The federal government has been urged to honour and uphold its human rights obligations, with one media watchdog citing the “sharp increase” in the use of oppressive laws to silence dissent in 2021.
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) executive director Wathshlah Naidu said civil society organisations in the country have observed a “suspension and degradation” of human rights during the pandemic.
This, she said, included the harassment of people using archaic and repressive laws.
Wathshlah said there were 140 incidences from January to November in which the authorities used Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or service.
They also used the Sedition Act 19 times, and Section 504 of the Penal Code, which criminalises intentional insults to provoke a breach of peace, on 32 occasions.
Section 505 of the Penal Code, which criminalises statements conducive to public mischief, was used 35 times, and there were nine incidences of the use of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. The Official Secrets Act 1972 was used once.
However, there were no cases pertaining to the use of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984.
Wathshlah said the government must show its sincerity and take action to improve its human rights record, especially since it has secured a seat on the United Nation’s Human Rights Council in October and pledged to uphold human rights.
“This international commitment should not remain a mere facade, but must be translated into real action and reform at the national level,” she said in a statement in conjunction with International Human Rights Day.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
