Global civil society alliance concerned over 'escalating repression' in M'sia
Civicus, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action around the world, has expressed concern over the 'escalating repression' of dissent by Malaysian authorities in recent weeks.
“The Malaysian authorities have become so fearful of dissent that anyone who dares to speak out including artists and cartoonists faces judicial harassment.
“The government must end this absurd...
Civicus, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action around the world, has expressed concern over the 'escalating repression' of dissent by Malaysian authorities in recent weeks.
“The Malaysian authorities have become so fearful of dissent that anyone who dares to speak out including artists and cartoonists faces judicial harassment.
“The government must end this absurd probe of Fahmi Reza and Zunar, halt its use of restrictive laws, and respect the right to freedom of expression that is guaranteed in the Constitution,” said Civicus Asia Pacific researcher Josef Benedict in a statement today.
He was referring to the arrest of activist-artist Fahmi Reza on April 23 over a jealousy-themed Spotify playlist that was allegedly insulting the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Fahmi was also questioned by the police in March about two caricatures of the Health Minister which he posted on social media.
It was also reported on April 28 that political cartoonist Zunar is being investigated by the police over a satirical drawing lampooning the Kedah state government’s decision to cancel the Thaipusam public holiday in January 2021.
Aside from artists and cartoonists, the authorities appear to also be harassing peaceful protesters for exercising their fundamental freedoms, said Civicus.
On March 29, 11 individuals were summoned by the police over a peaceful protest outside Parliament against the delay in implementing Undi18.
On May 1, it was reported that the police wanted to question eight individuals for attending a solidarity gathering for Fahmi outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.
On the same day, the police also said it will summon about 90 participants of a sit-in protest in front of Parliament on April 30, which called for the reopening of Parliament.
Civicus noted that Parliament had been suspended since January 2021, following a declaration of a state of emergency, purportedly to handle the Covid-19 pandemic.
Critics have accused Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin of using the pandemic to cling to power by preventing Parliament from convening.
“The harassment of peaceful protesters highlights the shrinking space for fundamental freedoms under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
“The questioning of these individuals is aimed at creating a climate of fear and stifling criticism of the government and must end.
“As a country that is seeking membership of the UN Human Rights Council, these actions clearly run contrary to international human rights law and standards that such a body is supposed to protect,” said Benedict.
Civicus together with rights group Article 19, in a joint report released in March this year, found that the PN government has undermined and obstructed the exercise of fundamental freedoms by initiating “baseless criminal proceedings” against individuals expressing critical opinions of the government.
As such, civic space in Malaysia had been rated as “obstructed” by the Civicus monitor.
