A report by an international rights group accusing Malaysia of resorting to criminal laws by silencing free speech is exaggerated and does not reflect reality, says the government.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government has defended its track record after an international rights group accused it of resorting to criminal laws to silence free speech.
On Tuesday, international human rights watchdog Human Rights Watch released a 143-page report entitled “Creating a Culture of Fear”, which details how Malaysia’s government has used and abused a range of laws to criminalise peaceful expression.
The rights group’s report said Malaysia has cultivated a culture of fear through laws including the Sedition Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act, the Peaceful Assembly Act, and various provisions of the penal code.
"When I describe a country with the opposition leader in prison, with critics being charged, sometimes investigated and sometimes put in prison, and massive corruption and an unresponsive government, one might think I was talking about Burma or Cambodia,” said Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch. “That is the situation that the Malaysian authorities have put themselves in now.”
The NGO claims the series of prosecutions at home contradict the liberal, progressive image that Prime Minister Najib Razak portrays abroad.
It plans to send the report to as many foreign governments as possible and wants world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, who will be gathered in the country’s capital for an ASEAN summit in November, to recognise the alleged culture of fear in Malaysia.
'LIKE ZIMBABWE OR LIBYA?'
However, the Malaysian government has dismissed the report, saying it does not reflect the reality of life in Malaysia.
"You're all Malaysians, how do you feel being in this country? You feel (it’s) like Zimbabwe, like Libya? That's their opinion it's okay, we can tolerate it, (it’s) no problem,” said Nazri Aziz, Malaysian Tourism and Culture Minister. “I think what's important is to stay here and to experience it."
Rohani Abdul Karim, Malaysian Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, said that there has not been a change in Malaysia’s laws, but in its citizens.
"Despite all the laws in Malaysia, I think Malaysians are getting more vocal, that I can tell you,” she told Channel NewsAsia. “Last time they were not as vocal (under) the same laws.”
However, lawyer and activist Ambiga Sreenevasan said that ultimately, legislation is not Malaysia's biggest obstacle to safeguarding human rights.
"I still feel that if we can eradicate corruption, we can rid ourselves of many of these human rights abuses. But unfortunately corruption is endemic,” she said.
Though Malaysia said it is working to eradicate corruption, its legislation does not look set to change anytime soon.
Hotly-debated laws such as the Internal Security Act were abolished by Mr Najib in his first term. Under his current term, however, more laws have been introduced to safeguard national security and old laws such as the controversial Sedition Act have been strengthened.
Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysia-defends-its/2223770.html
