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Malaysia uses specious terrorism threat to regress on human rights Malaysia uses specious terrorism threat to regress on human rights
(about 4 hours later)
The passage of Malaysia’s new Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has been approved by the lower house of parliament, deals another heavy blow to the cause of human rights in south-east Asia. Three years after the hated colonial-era Internal Security Act was repealed, the government will once again have the power to lock people up arbitrarily and indefinitely, without trial and without legal redress.The passage of Malaysia’s new Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has been approved by the lower house of parliament, deals another heavy blow to the cause of human rights in south-east Asia. Three years after the hated colonial-era Internal Security Act was repealed, the government will once again have the power to lock people up arbitrarily and indefinitely, without trial and without legal redress.
The ostensible justification for this stark anti-democratic regression is the perceived threat posed by Malaysian Muslims who support Islamic State. Police say 92 Malaysians have been detained over the past year for alleged links to Isis in Syria, while others are sympathetic to the group. However, the numbers are small compared to the many hundreds of European Muslims who have joined Isis. The ostensible justification for this stark anti-democratic regression is the perceived threat posed by Malaysian Muslims who support Islamic State. Police say 92 Malaysians have been detained over the past year for alleged links to Isis in Syria, while others are sympathetic to the group. However, the numbers are small compared with the many hundreds of European Muslims who have joined Isis.
Opponents claim the government has failed to demonstrate a threat from Isis. “My biggest fear is that the law may be abused,” N. Surendran, an opposition MP, told Agence France-Presse. “I don’t think there is any basis for the government’s claim that this law is needed to contain [Isis].” Related: Malaysia passes new detention without trial law, raising human rights fears
Opponents claim the government has failed to demonstrate a threat from Isis. “My biggest fear is that the law may be abused,” N Surendran, an opposition MP, told Agence France-Presse. “I don’t think there is any basis for the government’s claim that this law is needed to contain [Isis].”
Post-independence Malaysia does not have a serious or ongoing terrorism problem, at least compared to many other majority Muslim countries. A handful of Malaysians have been linked in the past to the Philippines-based jihadi group Abu Sayyaf, an Isis affiliate since 2014, or implicated in bombings in Indonesia.Post-independence Malaysia does not have a serious or ongoing terrorism problem, at least compared to many other majority Muslim countries. A handful of Malaysians have been linked in the past to the Philippines-based jihadi group Abu Sayyaf, an Isis affiliate since 2014, or implicated in bombings in Indonesia.
But Zahid Hamidi, the home affairs minister, insisted the new law was necessary to curb rising Islamist militancy. He said: “This is a real threat, and prevention measures are needed.” By coincidence or not, police detained 17 people alleged to be plotting terror attacks in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of the parliamentary vote. The arrests will heighten fears that the new powers will be abused.But Zahid Hamidi, the home affairs minister, insisted the new law was necessary to curb rising Islamist militancy. He said: “This is a real threat, and prevention measures are needed.” By coincidence or not, police detained 17 people alleged to be plotting terror attacks in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of the parliamentary vote. The arrests will heighten fears that the new powers will be abused.
Human Rights Watch said: “This law is a giant step backwards for human rights. [It] raises serious concerns that Malaysia will return to practices of the past when government agents frequently used fear of indefinite detention to intimidate and silence outspoken critics.”Human Rights Watch said: “This law is a giant step backwards for human rights. [It] raises serious concerns that Malaysia will return to practices of the past when government agents frequently used fear of indefinite detention to intimidate and silence outspoken critics.”
The new terror law, plus a pending Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries bill, is another blot on the record of Malaysia’s weak and uninspiring prime minister, Najib Razak, who came to power in 2009 promising to create “the greatest democracy”. His harsh repression of the “reformasi” street protests in 2011 that were prematurely dubbed the hibiscus revolution, and his panicky reaction to opposition gains in the 2013 elections, crushed those early hopes.The new terror law, plus a pending Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries bill, is another blot on the record of Malaysia’s weak and uninspiring prime minister, Najib Razak, who came to power in 2009 promising to create “the greatest democracy”. His harsh repression of the “reformasi” street protests in 2011 that were prematurely dubbed the hibiscus revolution, and his panicky reaction to opposition gains in the 2013 elections, crushed those early hopes.
The recent jailing, after a failed appeal against a sodomy conviction, of Malaysia’s best-known opposition leader – the former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim – was widely seen as the product of a political vendetta. He said earlier in his trial: “This entire process is nothing but a conspiracy by Najib Razak to send me into political oblivion by attempting once again to put me behind bars.” The recent jailing, after a failed appeal against a sodomy conviction, of Malaysia’s best-known opposition leader – the former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim – was widely seen as the product of a political vendetta. He said during his trial: “This entire process is nothing but a conspiracy by Najib Razak to send me into political oblivion by attempting once again to put me behind bars.”
Dozens of government critics, including opposition politicians, academics, activists and journalists, have been charged with sedition or other offences in recent years, while curbs on the media, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are severe.Dozens of government critics, including opposition politicians, academics, activists and journalists, have been charged with sedition or other offences in recent years, while curbs on the media, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are severe.
Najib’s chronic need for control as hostility to his reign mounts has been highlighted, meanwhile, by a damaging attack from Malaysia’s maverick founding father, Mohamad Mahathir. The man famous for championing Asian values reportedly told Najib last week to quit or face being thrown out of office. Najib’s chronic need for control as hostility to his reign mounts has been highlighted, meanwhile, by a damaging attack from Malaysia’s maverick founding father, Mahathir Mohamad. The man famous for championing Asian values reportedly told Najib last week to quit or face being thrown out of office.
Malaysia’s travails come against a backdrop of eroding human rights in neighbouring countries. Thailand’s situation is dire. Last week its unelected prime minister, the former general Prayuth Chan-ocha, gave himself sweeping dictatorial powers. This action, too, was justified in the name of national security.Malaysia’s travails come against a backdrop of eroding human rights in neighbouring countries. Thailand’s situation is dire. Last week its unelected prime minister, the former general Prayuth Chan-ocha, gave himself sweeping dictatorial powers. This action, too, was justified in the name of national security.
Related: Thailand – time for the west to get tough on Prayuth Chan-ochaRelated: Thailand – time for the west to get tough on Prayuth Chan-ocha
In Burma, promised post-junta reforms have failed to materialise. In Singapore, meanwhile, the death of Lee Kuan Yew last month served as a reminder of how a modern nation state was built out of almost nothing, and how repression and intimidation, including punitive censorship, arbitrary arrest, caning and capital punishment, were used as key building blocks, and are still used to this day.In Burma, promised post-junta reforms have failed to materialise. In Singapore, meanwhile, the death of Lee Kuan Yew last month served as a reminder of how a modern nation state was built out of almost nothing, and how repression and intimidation, including punitive censorship, arbitrary arrest, caning and capital punishment, were used as key building blocks, and are still used to this day.
Malaysia need not travel this road. Multi-ethnic and multicultural, it broke with Lee’s Singapore in 1965 and has traditionally been viewed, rightly, as a more open-minded, easygoing society. Najib’s attack of insecurity risks all that.Malaysia need not travel this road. Multi-ethnic and multicultural, it broke with Lee’s Singapore in 1965 and has traditionally been viewed, rightly, as a more open-minded, easygoing society. Najib’s attack of insecurity risks all that.