Death penalty tops grouses against Malaysia at UN review
KUALA
LUMPUR, Oct 25 — The call to abolish death sentences and protect the rights of
the indigenous people were the top two recommendations given to Malaysia by
most United Nations members at a human rights peer review yesterday.
Despite
concerns by Muslim NGOs, issues involving freedom of religion and rights of the
sexual minorities did not feature prominently along the three and a half-hour
interactive review by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva,
Switzerland.
Majority
of the countries which reviewed Malaysia’s human rights record in the Universal
Periodic Review urged for it to implement a moratorium on capital punishment,
with a view to abolish it.
Malaysia
currently carries out death penalty as punishment to among others murder, drug
trafficking, and offences against a King, including treason or “waging war
against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong”.
Most
of the countries also urged Malaysia to end racial discrimination against its
indigenous people, and also protecting the rights of migrants and refugees in
the country.
The
UN members also recommended for Malaysia to repeal the Sedition Act and the
Printing Presses and Publications Act, and expressed their worry over the
reintroduction of detention without trial in the newly passed Prevention of
Crime Act.
Malaysia
was also question over its reluctance to ratify and accede to international
human rights protocol, chiefly the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishmen, and Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court.
Meanwhile,
Asean bloc nations gave their support to fellow member Malaysia, commending the
country for its achievements in advancing the rights of women and providing
healthcare and education to its citizens.
Neighbouring
Indonesia however had called on Malaysia to protect the rights of migrant
workers, as approximately 300,00 Indonesian citizens are employed as domestic
helpers here.
This
comes as Indonesia daily The Jakarta Globe had reported last month that 186 of
Indonesian workers currently face the death penalty in Malaysia for various
offences.
On
the other hand, Iran had stressed the need to protect religious minorities,
following alleged state-backed persecution against Shia followers in Malaysia.
Shia
followers — also called Syiah — made up 90 to 95 per cent of Iran’s population,
but remain the minority here, where only the Sunni sect of Islam is recognised.
Several
countries have questioned Malaysia’s treatment of sexual minorities, with
France, Germany and the Netherlands strongly urging Putrajaya to stop
discriminating and criminalising the queer community.
Freedom
of religion was also touched on by several nations, with Austria recommending
freedom to change religion for Malaysians, even for Muslims.
The
Attorney-General Chambers’ representative was made to defend the recent “Allah”
row decision, explaining that any restriction on religion is preventive as it
has the potential to disrupt public safety and order in Malaysia.
The
Home Ministry, meanwhile, explained that over 75 per cent of death in custody
cases in the country were due to health issues and suicides.
The
Malaysian Islamic Development Department denied any discrimination against
women under Islamic laws, claiming that any allegations were unfounded.
Putrajaya
also stressed that issues involving the sexual and religious minorities will be
dealt with by taking into account local norms and context.
Malaysia
first came under the UPR review on February 2009, and consequently accepted 62
of the 103 recommendations issued by the UPR working group.
Held
every four and a half years, the UPR is a UNHRC mechanism that was established
in 2007 to improve the treatment of human rights in all 193 UN member states.
Malaysia is currently a member of UNHRC, the second time after a term in 2009. - Malay mail, 25/10/2013, Death penalty tops grouses against Malaysia at UN review
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