Malaysia Human Rights Report 2003

Civil and Political Rights

The year 2003 heralded a new era for Malaysia, as the 22-year authoritarian rule of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad came to an end in October. His handpicked successor. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, became the country's fifth prime minister. Those concerned about human rights in Malaysia were cautiously optimistic that the change in leadership might signal a change in the attitudes towards and respect for democracy and human rights in the country. 

Throughout the year, the continued "U.S.-led war against terror" further fueled the world's paranoia regarding security issues, and Malaysia responded to "terrorist threats" in the same, misguided manner as many other nations. The war on "terrorism," far from making Malaysia a safer place, has made it more dangerous by curtailing human rights, bypassing the rule of law and shielding the government from scrutiny. The government stepped up repression of its political opponents. detained people arbitrarily, and enforced broad and often discriminatory laws that undermined human rights. Time and time again, state security was used as the justification for detention without trial of alleged terrorists under the Internal Security Act. Besides the suspected terrorists, thousands of suspected drug dealers and gangsters were also detained without trial under other preventive detention laws. New arbitrary laws to deal with "terrorist" offences that imposed the death sentence and natural life sentences were introduced. 

Civil and political rights were conveniently and routinely curtailed. Basic freedoms of due process, speech, assembly and association were frequently violated and treated with disdain by the authorities. Political opponents were silenced and legitimate dissent was blocked and sidelined. Archaic sedition, official secrets and printing laws continued their control over freedom of speech and the press. Public assemblies were high-handedly dispersed by the authorities. The police continued to act with impunity, and there were numerous deaths in police custody and fatal shootings of alleged criminals. Thousands of undocumented persons, including refugees and asylum seekers, were harassed, arrested, detained and deported. Students, civil servants and university staff were forced to sign a "good conduct" pledge to refrain from undesirable "anti-government" activities. 

The emphasis on national security and dearth of democratic freedoms deflected attention from some very real issues that affect the lives of Malaysians. The real causes of insecurity in the nation are the increasing concentration of power in the executive, the abuse of power by the state and its agencies, corruption. deteriorating race relations, discrimination, the decline of independence in the judiciary, the unfair and unjust election process, police impunity. extreme poverty, lack of adequate housing, privatisation. lack of information and the lack of an independent press and media. 

The SUARAM Civil and Political Rights Reportdocuments the terrible human rights abuses that took place in Malaysia over the course of the year. The report also bears witness to the enduring struggle by many Malaysians for change, justice, accountability - and above all for their freedoms. 

Despite the failure of the Malaysian government to protect, preserve and promote the human rights of its citizens. human rights activists continued to persevere and refused to be deterred by the many obstacles encountered as they fought for change, risking imprisonment and violence. There is thus hope that one day the tide may turn so that an army cannot stop an idea whose time has come. 

SUARAM is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to defending and campaigning for human rights in Malaysia and other parts in the world. The organisation began in 1989 as campaign body for the abolition of the Internal Security Act in the aftermath of the infamous Operation Lallang, when 106 Malaysians were detained without trial. Since then, it has evolved into the leading human rights organisation in Malaysia committed to protecting, preserving and promoting human rights.