Malaysia permits the death penalty for various crimes and makes the sentence mandatory for 11 offenses. Womens rights groups contended a 2009 fatwa by the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs declaring the practice obligatory made FGM/C more prevalent. In September the Perlis State Fatwa Committee declared that men who appear like women such as cross-dressers or transgender individuals were forbidden from entering mosques while not in gender-conforming appearances. Penang State mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor suggested that transgender individuals should change their appearance if they wanted to be in mosques or suraus (Islamic assembly buildings) so that they do not look odd and avoid uncomfortable feelings among other worshippers. Representatives from the NGO Sisters in Islam observed that the fatwa and statement of the mufti not only contradicts the federal constitution but was not in accordance with inclusive Islamic traditions.. It also affects how people react to certain situations. The prevalence of suicidal behaviour among adolescents is 17.1%, in which 11.9% had suicidal thoughts, 10.2% had a suicide plan, and 8.4% had made a suicide attempt. Public schools are open to some UNHCR-registered refugees, but not to the children of illegal immigrants. In August, the government withdrew a bill submitted by the prior administration to create an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission because the police objected to it. The government instead introduced a bill to create a toothless Independent Police Conduct Commission that lacks both key investigative powers and the authority to punish wrongdoing. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. In February 2020 the Pakatan Harapan coalition collapsed, and power transferred to the Malay-dominated Perikatan Nasional coalition which included the main Barisan Nasional components, headed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Alladin, one of the child sex offenders most wanted by global law enforcement authorities, was linked to at least 34 victims between ages two and 16; he had uploaded more than 1,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children over the course of 14 years. In July police raided the offices of Freedom Film Network in response to an animated short film the network and the NGO Suaram released in June about the lack of police accountability. In May MACC arrested member of parliament Tajuddin Abdul Rahman on two charges of abuse of power for interfering with the operations and business dealings of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, a government-owned public transport company under the Ministry of Finance. This ambiguity over the communitys status in the constitution led to selective interpretation by different public institutions. Although parliament annulled the emergency ordinance in October, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa declared that any ongoing investigations of fake news would not be affected by the annulment. In August police stopped a candlelight vigil organized by the NGO Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat to commemorate COVID-19 victims in Kuala Lumpur and arrested 31 activists for violating infectious disease control regulations despite participants following all necessary COVID-19 standard operating procedures for gatherings. In July authorities charged Toh Han Boon for producing and promoting the movie Babi, which the government banned in 2020 over its portrayal of race relations in the country. Occupational Safety and Health: Occupational health and safety laws cover all sectors of the economy except the maritime sector and the armed forces. Birth Registration: A child born in the country obtains citizenship if one parent is a citizen or permanent resident at the time of birth and the parents are married. In June then deputy religious affairs minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary proposed that social media postings that promote LGBTQ lifestyles and insult Islam be punishable offenses under sharia. Defendants may not be compelled to testify or confess guilt. Representatives of these groups argued that the lines between the executive, the judiciary, and the state were very blurred and that the judiciary needed to exert more independence and objectivity. Government Human Rights Bodies: The official human rights commission SUHAKAM is headed by a chairperson and commissioners appointed by the king on the recommendation of the prime minister. Unless trends change this year, the annual total of newborns in the world's third-largest economy is on track to hit . The constitution provides citizens the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; however, several laws restricted this right. The government reserved large quotas for the bumiputra majority for positions in the federal civil service as well as for vocational permits and licenses in a wide range of industries, which greatly reduced economic opportunity for minority groups (see section 6, Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination). The government restricted access to the internet. The constitution provides indigenous and nonindigenous persons with the same civil and political rights, but the government did not effectively protect these rights. In separate statements Batu Kawan member Kasthuri Patto and Petaling Jaya member Maria Chin Abdullah criticized Acryl Sani for his remarks about a police report made by a student, age 17, that a classmate had threatened to rape her after she called out her teacher for making jokes about rape. The executive director of local human rights NGO Suaram, Sevan Doraisamy, reported that according to Suarams media monitoring, widely reported custodial deaths during the year pointed to a combination of a sense of impunity and poor health systems in detention centers.. Those that have been permitted to land have been detained as illegal migrants, with some prosecuted for immigration violations. The king determined that Sabri commanded a parliamentary majority and appointed him prime minister after meeting with parliamentarians, in conformity with constitutional parameters. Recent Elections: The countrys most recent general election was held in 2018 amid allegations of partisanship on the part of public institutions, in particular the Election Commission and the Registrar of Societies. The political environment was hostile towards women. The details are given below. Malaysia remained firmly in the grip of both the COVID-19 pandemic and economic turmoil in 2021. The government arrested and prosecuted some officials engaged in corruption, malfeasance, and human rights abuses, although civil society groups alleged continued impunity. First is mismanagement of the health crisis. Malaysia entered the pandemic from a robust economic position but has nonetheless been significantly affected. Recognizing public transportation was not friendly to persons with disabilities, the government maintained its 50 percent reduction of excise duty on locally made cars and motorcycles adapted for such persons. Estimates were as high as 30 percent of the workforce. Arbitrary Arrest: Authorities sometimes used their powers to intimidate and punish opponents of the government. Malaysia continues to detain individuals without trial under restrictive laws. Homelessness is a symptom of an array of social issues. In September the High Court ruled that mothers who are citizens have the right to confer citizenship to their children born overseas on an equal basis with men who are citizens, but the government appealed the decision. Indigenous persons are governed by customary laws with no fixed minimum age for marriage. Malaysia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention. Government regulations and policies provided extensive preferential programs to boost the economic position of bumiputra, a majority of the population. In April police threatened activist and artist Fahmi Reza with sedition for mocking the queen over her Instagram posts. The nationwide January-August state of emergency restricted freedom of assembly and prohibited worker strikes and protests. Employers did not respect laws on wages and working hours. The proposed commission would not even be able to visit lock-ups without giving advance notice, and is precluded from even investigating any act covered by the standing orders issued by the police inspector general. The affordability of health care is high on the public's list of the biggest problems in the country today, with 56% of adults describing this as "a very big problem" and an additional 30% rating it "a moderately big problem.". The law imposes limitations on student associations and on student and faculty political activity. The government focused on preventing sexual exploitation of children, including sex trafficking. NGOs operated static and mobile clinics, but their number and access were limited. Many scholars have identified fundamental differences between the causes and consequences of issues experienced the rural and urban sectors. Legal observers feared the February ruling by the Court of Appeal against Malaysiakini (see section 2.a., Freedom of Expression for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media) set a precedent that websites could be held responsible for reader comments posted in response to content. Defendants have the right to be informed promptly of the charges against them, to a timely trial, and to be present at their trial. Conditions in prisons and detention centers could be harsh and life threatening. The government censored films for certain political and religious content, not allowing, for example, screening of films in Hebrew or Yiddish, or from Israel. Rural versus Urban Social Issues. For examples of social problems in Malaysia include crime, violence, gangsterism, drug abuse, baby dumping, vandalism, and young relationship among youth. Spontaneous is known as miscarriage, while induced simply means termination of a pregnancy which is planned. All same-sex sexual conduct is illegal. The law affords persons with disabilities the right to equal access and use of public facilities, amenities, services, and buildings open or provided to the public. Japan's births set to fall below 800,000 in 2022, hitting a new all-time low. Toh was released on bail but could face a substantial fine, two years imprisonment, or both. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. In January, the High Court granted Sisters in Islam, a civil society group working to promote the rights of Muslim women, a stay on the enforcement of a fatwa issued against it in 2014. Religious and cultural taboos against same-sex sexual conduct were widespread (see section 2.a., Nongovernmental Impact). Employment: Although the government does not authorize UNHCR-registered refugees to work, it typically did not interfere if they performed informal work. I very much appreciate it. Employment discrimination occurred against persons with disabilities (see section 7.d.). Students with disabilities attended mainstream schools, but accessibility remained a serious problem. Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people remains pervasive in Malaysia. Union officials claimed legal requirements for strikes were almost impossible to meet; the last major strike occurred in 1962. The law states that sodomy and oral sex acts are carnal intercourse against the order of nature. In February the Federal Court nullified a Selangor State law on same-sex sexual conduct. Over 175,000 refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom come from Myanmar, are registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office but have no legal status and remain unable to work or enroll in government schools. March 11, 2021 End Poverty, Equality, . It requires employers to identify risks and take precautions, including providing safety training to workers, and compels companies with more than 40 workers to establish joint management-employee safety committees. Sati was not deemed a social issue until Raja Ram Mohan Roy criticized the practice and a considerable number of people started supporting him (Ahuja 2014). Malaysia permits the death penalty for various crimes and makes the sentence mandatory for 11 offenses. On February 17, Rafi Ullah, a Pakistani refugee, died at Sungai Buloh Prison, near Paya Jaras, Selangor State, reportedly of a heart attack; his lawyer said serious injuries on his hands and feet raised questions about the cause of death. MACC noted that all transactions associated with the 29 charges against Noor Ehsanuddin were advances that had been fully repaid. In April, Reporters Without Borders, referring to the March emergency ordinance, cited the countrys restoration of more authoritarian rule as the government imposed a fake news decree enabling authorities to impose their own version of the truth.. Activist Numan Afifi expressed concerns about the escalation and trend towards more prosecution against the LGBTQI+ community in Malaysia, including separate proposals in April to increase sentencing terms against LGBTQI+ offenses under sharia. In May 2021, speed-testing company Ookla measured Malaysia's mobile internet download speed at 54.54 Mbps and fixed-line broadband at 105.14 Mbps. The Newcastle research found that 85 percent of workers reported paying recruitment fees and 43 percent reported taking out loans averaging more than $2,000 to cover the costs, which took nearly a year on average to repay. In the election the Pakatan Harapan coalition unseated the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, marking the first federal transition of power between coalitions since independence in 1957. Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36. Health care costs is the only issue of the 15 asked on . 9/4/2013. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits a person in authority from using his or her position to intimidate a subordinate by any conduct that is sexual in nature. In other cases the law allows investigative detention for up to 28 days to prevent a criminal suspect from fleeing or destroying evidence during an investigation. Malaysia's population in 2022. Those suffering from problems can reach out to: Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or WhatsApp 019-261 5999); Jakim's Family, Social . Parts of the country were hit with devastating floods that lasted for days at the end of 2021 following non-stop heavy rains in the Klang Valley and the state of Selangor, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu. According to a survey on mental health and wellness conducted by Rakuten Insight in Malaysia in May 2022, 59 percent of the respondents . Some employers and migrant workers reported that workers sometimes requested employers keep their passports, since replacing lost or stolen passports could cost several months wages and leave foreign workers open to questions about their legal status. Malaysia's Ministry of Health (KKM) reported that one in three of the country's adults are at risk of developing mental health condition for the last 5 years. Womens groups asserted the courts were inconsistent in punishing rapists. That said, the survey has identified three key challenges likely to arise for HR in the coming 12 to 24 months, namely: 13% of the workforce will be made redundant. Nevertheless, four states Johor, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Pahang extend equal parental rights to Muslim mothers. Freedom of the press has also come under attack. The Malaysian government has called for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to find effective solutions to the Rohingya crisis, declaring itself unable to take any more Rohingya refugees. Education: Education is free, compulsory, and universal through primary school (six years of school) for citizens and permanent residents, although there was no mechanism to enforce attendance. In-country Movement: Sabah and Sarawak States controlled immigration into their areas and required foreigners and citizens from peninsular Malaysia to present passports or national identity cards for entry. Self-censorship took place among academics at private institutions as well, spurred by fear the government might revoke the licenses of their institutions. Some politicians and human rights activists claimed the government used the loyalty pledge to restrain political activity among these groups. While recent data was very limited, a 2012 study by a professor at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, found that more than 93 percent of approximately 1,000 Muslim women surveyed in three of the countrys 13 states had undergone the procedure. No judicial review is permitted for these measures. According to the Home Affairs Ministry, 20 of the countrys 37 prisons were overcrowded. The Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development is responsible for safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities. Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. The law requires two-thirds of the members of a registered trade union to vote for a strike through a secret ballot, and a report must be submitted to the director general of trade unions to approve the strike as legal. Students returning to Malaysia will have to undergo a COVID-19 swab test and quarantine procedures. Persons granted bail usually must surrender their passports to the court. Citizenship law and birth registration rules and procedures created a large class of stateless children in the migrant and refugee population. In September Selangor State Criminal Investigation Department chief Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal told media that police would investigate the reported sudden death in custody of Vinaiyagar Thinpathy for foul play and noncompliance with standard operating procedures. In August, Alladin Lanim was arrested for online child exploitation and sentenced to 48 years and six months in prison and 15 strokes of the cane after joint investigations by the Royal Malaysian Police and Australian Federal Police revealed he was sexually abusing children at a plantation in Sarawak State and sharing the material online. Government restrictions on radio and television stations mirrored those on print media, and electronic media predominantly supported the government. SOSMA allows for preventive detention of up to 28 days with no judicial review for a broadly defined range of security offenses. Both the 1959 Prevention of Crime Act and the 2015 Prevention of Terrorism Act give government-appointed boards the authority to impose detention without trial for up to two years, renewable indefinitely, to order electronic monitoring, and to impose other significant restrictions on freedom of movement and association. A lack of resources and qualified teachers limited opportunities for the majority of school-age refugee children. Migrants, refugees, and stateless persons receive no government support. The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage. Issues like sustainability of local businesses and racism (remember the George Floyd protests?) A synchronous fiscal, monetary and financial policy response has helped cushion the economic impact.
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