KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — The Malaysian government came down even harder last year on local activists and human rights movements, global rights watchdog Amnesty International said in its annual report, citing as examples the arrests of anti-government forces and the passing of new preventive laws.
In the global report to be released later today, the group also accused the Malaysian police of using “excessive force” during these arrests and noted that allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees against the force continued to be reported last year.
“The crackdown on freedom of expression and other civil and political rights intensified.
“The Sedition Act was amended and a new Prevention of Terrorism Act was passed.
“Police used unnecessary or excessive force when arresting opposition party leaders and activists,” Amnesty International said in the Malaysia chapter of the report.
The group noted that it was also last year on February 10 that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was imprisoned for five years for sodomy.
“The charges were seen as a politically motivated and an attempt to silence government critics,” it said.
On the National Security Council (NSC) Bill approved by both Houses of Parliament last year, Amnesty International echoed concerns raised by the opposition and rights groups that the proposed law provides expansive powers to the appointed council.
The group also said that the April 2015 amendments to the highly-contentious Sedition Act saw a further “erosion of freedom of expression” in the country.
Amnesty International added that a combination of laws were used against street demonstrators throughout the year including the Peaceful Assembly Act, and Section 120, 141, 124b, 124c, and 143 of the Penal Code.
Apart from that, it also noted 11 deaths in police custody were recorded last year, purportedly due to ill-treatment.
Despite this, Amnesty International said, the Malaysian government continued to reject calls to establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.
Amnesty International said that Malaysia had “received international criticism” for its handling of the Rohingya refugee crisis last year, where thousands of refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar attempted to land in Langkawi, Kedah.
Malaysia was one of the 160 countries which had its human rights record documented for 2015.
The overall global report noted that human rights across the world are “in jeopardy.”
“Your rights are in jeopardy, they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments across the world,” Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said.
