KUALA LUMPUR: At the United Nations Human Rights Council, Malaysia presented its progress in legal and institutional reforms aimed at promoting human rights in the country. The Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general (Multilateral Affairs) Datuk Bala Chandran Tharman highlighted that since 2018, 26 laws and regulations have been repealed, revised, or developed to create space for exercising human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The important changes include the elimination of the mandatory death penalty in July last year, involving amendments to seven relevant laws. This demonstrates the government’s commitment to upholding human rights and justice for all in Malaysia.
Malaysia also decriminalized attempted suicides in order to address mental health issues with a compassionate approach. Malaysia’s National Report for the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was presented at the council in Geneva, Switzerland.
The report also highlighted Malaysia’s efforts to protect children, women, and vulnerable groups from exploitation, violence, and abuse. This included enacting the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022, anti-stalking law through Section 507A of the Penal Code, and amending the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 to better protect children against abuse and exploitation.
“Malaysia has prioritised human rights as fundamental to the country’s development and in uplifting the standard of living for fellow Malaysians. Through the Madani framework, the government is seeking to create a just society with care, compassion, trust, and respect for one another,” said Bala Chandra.
A National Recommendation Tracking Database has been established to implement and monitor progress of human rights recommendations by the UN council, cultivating stronger ownership and strengthening coordination among government agencies and non-governmental stakeholders.
Looking forward, Bala Chandra stated that Malaysia will continue to prioritize human rights with development, reinforcing that these elements are mutually inclusive. The Federal Constitution remains the guiding instrument in this matter.
Malaysia’s National Report was a collective effort involving consultation with various stakeholders, including civil society and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). The UPR process is an intergovernmental review of human rights records of each UN member state once every four and a half years, providing an opportunity for each nation to highlight measures and efforts undertaken to improve human rights.
It also acts as a peer review platform for member states to provide recommendations and share best practices in a constructive dialogue to promote and protect human rights.
