Where is Malaysia really heading on human rights?
S SHASHI KUMAR
It has been three years since the current Pakatan Harapan coalition government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, came into power. Yet Malaysians remain disappointed, dissatisfied, and increasingly betrayed by the unfulfilled promises and hopes raised during GE15.
While the Prime Minister continues traveling abroad to speak about humanity, women’s and children’s rights, and the fight against racism and religious intolerance, these very crises remain unresolved at home. The recent Sabah election speaks for itself, proving that the people of Malaysia have lost faith in the Madani government and expressed their rejection through the ballot box.
A clear example is the decades-long legal battle of Madam Indira Gandhi, whose struggle underscores how systemic delays can obstruct a victim’s right to justice, safety, and closure. Despite multiple court rulings and repeated appeals, enforcement gaps and procedural delays have left her without her daughter for 16 years. The reluctance of authorities to act due to religious sensitivities reflects a profound failure in delivering justice or justice denied.
Similarly, prolonged police investigations that end with NFA (No Further Action), along with stalled court cases involving controversial Islamic preachers, contribute to the perception that the justice system is unwilling or unable to act promptly. This enables perpetrators to operate with impunity and reinforces a deeply troubling double-standard policy.
Over the years, GHRF has filed several private court actions concerning inflammatory speeches and online postings that insult non-Islamic religions. All applications have been rejected, further eroding public confidence in law enforcement, the judiciary, and the government.
In another recent case, a preacher openly claimed that minors below the age of 18 could be converted covertly without their parents’ knowledge or consent, a stance in clear contradiction to Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution. Yet despite multiple police reports, no action has been taken. GHRF, together with concerned parents, was forced to file a private suit to seek justice. This demonstrates the ongoing sidelining of non-Muslim community concerns.
Meanwhile, cases involving alleged conversions without consent continue to surface, causing distress to families and prolonging legal disputes. In 2023, 137 Orang Asli from the Bateq Mayah tribe sought to nullify their Islamic registration after claiming they were misled into converting during a mass exercise 30 years ago. Similar cases continue to emerge, as widely reported in the media.
During the GE15 campaign, Anwar Ibrahim pledged that Indians and Orang Asli among the nation’s poorest communities, would be uplifted through a “new politics” grounded in inclusivity and multicultural governance. However, three years on, these promises appear to have been mere political rhetoric aimed at securing electoral support, with no progress made.
In today’s Malaysia, the country is not only battling oppression and double standards affecting minority communities but is also witnessing rampant abuse and inhumane culling of stray animals, particularly dogs, by local councils. NGOs and compassionate Malaysians are now shouldering the burden of rescuing, sheltering, and protecting these animals on their own.
NGOs and netizens nationwide are increasingly alarmed by rising racial and religious intolerance, which is rapidly becoming a serious threat to national unity and harmony.
Many Malaysians widely perceived, racial divisions are worsening, pulling communities further apart. This growing divide must not be ignored if patriotism is to remain a vital foundation for national peace, cohesion, and progress.
S SHASHI KUMAR is Global Human Rights Federation president.