‘Incredible’ regression in human rights in Malaysia, says watchdog

An international human rights body says the country saw an “incredible” regression in rights last year, citing decline in media freedom and treatment of migrants among other key issues.

(FMT) – Human Rights Watch (HRW), in its World Report 2021, targeted its criticism at the Perikatan Nasional-led administration which came into power last March.

“Malaysia has undergone an incredible reversal of human rights in 2020, all for the worst. Hopes for human rights reforms have never risen so fast in Malaysia nor collapsed so quickly,” said Phil Robertson deputy Asia director at HRW.

The report said there was an “aggressive crackdown” on freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, attacks on the media as well as discrimination against migrants and refugees.

HRW said this included investigations into journalists, notably the probe into Al Jazeera for sedition, defamation and violation of the Communications and Multimedia Act over a documentary on Malaysia’s treatment of migrants during the pandemic.

That probe saw Al Jazeera staff being questioned and its Kuala Lumpur office being raided.

Also highlighted was how the government sought to hold online news portals responsible for comments posted by readers.

HRW also criticised the exclusion of migrants from aid programmes and the detention of thousands of undocumented migrants in “overcrowded and unsanitary” immigration depots.

It also said there was a “wholesale retreat” from genuine police accountability for abuses with the government’s withdrawal of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission bill.

This bill has now been replaced with the Independent Police Conduct Commission bill but rights groups have criticised it as lacking the power to deal with police misconduct.

“The government should stop backsliding and fully respect the rights of all within its borders,” Robertson said.