Malaysia's barring of citizens below the age of 15 and non-citizens from taking part in peaceful protests has come under attack from United Nations special rapporteur Maina Kiai.

Maina, who is the special rapporteur for rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, said in his report that in Malaysia, children below 15 years cannot even take part in public demonstrations.

This, he said, goes against Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.