the state of human rights in Malaysia, it must acknowledge its shortcomings and work more collaboratively with civil society to ensure that policies and practices are brought in line with international human rights law and standards,” said Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Katrina Jorene Maliamauv.

Areas of concern for Malaysia include persistent issues of the death penalty, freedom of expression, police violence and custodial deaths, refugee and migrant rights, indigenous peoples’ rights, and the right to a healthy environment.

The report stated that Malaysia remains in the minority of countries that have chosen to retain the death penalty, despite abolishment of its mandatory aspect.

“Fully abolishing the death penalty would demonstrate the commitment to human rights of the government of Malaysia and be an example of the needed leadership for rights in the region.

“Malaysia must indefinitely extend the moratorium and urgently commute all existing death sentences as the next step towards abolishing the death penalty entirely,” said Maliamauv.

Restrictive laws

While the present administration had campaigned on promises of reforms, including restrictive laws, Amnesty International said the first year in power saw a shrinking space for freedom of expression in Malaysia with increased censorship, harassment, and restrictions on peaceful assembly.

Among others, the report recorded police questioning the filmmakers of the movie “Mentega Terbang”, which the Malaysian Film Censorship Board eventually banned, as well as peaceful rally organisers exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right.

“What has been deeply disappointing is that the government has failed to fulfil its commitments to reform laws that restrict the right to freedom of expression as it had committed to do in its pre-election manifesto.

“Completely backtracking on its commitment, the government has instead continued to use these laws to silence critical voices and prevent peaceful protest,” said Maliamauv.

Further, she said apparent attempts to erase all aspects of LGBTQ+ culture in Malaysia, for example through the Home Ministry’s ban on rainbow-coloured Swatch watches, had made matters worse for the state of freedom of expression in Malaysia.

As such, she urged the government to be honest about how laws have been used to stifle expression and political participation, followed by showing integrity to fulfil its own commitment towards reforms.

Migrant issues

Meanwhile, the report stated that allegations of human rights violations continue to be reported from detention centres where refugees and migrants are indefinitely detained.

In December 2023, authorities disclosed that 12,400 people, including 1,400 children, were being held in immigration detention centres across Malaysia, according to the report.

At the same time, forced deportations continued to take place with individuals and entire communities at risk of being sent back to places where they are likely to face serious human rights violations, such as Myanmar. - Mkini