Asean lawmakers urge Malaysia to end harassment of MPs, activists

 

Southeast Asian parliamentarians from the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) have urged Malaysian authorities to cease their harassment of opposition MPs and allow them to fulfil their duties as representatives of the people.

This came after at least four lawmakers were called in for questioning by police in recent days regarding their involvement in anti-corruption protests on Jan 20 and Jan 22.

The APHR cited the cases of PKR MPs Maria Chin Abdullah and Fahmi Fadzil who were summoned by police in Kuala Lumpur over their involvement in a protest which called for the head of the MACC Azam Baki to be suspended for alleged improper conduct in office.

Aside from Fahmi and Maria, MPs Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam) and Teresa Kok (Seputeh) and three assemblypersons - Lim Yi Wei (Kampung Tunku), Young Syefura Othman (Ketari) and Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing) - have also been hauled up.

Those summoned include individuals from the Muda, DAP, PKR, PSM and Pejuang.

“It is concerning that Malaysia is continuing on the path of using state machinery to harass and intimidate opposition voices, including MPs, as part of an attempt to silence them,” said Risa Hontiveros, a Philippines MP and APHR member.

“The government’s reaction to legitimate peaceful protests calling for accountability in public office should not be to harass those demonstrating, but instead investigate their concerns.

"Demanding accountability and answers for corruption allegations is crucial in a democracy, and authorities must not impede that," she said.

“We stand in solidarity with our fellow parliamentarians and remind the Malaysian government that a police force should be used not to harass and intimidate government critics but to protect and respect the people’s right to protest and free speech.

Authorities must immediately end these threats and use the state apparatus to hold those in public office accountable to the people,” Hontiveros added.

The APHR said along with Malaysia recently dropping five places in the Transparency International’s Corruption Index rating, there has been widespread public outcry demanding accountability for the MACC chief commissioner and for genuine institutional reforms to be implemented.

In its annual report, Parliamentarians at Risk, published in late 2021, APHR found that legal harassment of opposition MPs in Malaysia had risen alarmingly alongside a wider crackdown on freedom of expression. - Mkini