GEORGE TOWN, Oct 29 ― Putrajaya is in a state of denial when it disregarded the Human Rights Watch report, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng claimed today.

The Penang lawmaker said it would be unwise for Putrajaya to look down on or disregard the report.

“The Human Rights Watch is affiliated with the United Nations, they are not just any organization,” he said at a press conference at the Hin Bus Depot Art Centre here.

Lim questioned the reasons behind Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's reluctance to engage with Human Rights Watch (HRW).

“Unless he has something to hide, he should engage with HRW and prove to them that there is no repression, no climate of fear in Malaysia, prove that the federal government is not criminalizing peaceful expression,” he said.

Lim was referring to claims by HRW Asia division executive director Brad Adams that attempts by the organization to get clarification from Ahmad Zahid were ignored.

The international body, HRW, released a 145-page report titled “Creating a Culture of Fear: The Criminalisation of Peaceful Expression in Malaysia” two days ago.

The report had accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration of using repressive laws such as the Sedition Act to investigate and arrest individuals for peaceful expression since 2013.