Malaysia di persimpangan hak asasi / Malaysia's rights at a crossroads

[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Sistem hak asasi manusia global kini berada di bawah tekanan yang belum pernah berlaku sebelum ini dengan keadaan di Malaysia turut menunjukkan kemunduran, kata Amnesty International Malaysia sempena pelancaran laporan tahunan State of the World’s Human Rights.

Pada tahun 2025, dunia menyaksikan satu trend yang luas dan berbahaya: kemerosotan secara beransur-ansur terhadap peraturan, institusi dan norma yang dibentuk untuk melindungi maruah manusia.

Laporan State of the World’s Human Rights 2026 oleh Amnesty International mendokumentasikan trajektori yang membimbangkan ini di 144 negara. Ia melukiskan gambaran jelas tentang dunia di mana perlindungan hak asasi manusia bukan sahaja diabaikan malah dileraikan secara aktif.

Ketika dunia berada dalam ambang era baharu yang berbahaya dipacu oleh negara-negara, syarikat-syarikat dan gerakan anti-hak asasi yang berkuasa, Malaysia berdepan pilihan penting: membetulkan haluan dan memenuhi komitmen hak asasi manusia atau terus menuju ke arah penindasan terkawal dan ruang sivik yang semakin mengecil.

Antara reformasi dan penindasan

Malaysia tidak terkecuali daripada trend global. Walaupun terdapat beberapa perkembangan pada tahun 2025 yang menunjukkan kemajuan, ia tidak konsisten dan dibayangi oleh kemunduran dalam isu utama khususnya kebebasan bersuara dan berhimpun secara aman.

“Malaysia berada di persimpangan yang kritikal. Ia boleh menunjukkan kepimpinan dengan menegakkan hak asasi manusia di dalam negara atau berisiko membabitkan dirinya dengan trend penindasan global yang selama ini ditentangnya,” kata jurucakap Amnesty International Malaysia, Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

Kerajaan Malaysia bukan sahaja gagal memansuhkan undang-undang drakonian yang menyekat kebebasan bersuara malah terus mempersenjatainya serta meluaskan skopnya ke ruang digital.

Penolakan cabaran pembikin filem Mentega Terbang terhadap Seksyen 298 Kanun Keseksaan mengekalkan kuasa yang kabur dan terlalu luas untuk menjenayahkan ucapan yang dianggap menyinggung sensitiviti agama sekali gus menjejaskan kebebasan ekspresi seni dan kritikal serta tidak memenuhi piawaian hak asasi manusia.

Walaupun Keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan memihak kepada aktivis Heidy Quah dengan membatalkan istilah “menyinggung” dan “menjengkelkan” dalam Seksyen 233 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia (CMA), keputusan itu tidak bertahan lama. Pada Februari 2026, Mahkamah Persekutuan mengembalikan istilah tersebut, sekali gus mengesahkan semula keupayaan kerajaan untuk menjenayahkan pelbagai bentuk ekspresi dalam talian.

“Daripada pembikin filem yang diheret ke mahkamah hinggalah kepada istilah kabur seperti ‘menyinggung’ dan ‘menjengkelkan’ yang kembali menjadi kesalahan, kita melihat undang-undang menindas diperkukuh, bukan direformasi. Keputusan ini memberi kuasa luas kepada pihak berkuasa untuk secara sewenang-wenangnya menjenayahkan hampir apa sahaja bentuk ekspresi,” kata Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

Pada masa yang sama, penangkapan di bawah Akta Hasutan, Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia serta Kanun Keseksaan terus berlaku, mewujudkan suasana takut dan penapisan kendiri. Individu LGBTI juga semakin menjadi sasaran melalui penapisan, serbuan dan gangguan, sekali gus mengecilkan lagi ruang sivik di Malaysia.

Menjenayahkan protes

Hak untuk berhimpun secara aman terus terjejas melalui penggunaan Akta Perhimpunan Aman (PAA) dan undang-undang lain untuk menyiasat serta mengugut penunjuk perasaan walaupun adanya perlindungan perlembagaan dan komitmen kerajaan untuk melakukan reformasi.

Walaupun keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan yang mengisytiharkan Seksyen 9(5) PAA sebagai tidak berperlembagaan memberi harapan, ia masih belum diterjemahkan kepada reformasi yang bermakna. Lebih setahun berlalu, tiada perubahan hakiki dilakukan.

Sebaliknya, pihak berkuasa terus menggunakan peruntukan menindas dalam PAA bersama Kanun Keseksaan dan Akta Kesalahan Kecil untuk menyiasat serta mengugut penunjuk perasaan.

“Pengumuman reformasi sahaja tidak mencukupi, kerana orang ramai masih ditangkap, disiasat dan diugut kerana bersuara. Kerajaan mesti segera meminda Akta Perhimpunan Aman seperti yang dijanjikan, agar selaras dengan undang-undang hak asasi manusia antarabangsa,” kata Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

Percanggahan ini paling jelas dalam respons kerajaan terhadap protes berkaitan isu antarabangsa. Walaupun Malaysia secara terbuka mengecam pelanggaran hak asasi di peringkat global, individu yang menyuarakan isu yang sama di dalam negara berdepan penangkapan dan siasatan.

Pada Oktober, penunjuk perasaan aman membantah tindakan Israel memintas Global Sumud Flotilla, yang turut dikritik oleh kerajaan. Namun, pihak berkuasa bertindak dengan penangkapan dan kekerasan dengan sekurang-kurangnya seorang individu yang kemudiannya didakwa.

“Terdapat jurang ketara antara apa yang Malaysia katakan di pentas global dan apa yang dilakukannya di dalam negara. Kredibiliti dalam hak asasi manusia ditentukan melalui tindakan, bukannya kata-kata dan mesti dicerminkan dalam undang-undang, dasar serta amalan,” kata Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

Tindakan keras kerajaan juga semakin memberi kesan kepada golongan muda di Malaysia. Di Sabah, sekurang-kurangnya tujuh aktivis pelajar telah disiasat dan didakwa berhubung protes anti-rasuah pada bulan Mei. Awal bulan ini, tiga aktivis antirasuah turut ditahan dalam satu lagi tindak balas yang tidak seimbang terhadap bantahan aman.

Pelarian, kepolisan dan hak yang terhakis

Dalam konteks konflik global dan pemindahan paksa yang semakin meningkat, pendekatan Malaysia terhadap pelarian dan migran termasuk pengusiran paksa, penahanan sewenang-wenangnya dan kurang ketelusan dalam proses imigresen menimbulkan kebimbangan serius terhadap hak asasi manusia.

Pada tahun 2025, pelarian Rohingya yang melarikan diri daripada keganasan di Myanmar telah menghadapi tahanan atau bot mereka dihalau keluar dari perairan Malaysia. Serbuan imigresen terhadap pelarian dan migran tanpa dokumen meningkat sepanjang tahun. Sehingga Ogos, lebih 20,000 individu, termasuk lebih 2,000 kanak-kanak ditahan di dalam depot-depot imigresen di Malaysia.

“Pada masa ini apabila orang ramai melarikan diri daripada konflik dan krisis, Malaysia mesti menunaikan tanggungjawabnya untuk memberikan perlindungan dan bukan menolak mereka kembali ke bahaya atau menahan mereka tanpa proses sewajarnya,” kata Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

Kebimbangan turut meningkat berikutan laporan penyalahgunaan rentas sempadan termasuk kes aktivis Thuzar Maung yang dipercayai diculik bersama keluarganya di Malaysia dan dihantar pulang ke Myanmar.

Walaupun kerajaan mengumumkan rancangan untuk memperkenalkan proses pendaftaran pelarian kebangsaan pada tahun 2026, masih terdapat kekurangan dalam ketelusan mengenai bagaimana ia akan melindungi pencari suaka atau menangani amalan penahanan sedia ada.

Jurang akauntabiliti ini turut melangkaui penguatkuasaan imigresen. Keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi yang mendapati kerajaan dan polis bertanggungjawab terhadap kehilangan paksa Pastor Raymond Koh dan Amri Che Mat merupakan perkembangan penting namun akauntabiliti masih belum lengkap.

Insiden lain termasuk tembakan maut oleh polis dan kematian dalam tahanan terus menimbulkan kebimbangan serius mengenai pengawasan yang tidak mencukupi dan budaya kekebalan.

Walaupun terdapat kemajuan seperti pengurangan jumlah banduan hukuman mati, momentum telah goyah. Dengan mahkamah masih menjatuhkan hukuman mati termasuk bagi kes berkaitan dadah, kajian yang diumumkan oleh kerajaan tahun lalu mesti diterjemahkan kepada laluan yang jelas ke arah penghapusan sepenuhnya.

Kembalikan agenda hak asasi manusia

Ketika piawaian hak asasi manusia global terus diserang, Malaysia mempunyai peluang untuk memimpin bukan melalui retorik tetapi melalui tindakan.

“Amnesty International Malaysia menggesa kerajaan untuk melangkaui retorik dan memastikan hak asasi manusia dicerminkan secara bermakna dalam dasar dan tindakannya. Ini memerlukan penamatan tindakan keras terhadap kebebasan bersuara dan berhimpun, melaksanakan reformasi undang-undang yang bermakna, menghapuskan hukuman mati sepenuhnya serta menangani penyalahgunaan sistemik dalam tahanan dan penguatkuasaan undang-undang,” kata Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

“Hak asasi manusia tidak boleh dipilih-pilih dan tidak boleh ditangguhkan. Kerajaan mesti membalikkan kemunduran ini dan menunjukkan komitmen yang jelas serta konsisten terhadap reformasi.” – Amnesty Malaysia

English version

Malaysia at a crossroads as global assault on rights deepens

The global human rights system is under unprecedented strain, with the situation in Malaysia also backsliding, Amnesty International Malaysia said during the launch of its annual State of the World’s Human Rights report.

In 2025, the world witnessed a broad and dangerous trend: the gradual disintegration of rules, institutions and norms designed to protect human dignity.

Amnesty International’s State of the World’s Human Rights report documents this alarming trajectory across 144 countries. It paints a stark picture of a world where human rights protections are no longer simply neglected but actively dismantled.

As the world stands on the brink of a perilous new era driven by powerful states, companies and anti-rights movements, Malaysia faces a defining choice: reverse course and fulfil its human rights commitments or continue down a path of managed repression and shrinking civic space.

Between reform and repression

Malaysia has not been immune to global trends. While some developments in 2025 signalled progress, these were inconsistent and overshadowed by regression in key areas, particularly freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“Malaysia is at a critical crossroads. It can either demonstrate leadership by upholding human rights at home, or risk aligning itself with the very global trends of repression it claims to oppose” said Amnesty International Malaysia’s spokesperson Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

The Malaysian government has not only failed to repeal draconian laws restricting freedom of expression but has instead continued to weaponise them and expand their reach into digital spaces.

The dismissal of the Mentega Terbang filmmakers’ challenge against Section 298 of the Penal Code upheld vague and overbroad powers to criminalise speech deemed offensive to religious sensitivities, undermining artistic and critical expression and falling short of human rights standards.

While the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of activist Heidy Quah, striking down the terms “offensive” and “annoy” in Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), this was short-lived. In February 2026, the Federal Court reinstated these terms and by doing so, reaffirmed the state’s ability to criminalise a wide range of online expression.

“From filmmakers being dragged through the courts to vague terms like ‘offensive’ and ‘annoy’ being reinstated as punishable offences, we are seeing repressive laws being reinforced, not reformed. These decisions hand authorities sweeping powers to arbitrarily criminalise almost any form of expression,” said Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

At the same time, arrests under the Sedition Act, the CMA and the Penal Code persisted, reinforcing a climate of fear and self-censorship. LGBTI individuals were also increasingly targeted through censorship, raids and harassment that further shrink Malaysia’s already constrained civic space.

Criminalising protest at home

The right to peaceful assembly continued to be undermined through the use of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) and other laws to investigate and intimidate protesters despite constitutional protections and repeated government commitments to reform these laws.

Although a Federal Court ruling declaring Section 9(5) of the PAA unconstitutional offered hope, it has not yet translated into meaningful reform. More than a year on, there has been no substantive overhaul of the law.

Instead, authorities have continued to rely on its repressive provisions, alongside the Penal Code and Minor Offences Act, to investigate and intimidate protesters.

“Announcements of reform alone are not enough, as people are still being arrested, investigated, and intimidated for speaking out. The government must urgently amend the Peaceful Assembly Act as it has promised, ensuring it is in line with international human rights law,” said Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

The contradiction is most evident in the government’s response to protests on international issues. While Malaysia publicly condemned global human rights abuses, individuals raising the same concerns at home have faced arrest and investigation.

In October, peaceful demonstrators protested Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a move the government itself had criticised. Yet authorities responded with arrests and force, with at least one individual later charged.

“There is a stark contrast between what Malaysia says on the global stage and what it does domestically. Credibility on human rights is demonstrated by action not words, and must be reflected in law, policy and practice,” said Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

The government’s crackdown has also increasingly affected young people in Malaysia. In Sabah, at least seven student activists were investigated and charged over anti-corruption protests in May. Earlier this month, three anti-corruption activists were arrested in yet another disproportionate response to peaceful dissent.

Refugees, policing and right erosion

At a time of escalating global conflict and displacement, Malaysia’s approach to refugees and migrants – marked by pushbacks, arbitrary detention, and a lack of transparency in immigration processes – raises serious human rights concerns.

In 2025, Rohingya refugees fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar were detained, and their boats pushed out of Malaysian waters. Immigration raids against refugees and undocumented migrants intensified throughout the year. As of August, more than 20,000 individuals, including over 2,000 children, were detained in facilities across Malaysia.

“At a time when people are fleeing conflict and crisis situations, Malaysia must uphold its responsibility to provide protection – not push people back into harm’s way or detain them indefinitely without due process,” said Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

Concerns were further heightened by reports of cross-border abuses, including the case of activist Thuzar Maung, believed to have been abducted with her family in Malaysia and returned to Myanmar.

While the government has announced plans to introduce a national refugee registration process in 2026, there has been little transparency on how it will protect asylum seekers or address existing detention practices.

These accountability gaps extend beyond immigration enforcement. The High Court’s ruling that the government and police were responsible for the enforced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat marked a significant development, but accountability remains incomplete.

Other incidents, including fatal police shootings and deaths in custody, continue to raise serious concerns about insufficient oversight and impunity.

Even where progress was made, with the reduction in the number of people on death row, momentum has faltered. With courts still handing down death sentences, including for drug-related offences, the government’s proposed study that was announced last year must translate into a clear path toward full abolition.

A call for meaningful reform

At a time when global human rights standards are under sustained attack, Malaysia has an opportunity to lead, not by rhetoric, but through action.

“Amnesty International Malaysia urges the government to move beyond rhetoric and ensure human rights are meaningfully reflected in its policies and actions. This requires ending the crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, delivering meaningful legal reforms, abolishing the death penalty in full and addressing systemic abuses in detention and law enforcement,” said Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan.

“Human rights cannot be selective, and they cannot be postponed. The government must reverse backsliding and demonstrate a clear, consistent commitment to reform.” – Amnesty Malaysia

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