There is so many more issues of human rights in the COMANGO report but just a few is picked on by persons of different views....just like there was so many issues during GE13 but some just choose to respond to '40,000 Bangladeshis flown in...' (not even sure who made that allegation in the first place.
Universal Periodic Review is a United Nations process that reviews country by country according to a predetermined schedule on the issue of human rights with reference to universally accepted standards. Malaysia would present their report, and others including Civil Society Organisations/Groups can also put in their report and reccomendations. Other countries also evaluate Malaysia and make reccomendations of what Malaysia can do to improve human rights in Malaysia.
One of these reports is the COMANGO (Coalition of Malaysian Non-Governmental Organisations) report, whereby this COMANGO report was ultimately endorsed by 54 Organisations/Groups in Malaysia. Note there were also other reports send by Malaysian groups, international NGOs and groups from other countries.
Political parties are also Non-Governmental NGOs, and they too could have send their own report and recommendations for the Malaysian UPR - but unfortunately I did not see any such reports from Pakatan Rakyat(PR) or any other political parties in Malaysia. The NGOs or CSOs now making criticisms about the COMANGO Report also could have send their own report and recommendations - but they did not.
Now the various different CSO reports, including the COMANGO report is at the end of the an exercise of the freedom of expression and opinion. The COMANGO report is certainly not comprehensive - and what happens is that it would contain what different CSOs or persons put forward.
COMANGO report covers so many different human rights concern, but sadly just a small part has been highlighted and made an issue. Sadly, these critics fail to make a stand whether they do support the rest of the recommendations or not say about Death In Custody, 'Shoot To Kill' by the police...(look at the full report below)
Does COMANGO represent all CSO groups in Malaysia? Certainly not for there really are thousands of NGOs and groups in Malaysia. But a perusal of the list of endorsing groups suggest that this are the most active of human rights groups in Malaysia - advocacy groups.
It may be a good thing to search and visit the UPR for Malaysia - and see the various stakeholder reports, the Malaysian government presentation and the recommendations from so many different nation states..
STAKEHOLDER
REPORT ON MALAYSIA
FOR THE 17TH
SESSION IN THE 2ND CYCLE
OF THE HRC’S
UNIVERSAL
PERIODIC REVIEW IN 2013
Prepared by:
The Coalition of
Malaysian NGOs in the UPR Process
(COMANGO)
Endorsed
by 54 organisations:
Pusat Kesedaran
Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Education and
Research Association for Consumers, Malaysia (ERA Consumer), All Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Residents’ Asscociation (APAC), All Women’s Action Society (AWAM),
Amnesty International, Malaysia, ASEAN Institute for Early Childhood
Development, Association of Women’s Lawyers (AWL), Association of Women with Disabilities Malaysia, Coalition to Abolish
Modern Day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA), Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ),
Childline Malaysia, Christian Federation Malaysia, Community Action Network
(CAN), Centre for Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (CRIPS), Dignity
International, Foreign Spouses Support Group, Good Shepherd Welfare Centre,
Health Equity Initiatives, Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia
(JKOASM), Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT), Justice For Sisters, Pusat
Komunikasi Selangor (KOMAS), Knowledge and Rights with Young people through
Safer Spaces (KRYSS),KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee,Land Empowerment
Animals People (LEAP), Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET),
Malaysian Child Resource Institute (MCRI), Malaysian Physicians for Social
Responsibility, Malaysia
Youth & Student Democratic Movement
(DEMA), Migration
Working Group (MWG), PANGGAU, Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur
(PERMAS), PS The Children, PT Foundation, People’s Service Organisation (PSO),
Seksualiti Merdeka, Perak Women for Women Society, Persatuan Guru-Guru Tadika
Semenanjung Malaysia (PGGT), Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor dan Kuala
Lumpur, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Rainbow Genders Society, Sabah
Women’s Action-Resource Group (SAWO), Southeast Asian Centre for e-Media
(SEACem), Sinui Pai Nanek Sengik (SPNS), SIS Forum (Malaysia) Bhd (SIS),
Tenaganita, Voice of the Children (VOC), Writers’ Alliance for Media
Independence (WAMI), Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), Women’s Centre for Change,
Penang (WCC), Yayasan Chow Kit, Young Buddhist Association, Youth Section, Kuala
Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Youth Section
A. BACKGROUND AND FRAMEWORK
Consultation process
This report was
prepared after a national consultation held on 17-18 July 2012 with NGOs
involved in diverse human rights issues in Malaysia. 34 NGOs attended, along
with 1 representative each from the National Human Rights Commission of
Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and the ILO,[1] and 2 from the United
Nations.
1. Scope of international obligations
Malaysia has acceded to only 3 of
the core human rights treaties:CEDAW[2];CRC[3]; and CRPD[4], and to 2of the 3 optional
protocolsunder CRC.
Recommendations:
1.1. Remove all reservations and declarations
on CEDAW, CRC and CRPD.
1.2. Accede to ICCPR,[5] ICESCR,[6] ICERD,[7] CAT,[8] ICRMW,[9] ICPPED[10]and their optional
protocols, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and ratify the
3rd optional protocol to CRC.[11]
2. Constitutional and legislative
framework
2.1. The Federal Constitution (FC)
is the supreme law of Malaysia. It is a constitutional monarchy, with the Kings
having largely ceremonial roles. There are 9 sultans out of the 13 states in
Malaysia. These 9 sultans take turns to become the King, rotating once every 5
years.
2.2. Although Malaysia claims to subscribe to
the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the Executive is overwhelmingly dominant
and powerful. This results in a de facto parliamentary
supremacy rather than a constitutional supremacy. Laws are regularly passed
with very short notice, no or very little consultation, and hardly any debate
in Parliament. These practices often result in laws which are contrary to human
rights e.g., the DNA Act2009
and Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA).
2.3. A Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC)
was established on 2 February 2009 to ensure a more transparent and fair
selection of judges and to make recommendations about the judiciary.[12] Despite these measures,
claims persist of corrupt judges who will fix cases when approached by lawyers
who are part of a “Dream Team”.[13]
2.4. The Judicial Academy (JA) was established on 16
December 2011 for judicial studies. We are concerned that in 2012 and until
February 2013, there were no sessions on human rights.[14]
2.5. The Malaysia Law Reform Committee (MLRC)
was established in December 2009 to review all laws to assess their
relevance and to make recommendations to the government for reform. To date, no
reports have been made public and its achievements are not known. No member of
any NGO serves in its Steering Committee.[15]
Recommendations
2.6. Train judges, other legal and judicial
officers, and parliamentarians to increase their understanding of human rights,
especially in relation its application to their work in line with Article 7 of
the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training.[16]
2.7. Publish annual reports on the work done by
the JAC, JA and MLRC.
3. Institutional and human rights
infrastructure and policy measures
3.1. SUHAKAM has retained its ‘A’ status with
the ICC[17] after amendments were
made to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999.[18] Now there is a selection
committee that makes recommendations on potential Commissioners. Commissioners
are appointed for a maximum of 2 3-year terms. The Commissioners appointed
after the amendments have shown more willingness to deal with controversial
issues e.g., on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)rights by initiating
dialogues with religious groups and other stakeholders, participated as
observers in BERSIH 2.0 and BERSIH 3.0 rallies, holding an on-going public
inquiry into the events of BERSIH 2.0, and appointed counsels to hold watching
briefs in workplace gender discrimination and child rights cases.
3.2. However, SUHAKAM’s annual reports that are
submitted to Parliament are not debated.
3.3. Malaysia’s membership in the ASEAN
Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN
Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ACWC)
has not made ASEAN more human rights friendly. ASEAN focuses on business and
the economy. The selection process for the AICHR representative was not open or
participatory - no consultation was carried out with the stakeholders before
the appointment was made. At this stage, its commitments to human rights in
ASEAN are still largely only lip service. The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration
2012[19] has further entrenched
the principles of non-interference and cultural relativism, and made the
nebulous issue of public morality important. There is also no mention of SOGI
rights[20] or the rights of
indigenous peoples.
Recommendations:
3.4. Debate SUHAKAM’s report in Parliament.
3.5. Review the ASEAN Charter, and the terms of
reference of AICHR and ACWC to give greater emphasis on the promotion, and
especially the protection and realisation of human rights.
3.6. Institute an open, transparent and
inclusive selection process for the representatives to AICHR and ACWC such as
those carried out in Indonesia and Thailand.
B. COOPERATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS
4. Cooperation with treaty bodies
4.1. Malaysia has been reviewed by the CEDAW
and CRC Committees only once respectively despite their ratification in 1995.
After those reviews, no further reports were filed by Malaysia to the CEDAW and
CRC Committees
4.2. The ‘CEDAW & Malaysia: Malaysian NGOs’
Alternative Report[21](CEDAW Alternative Report)
was prepared in April 2012 by women’s groups, coordinated by the Women’s Aid
Organisation, to share their concerns over the slow pace of the attainment of substantive
equality and in some instances, the roll-back in women’s rights. Key concerns
include:the guarantee of gender equality under Article 8(2) of the FC is only
applicable when the party discriminating is a public authority and not private
citizens or corporations;[22]Malaysian women’s
inability to automatically confer citizen on their children if they had foreign
spouses and their children were born abroad; the failure of the legal system to
ensure that perpetrators of violence against women are held accountable and
sentenced appropriately; and the discrimination faced by women, especially
Muslim women during divorce and other matters related to marriage and family;
and the
escalation of discrimination and violence against lesbians, bisexual women and
the transgendered.
4.3. Malaysia’s implementation of the CEDAW
Committee’s recommendations is poor especially when they touch on matters which
intersect with religion and culture[23] e.g., the requirement of
the wali’s(guardian) consent for the
prospective bride even though she is an adult.
4.4. Two of the most important recommendations
by the CRC Committee that Malaysia has yet to implement are to:[24]
4.4.1. undertake a review and reform of
the plural legal systems, without which inconsistencies
in the definition of the child under national laws remain, with multiple
contradictory definitions of the child under both civil and Syariah law; and
4.4.2. to accede to other human rights
instruments, including ICRMW and CRSR[25]otherwise it leaves migrant
and refugee children with no framework to protect their rights.
4.5. Malaysia has failed to submit any reports
to the CRPD Committee, and so no reviews have been conducted.
Recommendations:
4.6. Strictly comply with the timelines for
reporting to the CEDAW, CRC and CRPD Committees.
4.7. Fully comply with the recommendations made
by the CEDAW and CRC Committees.
5. Cooperation with special procedures
5.1. Despite being a member of the UN Human
Rights Council, Malaysia has only invited the Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention during the period under review.[26]
Recommendations:
5.2. Issue an open invitation to all the
Special Procedures.
5.3. Accept requests by special procedures when
they seek to visit Malaysia.
C. IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN
RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT APPLICABLE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN
LAW
6. Equality and non-discrimination
6.1. SOGI
6.1.1. Malaysia refuses to
recognise SOGI rights as human rights. Lesbians, bisexuals, gays,
transgendered, inter-sexed and queer persons (LBGTIQ)are vilified, face
violence and are subjected to constant harassment by state and non-state actors
alike.
6.1.1.1 For example, a massage centre in
Penang was raided 4 times between 2010 and 2011 for offering ‘gay massage’;[27]a fitness centre was
raided and the Police investigated the case under carnal intercourse against
the order of nature;[28] a transgendered person
ran away from a centre for ‘rehabilitation’,[29]effeminate boys were sent
to camps to make them more ‘masculine’,[30]and transgendered persons
being attacked by unknown persons.[31]
6.1.2. Matters are made more complex when issues of
sexual orientation and gender identity are inter-woven with religion -
especially Islam - as Muslims are subject to both the Syariah and civil legal
systems, and then politicised.The Prime Minister has labelled the LBGT community as
enemies of Islam.[32]Sexual
orientation is used as tool to attack Pakatan
Rakyat (PR), the opposition coalition.[33]Anwar Ibrahim, the Leader
of the Opposition and a Muslim, and has been prosecuted twice on charges of
sodomy – and acquitted both times.With the support of the Ministry Information,
Communications and Culture, a musical, Asmara
Songsang (Deviant Love),[34] was shown at theIstana Budaya (Palace of Culture) in
Kuala Lumpur on 1-2 March 2013, and will tour Malaysia after that. Besides
portraying LBGTIQs in a negative light, there were also
innuendoes about opposition members and leaders of civil society.[35]
6.2 Racism
Malaysia
is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation. Muslims make up approximately 61%
of the population, and Malays make up around 55%.[36] Article 160(2) of the FC
defines ‘Malay’ as being Muslim. Malays have special privileges under Article
153 of the FC.This intertwining of the race and religion has proven
to be a powerful political tool for those who want to stay in power, or to get
in power. Many actions and speeches of state and non-state actors violate
Article 8(2) of the FC which states that there shall be no discrimination on
the ground of race. There does not appear to be any efforts by the government to
speedily eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestations. Some
incidents include:
6.2.1. a
principal of a school asked Chinese students to return to China, and likened
prayer strings used by Indians to dog leashes because it made them look like
dogs. No discernable actions were taken against the principal;[37]
6.2.2. The Biro
Tata Negara(National
Civics Bureau),is an agency in the Prime Minister’s Department with an
objective to nurture the spirit of patriotism and commitment to excellence
among Malaysians, and train leaders and future leaders to support the nation's
development efforts.However, we are concerned that they spread the idea of Malay
supremacy among Malaysian-Malays, and instilling hatred against Malaysian-Chinese.[38]
6.2.3. Tanda Putera(Sign of a Prince) is a
movie made in
collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS)
and the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC). They provided
financing by using public funds. It portrays a tumultuous period in Malaysian
history arising from the incidents around May 13 1969 where race and religion
were politicised and violence erupted in some parts of Malaysia. While the
release of the movie was postponed because of the potential
unrest it may cause Malaysians just before the 13th General
Elections (which must be held no later than June 2013), the United Malays
National Organisation (UMNO) screened it to around 3000
Malay settlers on 18 February 2013.[39]
6.2.4. 8TV, a national television channel had
to withdraw a series of public service messages during the fasting month of
Ramadhan after complaints from viewers of them being racist and sexist. The advertisements
showed a Chinese girl who behaved rudely and ‘inappropriately’ dressed (a
vest-top). The message was not to be loud, obnoxious, or wear tight and
revealing clothes in a Malay area.[40]
6.3. Foreign spouses
Foreign spouses face difficulties in becoming
permanent residents and citizens. Strict
requirements are imposed on the applications for Social Visit Passese.g., the
presence of her spouse at the Immigration Department, and sometimes, a sponsor
earning at least RM2,000 per month.
Being non-citizens, foreign spouses bear higher fees for public services
such as healthcare, banking and universities. Application for citizenship
differs depending on whether they are foreign wives or husbands. Foreign wives
are only allowed to work with the written permission from their husbands –
another instance of gender discrimination.[41]
Recommendations:
6.4. Repeal S377A of the Penal Code that
criminalises consensual anal and oral sex.
6.4. The police, religious authorities,
prosecutors and the judiciary should receive gender sensitisation and human
rights training.
6.6. Prosecute offenders who commit violence,
especially those committed against the LBGTIQ.
6.7. Review, amend and repeal laws so that they
comply with the Yogyakarta Principles and other UN conventions.
6.8. Ratify ICERD, and provide the institutional
legal framework for adopting international obligations into domestic laws.
6.9. Undertake a comprehensive study on the
positive implications and define a clear distinction between the legal system
of civil law and Syariah laws.
6.10 Refrain from politicising, and prohibiting
individuals from their legitimate exercise of freedom of expression.
6.11 Amend laws and policies to provide foreign
spouses the right to work on temporary passes and expedite applications for
permanent residence and citizenship.
6.12 Ensure that foreign spouses (both wives and
husbands) who are separated, divorced or widowed are able to enjoy the rights
to reside and work independently.
7. Right to life, liberty and security
of the person
7.1. Deaths and rapes in custody, and police
shootings
7.1.1 Deaths
and rapes in custody, fatal police shootings, and violence against suspects
continue unabated even under the leadership of the new Inspector General of
Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar andthe Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC),[42] By 2012, the EAIC had
only received a meagre 170 complaints with only 16 fully investigated.[43]
7.1.2. Deaths
in custody stood at 209 from 2000 to September 2012. From 2007 to 2012, a total
of 228 non-citizens died in police lock-ups, immigration depots and those who
were referred to hospitals by the authorities.[44]
7.1.3. 298
individuals were shot dead by the police from 2007 to August 2012. In 2011, 30
were shot dead. In 2012, it increased to 37. The standard explanation for fatal
shootings was that the police were acting in self-defence.[45]
7.1.4. 3 police
officers gang-raped an Indonesian restaurant worker in a police station.[46]
7.2. The
right to life encompasses the right to be free from violence.
7.2.1. Research has shown that there is a connection
between violence against animals and violence against humans: pet abuse is 1 of
4 predictors of domestic violence; 65% of persons arrested for animal crimes
have been arrested for battery against another person; and of 36 convicted
multiple murderers, 46% admitted torturing animals as adolescents.[47]
7.2.2. Promoting and protecting animal rights is
important in itself,[48] but may also have an
impact on Malaysia’s efforts to reduce violent crimes.
Recommendations:
7.3. Establish
the Independent Police Complaints and Misconducts Commission (IPCMC)
to look into issues relating to the police instead of placing it under the
EAIC.
7.4. Ratify
CAT, and invite the Special Rapporteur on CAT to make a country visit.
7.5. Immediately improve
conditions of detention centres, lock-up, prisons and immigration detention
centres
7.6.
Regulate the lawful use of firearms
according to international procedures on discharging firearms
7.7. Establish a Coroner’s Court presided by a
Coroner with sufficient knowledge and experience in pathological studies
7.8 Pass
the proposed
Animal Welfare Bill.[49] Provisions must be made
for counselling for persons convicted of animal cruelty, and for
cross-reporting where veterinarians and social workers must report suspected
cases of animal abuse to the police and the Veterinary Services Department.
7.9. Conduct research on the connections
between animal cruelty and violence against humans.
8. Administration of justice, including
impunity, and the rule of law
8.1. Decisions appear to be made selectively by
the police regarding which cases to investigate, and by the Attorney General’s
Chambers on which cases to prosecute. Sentencing in certain crimes, e.g.,
statutory rape cases do not reflect the gravity of the crime. All these lead to
a perception that certain actions may continue with impunity, throwing a poor
light on the administration of justice and the rule of law. For example:
8.1.1. Ibrahim Ali[50] called on all Muslims to
seize and burn copies of Bibles that contain the word “Allah” and other Arabic
verses.[51]The Attorney General refused
to take action until any Bibles were burnt. No action was taken against him
despite his hate speech and incitement to violence.[52]
8.1.2. The
Court of Appeal substituted
a lengthy jail term with a good behaviour bond for national bowler Noor Afizal
for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl when he was 19 because there was
no use of force.[53]It
is also worrisome that research in the northern state of Penang shows that the
conviction rate after a trial in a sexual crime is less than 3%.[54]
8.2. The
intergrity of the police has often been question. As an example, in 2012,
former Inspector General of Police, Musa Hassan revealed that Home Minister
Hishammuddin Hussein had once given instructions directly to junior police
officers and a district police chief without his knowledge. Musa added
that often, politicians and “top people” will interfere in police’s work by
giving orders to immediately release certain individuals in certain cases. Musa
also claimed that crime statistics were often under-reported.
Recommendations:
8.3. Gender sensitise and conduct human rights
training for the police, prosecutors, and judges so that they can appreciate
its relevance, and link it to their work.
8.4. Establish the ICPMC as an oversight body
for the Police.
9. Right to privacy, marriage and
family life
9.1. Right
to Privacy
Under the various Syariah Criminal
Offences Enactments, the State has the authority to conduct moral policing,
including khalwat (close proximity)
raids. Such raids are often subject to abuse by religious enforcement
authorities, and such invasions of privacy have, in some instances, resulted in
fatal outcomes.[55]
9.2. Inequality
in Marriage and Family Life
9.2.1.
Multiple sections within the Islamic
Family Law in Malaysia discriminate against Muslim women, and there have been a
roll-back in those rights e.g., equal rights to marriage, during marriage and
its dissolution; right to matrimonial assets; and inadequate protection for a
wife(s) upon a husband’s entry into a polygamous marriage.[56]
9.2.2 The Penal Code contains several gender discriminatory
provisions, including: Section 498 that makes it a crime to entice away a wife
for sexual intercourse; and Section 375Adoes not make marital rape a crime.[57]
Recommendations:
9.3
Expedite the amendments toAct A1261,LRA
and the 1993 Act.
9.4 Amend S375 and repeal S498 of the Penal Code.
9.5 Repeal or amend the Syariah criminal offences
act and enactments that deny the right toprivacy, and the provisions that
overlap with federal crimes e.g., on indecency.
10. Freedom of religion or belief,
expression, association and peaceful assembly, and right to participate in
public and political life
10.1. Freedom of religion
State and non-state actors,
especially Malay supremacists, use religion and race to further their causes.This
results in the stifling of the inter- and intra-religious freedom in Malaysia. Some
examples:
10.1.1. The
Catholic weekly, The Herald was prohibited from using the word ‘Allah’ by the
Ministry of Home Affairs, but the High Court quashed the Minister’s decision.[58]
10.1.2. As a
result of that court decision, ultra-Malays pressure groups attackedat least 10
churches with petrol bombs, Molotov cocktails and splashed paint.[59]
10.1.3. 5,100
Malay-language Bibles were defaced by the Government.[60]
10.1.4. A member
of the opposition party, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) was accused of
trying to replace Islam as the religion of Malaysia with Christianity.[61] PERKASA President warned
of violence against Christians. Thede
facto Law Minister Nazri Azizjustified not taking action against Ibrahim Ali because to do so would amount to
stifling freedom of speech.[62]
10.1.5. In 2011
the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) raided Damansara Utama
Methodist Church (DUMC)after receiving an anonymous tip that Muslims were
attending a proselytization event.[63]
10.1.6. There is no freedom of religion for Muslims of
other sects as only the Sunni sect is permitted. Other Muslim sects, e.g., Shiite,
are labelled as ‘deviant’ and actions may be taken against them.[64]
10.1.7. When a Hindu temple was proposed to be moved
to a Malay majority area, a cow head was desecrated. Though the court fined 2
of the perpetrators,[65] the Minister of Home
Affairs defended their actions.[66]
10.1.8. Non-Muslim
clubs were closed down in public schools.[67]
10.1.9.
The Malay translation of Allah, Liberty & Love was banned by the Home
Minister. Religious officials arrested a Muslim bookstore manager[68] and a Muslim director of
a publishing house[69] for distributing a
publication contrary to Syariah law. Both have now been charged in the Syariah
court.
10.1.10A
60-year old man and his 3 children could not be declared as Hindus even though
they have sworn on oath that they have been Hindus their entire lives. They
were treated as Muslim because the 6o-year old man’s parents were officially
Muslim, but lived as Hindus.[70]
10.1.11.
A Hindu husband converted to Islam and converted their 3 infant children to Islam
without his wife’s knowledge or consent.The religious authorities insist that
the father had the right to convert the children unilaterally to Islam.[71]
10.2. Freedom of assembly
10.2.1. In 2012, the PAA was passed. The Government
immediately used the PAA to charge opposition members[72] and harass NGOs.[73]
10.2.2. The
Governmentfiled a civil suit[74]claiming damages against
the Steering Committee members of BERSIH 2.0 for organising BERSIH 3.0, a
sit-down protest held nationally and globally on 28 April 2012.
10.3. Freedom of Association
Human Rights Defenders have been subjectedto constant
intimidation and harassment in during the period under review.
10.3.1. There
were many instances of violations of the freedom of association in connected
with BERSIH 2.0. It’s secretariat, EMPOWER, was raided, its staff and
volunteers arrested and property seized on 29 June 2011.[75]
10.3.2. SUARAM staff
and volunteers wereharassment by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM),
the police, MCMC, and the Registrar of Societies after it complained to the
judiciary in Paris regarding the purchase of submarines. This Scorpene
corruption scandal is also related to the murder of a Altantunya, a Mongolian.[76]
10.4. Freedom of Expression
Malaysia continues to suppress
freedom of expression and clamp down on internet rights. Some examples are as
follows:
10.4.1. The Sedition Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984
and the Official Secrets Act are repeatedly used to censor freedom of
expression.
10.4.2. Draconian amendments were made to add a new S114(A)
of the Evidence Act 1950 purportedly to prevent crime – especially against
women – and for national security reasons. If a crime was to be
committed in cyberspace, it would impose a presumption of guilt on individuals
who administer, operate or provide spaces for online community forums, blogging
and hosting services, liable for content that is published through its
services.It allows hackers and cyber criminals to go free by making the person
whose account/computer is hacked liable for any content/data that might have
changed. It can make a person liable for content that the person did not
publish when someone creates an account in that person’s name.It threatens the
principle of anonymity online, which is crucial in promoting a free and open
Internet.[77]
10.4.3. The police arrested, harassed, and inflicted
violence against journalists during the Bersih 3.0 rally on 28 April 2012.[78]
10.4.4. While the Government pledged to review printing
presses laws, it is only willing to repeal the need for annual permits, not the
need for permits altogether. This allows the Home Ministry to continue to
threaten newspapers with show-cause letters, influence or manipulate editorial
decisions, on top of directly or indirectly owning newspapers.
10.4.5. The Police
banned the activities of Seksualiti Merdeka (SM) on 3 November 2011.
They also questioned and recorded statements from individuals that they deem
linked to SM,[79]
annual event that sought to educate Malaysians on SOGI rights.
Recommendations:
10.5. Accede to ICERD. Review, amend and repeals
laws and policies so that they comply with ICERD.
10.6. Take action against parties that make hate
speech and incite violence.
10.7. Enact laws, make policies and take
administrative steps so that that children are not converted to Islam without
the consent of both parents.
10.8. Repeal the PAA, Printing Presses and
Publications Act, Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act.
10.9. Amend Sections 211 and 233 of the
Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to make the terms more specific and
include safeguards against abuse.
10.10. Repeal S114(A) of the Evidence Act 1950. Limits
imposed on free expression online should be proportionate, specific,
reasonable, and minimally intrusive. In addition, they must be in compliance
with the international human rights framework, with adequate safeguards against
abuse.
10.11. Set up an independent body to substantively
investigate reports of violence, and prosecute those responsible.
10.12. Draw up an SOP on treatment of media by
security authorities during protests or any conflict situationin consultation
with NGOs.
10.13. Set up of an independent, voluntary
self-regulation for media rather than a statutory media council.
10.14. Amend the Election Laws to ensure fair access
to media for all political parties and plurality of voices during elections,
including political advertisements.
10.15.
Enact the Freedom of Information Act.
11. Right to work and to just and
favourable conditions of work
11.1. Domestic
workers are defined as Servants, Helpers and Maids in the Employment Act, not
as employees.
11.2. Malaysia
continues to institutionalise bonded labour by placing foreign domestic workers
in a trafficked situation when their wages are deducted for 6 – 9 months (debt
bondage), isolated and confined with no day off.[80]
11.3. The
Employment Act 1955 discriminates against domestic workers in relation to a
number of rights, including the right to maternity benefits, rest days, limited
hours of work, holidays, as well as termination, layoff and retirement benefits.
Almost all domestic workers are women and so these practices are an indirect
discrimination against women. A large majority are non-citizens, and so they
face indirect discrimination, too.
11.4. Minimum wages of RM900 for Peninsular
Malaysia, and RM800 for Sabah and Sarawak came into force from 1 January 2013. Some
force workers to sign that they received minimum wages, while actually paying
them less.[81]
Recommendations:
11.5. Amend the Employment Act to include domestic
workers in the definition of ‘employee’.
11.6. Closely monitor the implementation of the
payment of minimum wages to prevent abuse.
12. Right to health
12.1. Non-citizens
face discrimination with regard to access to health services because they are
required to pay foreigner rates at government hospitals. Non-citizens in an
irregular situation are also afraid of seeking medical treatment for fear of
arrest. At government hospitals, nurses report the presence of non-citizens
unable to provide valid identity documents. They are arrested upon completion
of treatment. Women and their newborn babies were arrested immediately after
delivery, denying them necessary post-natal care.
12.2. HIV/AIDS
There has been a
declining budget allocation for NGOsto respond to HIV-AIDS with prevention,
support and care work. In 2012 and again in 2013, there was no budget
allocation for HIV/AIDS work for NGOs to conduct HIV work among MSM. Sexual
transmission has overtaken sharing needles to inject drugs as the main mode of
transmission in 2011 with a sharp rise of HIV infection among MSM and women,
especially wives.[82] The VDTS[83] Study in 2009[84] reported an incidence of
3.9% HIV prevalence among MSM.
Recommendations:
12.3. Ensure that every person in Malaysia pays
the same rate for medical care and medicines.
12.4. Allocate sufficient funds to NGOs to do
HIV-AIDS prevention, support and care work.
12.5. Increase the focus on prevention, especially
among MSM, and women especially wives.
12.6. Repeal S377A of the Penal Code that
criminalises anal and oral sex.
13. Right to education
13.1. Asylum
seeking children, refugee children, stateless children as well as children of
migrant workers are not given primary education in government schools. With the
exception of a small number of children who attend schools operated by refugee/
migrant communities and NGOs, these children do not have any access to
education. These informal programmes are also not given recognition by the
Ministry of Education, and these children do not have access to official exams.[85]
Recommendation:
13.2. Ensure that all children in Malaysia,
regardless of their status, have access to education at the same costs.
14. Persons with disabilities
14.1. There is
no single government agency that oversees all disability-related issues, thus
making it difficult for disability issues to be dealt with comprehensively. The
Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (PWD Act) does not provide for any
recourse for breaches. The Act does not ensure that the persons with
disabilities are not discriminated i.e education and employment opportunities
and providing amenities for persons with disabilities.There is no PWD in the
Senate since the death of Professor Dr Ismail Salleh in August 2009.
14.2. The majority
of public transportation in the country is not disabled-friendly and some are
dangerous to be used. Paltry financial aid and provision of monthly allowance
for unemployed persons with disabilities is still grossly inadequate.
Recommendations:
14.3 Amend the PWD Act to provide sanctions for
non-compliance with its provisions.
14.4. Make it a condition that their carriers must
be disable friendly when granting licences to operators of public
transportation.
14.5. Increase the amount of financial support to
PWDs.
14.6. Appoint at least 1 PWD to the Senate.
15. Minorities and indigenous peoples
15.1. Indigenous
peoples continue to suffer a lack of recognition of their land rights, culture
and advancement. They are continuously subjected to forced relocation, and
forced assimilation policies affecting their cultures and religions without
prior free and informed consent, discussion and compensation.[86]
15.2. Government
policies, especially in the last three years, are infringing on the needs of
indigenous communities. The Sabah Development Corridor (SDC)[87] aimed at making Sabah a
developed state by 2025 was launched in January 2008 and focused on agriculture
(mainly oil palm), tourism and manufacturing in line with the State Development
Agenda introduced in 2003 which aimed to fast-track development in the whole
nation to create a high-income economy by 2020. These large scale planshave a
negative impact on the rights of indigenous people over land, and natural
resources, further eroding rights.[88]
15.3. The
Communal Titles[89]
were introduced in 2009 by the Sabah State Government via the Land and Surveys
Department. Participants were required to plant oil palm and/or rubber, and
only a very small portion of the land is meant for the planting of food crops. It
is contrary to their traditional economic ways of life. Many may opt to leave
for towns to seek low-skilled, low-pay employment.
Recommendations:
15.4. Ensure that laws and policies,and their
implementation are in line with UNDRIP.[90]
15.5. Build capacities of indigenous peoples at
all levels.
16. Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
16.1. As of 31 August 2012,
the total number of refugees stood at 98,787[91] as
compared to 95,000 in 2011.[92]
On 1 November 2012, the Home Ministerdisclosed that 35,000 non-citizens were
whipped under S6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 from 2005 to 2012. A total
of 32,664 (93.3%) were found to have violated the Immigration Act 1959/63 while
the remaining 2,336 (6.7%) were found guilty under the Penal Code, Dangerous
Drugs Act 1952 and Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.[93]
16.2. The 6P
Program on undocumented migrants had ceased operation on 10 April 2012 after
allegations of corruption.[94] Former Home Minister and
current MP for Kangar, Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad was one of the directors of SNT
Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, an agent appointed by the government in the 6P
Amnesty program. SNT had committed several offences including collecting fees
from non-citizens and falsely representing to the non-citizens that it is able
to register and obtain work permits for them from a number of bogus employment
agencies.[95]
16.3. There
are no special legislative provisions regarding the administrative detention of
vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant women, elderly, and physically
and mentally disabled persons.
Recommendations:
16.6. Accede
to CAT and abolish whipping and other forms of corporal punishment.
16.7. To fully
cooperate with UNHCR in relation to arrest, detention and deportation of asylum
seekers and refugees with valid official UNHCR documents or temporary documents
pending refugee status determination.
16.8. Implement
the recommendations of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to assume the
responsibility of improving the conditions in immigration detention centres and
to provide legal aid for immigration detainees.
16.9 Ensure
non-citizens have unhindered access to justice by providing them legal aid
services. Allowing them to reside and work until their cases are resolved
without the need for the Special Pass currently in practice.
16.10. Review and amend on existing legislation on
migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers.
15.11. Acceded to the 1951
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.
17. Right to development and environmental
issues
17.1. In 2010, United Nations have declared that access to
safe drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all
human rights.According to the Malaysian Environmental Quality Report 2011, out
of 464 rivers monitored, a total of 275 (59.3%) were found to be clean, 150
(32.3%) slightly polluted and 39 (8.4%) polluted. One of the main sources of
pollution is ammonia nitrogen originated from livestock farming and domestic
sewage. We extract more than 82.5% of surface water (including river) for our
drinking water supply. Some incidents for example landfill leachate
contamination4 has caused the shutdown of water treatment plant and
cause water disruption to millions of consumers.
17.2. Despite
public protests and cases brought before the court, the Lynas Advanced
Materials Plant (LAMP) which refines rare earths from an Australian company, has
been built and is now operational. The most pressing concern is the risk of
radioactive exposure, and other forms of environmental damage that will negatively
impact the quality of life.
Recommendations:
17.3. Enforce existing laws on the protection of
environment and animalsstrictly.
17.4. Usage of
gazetted water catchment areas must be strictly supervised and actions taken to
prosecute in the event of non-compliance.
17.5. Revoke
the temporary operating licence of LAMP.
[1] International
Labour Organisation
[2] Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, with reservations
on Articles 9(2), 16(1) (a), (c), (f), and (g), and a declaration on Article 11
[3] Convention on
the Rights of the Child, with reservations on Articles 2, 7, 14, 28(1)(a), and
37. The 2 optional protocols to which Malaysia acceded are the Optional
Protocol on the Involvement of Children
in Armed Conflict, and the Optional Protocol on the Sale
of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
[4] Convention on
the Rights of People with Disabilities with reservations on Articles 15 and 18
[5] International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
[6] International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
[7]Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination
[8]Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
[9]International Convention on the Protection of
the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
[10]International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance
[11] Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications
Procedure.
[13]“Rogue lawyers boast of connections with
retired judges and being able to fix cases”, The Star, 5 February 2013 at:
[14] For the 2012
planner, see: http://www.jac.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=245&Itemid=174&lang=en For
2013 planner, see: http://www.jac.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=280&Itemid=173&lang=en
[16]“7.1 States, and where applicable
relevant governmental authorities, have the primary responsibility to promote
and ensure human rights education and training, developed and implemented in a
spirit of participation, inclusion and responsibility.”: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/G11/124/78/PDF/G1112478.pdf?OpenElement
[17] International
Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and
Protection of Human Rights
[18]Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Amendment) Act 2009: http://www.suhakam.org.my/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=35723&folderId=124309&name=DLFE-7003.pdf and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Amendment) (Amendment) Act
2009: http://www.suhakam.org.my/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=216838&folderId=216872&name=DLFE-7708.pdf
[20]See ‘Malaysia: Human Rights Violation against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Intersex and Queer Persons’ a report submitted by Knowledge and
Rights with Young people through Safer Spaces (KRYSS), Seksualiti Merdeka and
Justice for Sisters (the SOGI Rights Report), Paragraph
1.3, submitted to the OHCHR for the 2nd cycle of the UPR.
[22] See the apex
court decision in Beatrice at Fernandez v Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia &
Anor, 2 CLJ [2005] 713
[23] CEDAW Committee
Concluding Observations, Paragraph 14. See: http://sim.law.uu.nl/SIM/CaseLaw/uncom.nsf/fe005fcb50d8277cc12569d5003e4aaa/fc56cb848775733ec12571950031a010?OpenDocument
[24]For a fuller report on child rights, see the report by the Child Rights
Coalition Malaysia (the CRC Malaysia Report) submitted to the OHCHR for the 2nd
cycle of the UPR.
[25]Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
[26] Read their report of the 2010 visit here: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G11/106/38/PDF/G1110638.pdf?OpenElement The only other special procedure that Malaysia invited was the Special
Rapporteur on the Right to Education, who came in 2007. Read his report here: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/125/06/PDF/G0912506.pdf?OpenElement
[27]‘Premis tawar urutan gay diserbu’
[Premises that offer gay massage raided], Kosmo! 25 March 2011
[28]‘Cops raid gay fitness centre’ by Tan Shin Chow, The Star on 20 January
2012. See: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/20/nation/20120120172717&sec=nation
[29]‘Pondan lari dari pusat pemulihan’
[Sissy runs away from rehabilitation centre], Kosmo! on 25 October 2011.
[30] ‘‘Soft’
boys are victims of society’s prejudice against sissies’, The Borneo Post on 1
May 2011.
[31] ‘Transsexuals
being targeted by gang’ by Ong Han Sean in The Star on 16 February 2012. See: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/16/nation/10745364&sec=nation
[32] ‘Najib: LGBTs, liberalism, pluralism are
enemies of Islam’ in The Malaysian Insider on 19 July 2012
[33] The SOGI Rights
Report, Paragraph 1.2
[34] ‘Musical
with negative portrayal of LGBT people tours Malaysia’ by Anna Leach in
GayStarNews on 18 February 2013. See: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/musical-negative-portrayal-lgbt-people-tours-malaysia180213
[35]The
SOGI Rights Report, Paragraph 2.6.1.
[36] See ‘Population
Distribution and Basic Demographic Characteristics’, Population and Housing
Census, Department of Statistics: http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/census2010/Taburan_Penduduk_dan_Ciri-ciri_Asas_Demografi.pdf
[37]“DAP
calls for removal of Johor principal” in The Malaysian Insider, 17 August 2010.
See: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-calls-for-removal-of-johor-principal
[38] ‘Pagar makan padi?’ [Fence eating the
paddy?] by Tan Ban Cheng in ALIRAN, 16 January 2010. See: http://aliran.com/1108.html#more-1108
[39] ‘Controversial
May 13 film ‘Tanda Putera’ screened at FELDA meet’ in The Malaysian Insider on
18 February 2013.http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/controversial-may-13-film-tanda-putera-screened-at-felda-meet
[40] “News: Malaysia
TV station Ramadan Ads sparks debate”, YouTube, 3 August 2011 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke7p5rp-nbI
[41]The discrimination against foreign spouses is dealt with more
comprehensively in the MWG-JUMP report submitted to the OHCHR for the 2nd
cycle of the UPR (the MWG-JUMP Report), Paragraphs 8 to 11.
[42]Established in 2011.
[43]The remaining complaints were either in preliminary investigation stage
or were referred to other relevant agencies for further actions due to lack of
jurisdiction.
[44]Written answer by the Home
Minister to Sungai
Siput MP Dr Micheal Devaraj’s question in Dewan Rakyat dated 20/11/2012, Question no 31, Reference no 5218
[45] Written answer
by the Home Minister to Sungai Siput MP Dr Micheal
Devaraj’s question in Dewan Rakyat dated 22/10/2012, Question no 35, Reference
no 5157
[46] “Three cops
charged with raping and forcing oral sex on Indonesian woman”, The Star Online,
16 November 2012 at: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/16/nation/20121116161705&sec=nation
[47] See: ‘Animal Cruelty and Human Violence’, The Human
Society of the United States
[48] See:
‘Malaysians go online to fight animal abuse’ in MSN News on 22 March 2011 at http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4724819
[49] ‘Animal abusers to face harsher penalties’ in
The Star Online on 9 November 2012 at
[50]Independent Member of Parliament, but leans towards Barisan National – the
ruling coalition. He is also the leader of Pribumi Perkasa Negara, a Malay
supremacist organization.
[51] “Burn ‘Allah’
Bibles, Perkasa chief to Muslims” in Free Malaysia Today on 19 January 2013 at:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/19/burn-allah-bibles-perkasa-chief-tells-muslims/
[52] “A-G ‘not
concerned’ by Perkasa’s call” in Free Malaysia Today on 21 January 2013 at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/01/21/a-g-not-concerned-by-perkasas-call/
[53] ‘Bowler wins rape case appeal, escapes jail
term’ in News Straits Times on 9 August 2012. See:
[54] ‘Seeking Justice for Victims of Sexual Crimes’ (2009) by James Lockhead
and Tan Pek Leng, Women’s Centre for Change, Penang at Page 22, Table 2.8.
[55] “Student falls
to death fleeing khalwat raid”, AsiaOne News, 25 April 2010, at: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20100425-212282.html.
“Malaysians Against Moral Policing” at: http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/news.php?item.468.75
[56] See Appendix A:
“Table Of Amendments To Islamic Family Law (Federal Territory) (Amendment) Act
2006 [Act A1261] (Act A1261)” prepared by the Joint Action Group for Gender
Equality (JAG). The stalled amendments to the Islamic Family Law (Federal
Territories) Act 1984, the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (LRA)
and Asministration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 (the
1993 Act) continue to place hardship on women and children. The 3 bills
were tabled in Parliament in 2009 but were withdrawn when the Conference of
Rulers said it needed more time to study the proposed amendments: ‘Women groups hold Najib to his
promise’ by Stephanie Sta Maria in The Edge on 5 February 2013. See: http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=230341&Itemid=77
[57] CEDAW
Alternative Report, Pages 15-16 and 35.
[58] ‘Court rules
Herald free to use the word ‘Allah’’ in The Star Online on 31 December 2009 at:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/31/nation/20091231210348&sec=nation A
stay of the decision pending appeal to the Court of Appeal was granted. No date
has been fixed. ‘Stay granted over ‘Allah” ruling’ in The Sun Daily on 7
January 2010 at: http://www.thesundaily.my/node/147440
[59] ‘Tenth church
hit, attack in Seremban’ in The Malaysian Insider on 16 January 2010 at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/mobile/malaysia/article/Tenth-church-hit-attack-in-Seremban/
[60] ‘Churches
in Malaysia reject Bibles held up and desecrated by the government’ by
Debra Chong in Asia.New.It on 18 March 2011. See: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Churches-in-Malaysia-reject-Bibles-held-up-and-desecrated-by-the-government-21061.html
[61] ‘Christian plot: What have police uncovered?’
in Free Malaysia Today on 25 July 20111. See:
[62]“Nazri:
No action against Ibrahim Ali” in Malaysiakini on 17 May 2011 at: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/164348
[63] ‘The DUMC Raid: Are we forgetting someone?’ by
Alwyn Lau in The Malaysian Insider on 7 August 2011. See:
[64] ‘In a Muslim State, Fear Sends Some Worship
Underground’ by Liz Gooch in The New York Times, 27 January 2011.https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/world/asia/28iht-malay28.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 See
also: ‘Malaysian Shiites face growing
persecution’ by Patrick Lim in Free Malaysia Today on 14 January 2012.
[65] ‘Two men in infamous ‘cow head’ incident pay RM3,000’
by Nurbaiti Hamdan in The Star on 28 July 2010.
[66] ‘Holy cow! Minister defends
protesters.’ by Kee Thuan Chye in Malaysiakini on 6 September 2009. See:http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/112228?ModPagespeed=noscript
[67] ‘In
schools, a crackdown on non-Muslim clubs’ by Debra Chong in The Malaysian
Insider on 23 July 2010. See:http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/print/malaysia/In-schools-a-crackdown-on-non-Muslim-clubs/
[68] ‘Borders
statement on banned book goes viral’ in AsiaOne News on 23 June 2012. See:
[69] “Zaid Ibrahim’s
son faces charges over Irshad Manji’s book” in The Borneo Post on 8 march 2013.
See: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/08/zaid-ibrahims-son-faces-charges-over-irshad-manji-book/ Zaid
Ibrahim was de facto Law Minister
until he resigned, and is now a member of the opposition.
[70] ‘High Court
dismisses application of father, children to prevent Islam forced onto them’ by
Rita Jong in The New Straits Times on 11 January 2013. See: http://www.nst.com.my/latest/high-court-dismisses-application-of-father-children-to-prevent-islam-forced-onto-them-1.199721 and
“Is the definition of a “Muslim” unconstitutional” http://www.loyarburok.com/2012/02/02/definition-muslim-unconstitutional/
[71]Malaysian Custody Dispute Lost Between Courts: http://www.loyarburok.com/2010/04/04/the-new-york-times-malaysian-custody-dispute-lost-between-courts/
[72]Anwar Ibrahim, Azmin Ali and Badrul Hisham Shaharin
were charged under S4(2)(c) of the PAA 2012 (violating Order and taking part in
rally), S188 (breaching Magistrates’ Order) and S147 (abetting in rioting) of
the Penal Code. 5 individuals related to Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
were investigated under S9 of PAA 2012 for holding a press conference at the
lobby of Companies Commission of Malaysia in solidarity with other members of
civil society.
[73]Issues relating to the freedom of assembly will be dealt with in greater
depth in the submissions of the Malaysian Barto the OHCHR for the 2nd
cycle of the UPR.
[74] Kuala Lumpur
High Court Civil Suit No: 21–NCVC–102–05/2012. The
trial is fixed on 15 to 18 July 2013. BERSIH
2.0 seeks electoral reform. Their 8 demands are to clean the
electoral roll, reform postal voting, use indelible ink, to have a minimum
campaign period of 21 days, free and fair access to mainstream media,
strengthen public institutions, stop corruption, and stop dirty politics.
[75] ‘Lawyers say questioning Empower chief an act
of intimidation’ by Melissa Chi and Lisa J Ariffin in The Malaysia Insider on 5
July 2011.
[76]Issues relating to the freedom of association will be dealt with in
greater depth in the submissions of the Malaysian Barto the OHCHR for the 2nd
cycle of the UPR.
[77]Centre for Independent Journalism, FAQ on S114A Evidence Act 1950
[78] Koh Jun Lin, a
photojournalist with Malaysiakini,
was arrested after taking photos documenting alleged police violence against
protesters. Radzi Razak, a journalist with The
Sun, was hospitalized for injuries sustained during an attack by at least
seven police personnel.
[79]Among the 50 who were questioned were SM organiser
Pang Khee Teik; Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee; Bersih 2.0 Chairperson S.
Ambiga; Executive Director of EMPOWER (Secretariat of BERSIH 2.0) Maria Chin
Abdullah; and Executive Director of Tenaganita, Irene Fernandez. The organisers
of SM filed an application to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur
(R2-25-301-12/2011) to the review the decision of the police. However, leave
was not granted for the review and an appeal has been filed to the Court of
Appeal but no date has been set down by the Court of Appeal.
[80]For more information, refer to the MWG-JUMP Report.
[81] See: http://www.industriall-union.org/malaysia-minimum-wages-for-all
Minimum wage is a basic wage excluding overtime, existing allowances and other
benefits. However, to avoid paying minimum wages some employers include other
benefits as part of minimum wage.
[83]Venur Day Time Sampling
[84] See: Malaysia: MSM Country Snapshots –
Country Specific Information on HIV http://aidsdatahub.org/dmdocuments/MSM_Country_Snapshots_-_Malaysia_online.pdf
[85]For more information, refer to the MWG-JUMP Report.
[86]The Jaringan Orang Asal Semenanjung Malaysia (the JOAS Report) has
submitted a submitted to the OHCHR for the 2nd cycle of the UPR. A
more in-depth discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples can be found
there.
[87]“Sabah Development Corridor”, Sabah Economic Development and Investment
Authority (SEDIA) at: http://www.sedia.com.my/About_us.html
[88] “Jeffrey: Sabah
Development Corridor failing”, Free Malaysia Today, 24 February 2011 at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2011/02/24/jeffrey-sabah-development-corridor-failing/
[89] “Communal titles a disaster
for NCR in Sabah”,Sabahkini, 3 March 2011 at:
http://sabahkini.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6370:communal-titles-a-disaster-for-ncr-in-sabah&catid=69:tanah-adat&Itemid=75
[90]United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
[91]Pemberitahuan Pertanyaan Dewan Rakyat daripada pertanyaan Datuk Paduka
Abu Bakar bin Taib kepada Perdana Menteri bertarikh 18 Oktober 2012, soalan 27.
[92] Refugees,
Asylum Seekers, Undocumented Migrants and Trafficked Persons, SUARAM’s Malaysia Human Rights Report 2011, Civil & Political Rights.
[93]
‘35,000 foreigners whipped since 2005’ in Free Malaysia Today on 1 January
2012, http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/11/01/35000-foreigners-whipped-since-2005/
[94] ‘6P expected to
fail’, Free Malaysia Today, 2 March 2012 at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/03/02/program-6p-dijangka-gagal/
[95] ‘Ex-minister
Radzi a boss in ‘rogue’ 6P firm’ in Free Malaysia Today on 23 November 2012 at:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/11/23/ex-minister-radzi-a-boss-in-%E2%80%98rogue%E2%80%99-6p-firm/
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