The government cooperated to a limited extent with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. 1. Parts of the country were hit with devastating floods that . The courts have ruled that the Orang Asli have rights to their customary lands under the constitution, but NGOs contended the government failed to recognize these judicial pronouncements. Laws on workers compensation cover both local and migrant workers. Trade unions asserted some workers had wages withheld or were terminated because of union-related activity. Many industries were subject to race-based requirements that mandated bumiputra ownership levels. During this time authorities allegedly repeatedly questioned her; deprived her of contact with her lawyer; and detained her in unsafe conditions, including lack of water, food, and access to medicine, at times with possibly COVID-19-positive detainees. The law provides for the rights to strike and to bargain collectively, but both were severely restricted. Anti-Semitism was a serious problem across the political spectrum and attracted wide support among segments of the population. Malaysia's political news continued to be a key agenda in the media last year, following a series of continuous and rapid political developments that took place in 2020. They performed hazardous duties and had no meaningful access to legal counsel in cases of contract violations and abuse. Federal police reported approximately 20,000 internet addresses in the country uploading and downloading child pornography. Notes. The government claimed that deaths caused by police were rare, but civil society activists disputed this claim. 2. Supermax had repaid nearly 1,750 workers by June and stated it had allocated 23 million ringgit ($5.5 million), including remediation payment to contract workers. They were released on bail but ordered to report to the nearest District Islamic Religious Department and barred from uploading on social media. Malaysia's polarizing divides remain dominant and seem entrenched. The new government, headed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, aggressively cracked down on critical speech and protest, backed away from creating a truly independent police complaints commission, and took a hard line on the treatment of refugees and undocumented migrants. Penang police chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain observed that factors driving the rise in domestic violence were pressure and stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 Liew Chin Tong, Middle Malaysia: Centre Ground Is Battle Ground (Kuala Lumpur: Genta Media . If found guilty, the cost of deportation generally fell to the detainee, which led to prolonged detention for those unable to pay. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. If they refuse to comply, employers face additional fines for each day that wages are not paid. In modern times, people often migrate for security, work and even for education opportunities. As of August 24, the ministry had inspected 23,993 employers and 129,668 staff quarters covering the accommodation of 804,204 migrant workers and close to 1.2 million workers. The constitution provides citizens the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; however, several laws restricted this right. Although China is Malaysias largest trading partner, in July 2020 Malaysia rejected in its entirety Chinas claims to rights in the South China Sea encompassed by the nine-dash line. The political environment was hostile towards women. In August police investigated seven activists from youth coalition Sekratariat Solidariti Rakyat for sedition in relation to a planned street protest. Although the codes five offenses infringing the rights of LGBTQI+ persons sodomy, homosexual activities involving women, changing gender, crossdressing as a female, and crossdressing as a male were not among the newly added crimes, observers expressed concern about the implications for the LGBTQI+ community. NGOs and international organizations involved with these populations made credible allegations of overcrowding, inadequate food and clothing, lack of regular access to clean water, poor medical care, improper sanitation, and lack of bedding in the immigration detention centers. Many companies hired foreign workers using recruiting or outsourcing companies, creating uncertainty about the legal relationship between the worker, the outsourcing company, and the owner of the workplace, making workers more vulnerable to exploitation and complicating dispute resolution. The organizers had held two street protests in July, demanding the prime ministers resignation, the reopening of parliament, and an automatic loan repayment moratorium for all. The law provides for six to 20 years imprisonment and caning for persons convicted of incest. The government banned, restricted, or limited circulation of publications it considered a threat to public order, morality, or national security. Although the National Union of Plantation Workers reported it was rare to find children involved in plantation work in peninsular Malaysia, others reported instances of child labor on palm oil plantations across the country. I very much appreciate it. Class:Class 1 Sec 4. In February the government introduced the Workers Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act as an emergency ordinance during the state of emergency compelling employers and centralized accommodation providers to provide lodging with sufficient living space and amenities for migrant workers to effectively control the spread of COVID-19. Isa was granted a stay pending his appeal. In May MACC arrested member of parliament Tajuddin Abdul Rahman on two charges of abuse of power for interfering with the operations and business dealings of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, a government-owned public transport company under the Ministry of Finance. Nur Sajat failed to appear for her court date on February 23, citing a medical condition. Our findings reveal that the prevalence of cyberbullying victimization and perpetrator is 13.7% and 3.8%, respectively. Reproductive awareness advocates and NGOs that provided sexual health education were frequently accused of encouraging sin and eliciting sexual behaviors. In August 2020, the Federal Court upheld the constitutionality of the mandatory death . Widespread school closures due to Covid-19 may also increase risks of child marriage, as research shows that leaving education is highly correlated with girls being married off. According to an investigation published by local media in 2018, there are no standard procedures for the practice and in some cases box cutters and stationery store blades are used. Government officials defended the practice during a UN review in 2018, when a Ministry of Health official stated that the practice was performed only by medical professionals and compared it to immunization programs for female babies. 13 Comments. Child labor was also evident among migrant domestic workers. Saddiq was released on bail, and the charges were transferred to a Kuala Lumpur court in September. Parents must register a child within 14 days of birth. Employers did not respect laws on wages and working hours. At time of writing, the government had not made public the report or taken steps to end the mandatory penalty. Despite strong objections by opposition political parties and civil society, in 2018 the former Barisan Nasional coalition government approved redrawn parliamentary districts that critics contended unfairly advantaged Barisan Nasional through gerrymandering and malapportionment. The amount and availability of bail is at the judges discretion. That said, the survey has identified three key challenges likely to arise for HR in the coming 12 to 24 months, namely: 13% of the workforce will be made redundant. 05:27 AM (GMT) Embattled Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to resign on Monday after a tumultuous 17 months in power marked by his government's poor response to . There was a lack of investigation into accusations of rape and gender-based violence, and little accountability. Applicants had to provide their name and address for their vaccine status to be recorded, and some feared authorities could use the information later to raid their homes. Malaysia's total population was 32.98 million in January 2022.. Data show that Malaysia's population increased by 408 thousand (+1.3 percent) between 2021 and 2022.. 48.6 percent of Malaysia's population is female, while 51.4 percent of the population is male.. At the start of 2022, 78.2 percent of Malaysia's population lived in urban centres, while 21. . According to a survey conducted by Ipsos on the most concerning environmental issues . Unless trends change this year, the annual total of newborns in the world's third-largest economy is on track to hit . The director general may issue necessary directives to an employer to resolve allegations of discrimination in employment, although there were no penalties under the law for such discrimination and thus penalties were not commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. Migrant workers also faced employment discrimination (see sections 7.b. Nevertheless, many businesses could operate for years without an inspection. The plan outlined policies to increase access to education and attendance in schools, increase access to health education, address stigma and social norms on child marriage, and specify laws and guidelines on child marriages that are in line with government policies guarding the well-being of children. Labor union representatives noted that recruiting agents in the countries of origin and locally sometimes imposed high fees, making migrant workers vulnerable to debt bondage. Members of the Malaysian Bar Council, NGO representatives, and other observers expressed serious concern about significant limitations on judicial independence, citing several high-profile instances of arbitrary verdicts, selective prosecution, and preferential treatment of some litigants and lawyers. Persons granted bail usually must surrender their passports to the court. The government confirmed in September 2020 that Malaysia will not entertain requests from China to extradite Uyghur refugees and will allow them safe passage to third countries. Registering a new political party remained difficult because of government restrictions on the process. Supporting the essential social work workforce. New government buildings generally had a full range of facilities for persons with disabilities. The government did not effectively enforce laws prohibiting employers from seeking retribution for legal union activities and requiring reinstatement of workers fired for trade union activity. After this incident, more than 300 former and sitting students issued anonymous statements, with the hashtag #MakeSchoolsASaferPlace, recounting sexual harassment and abuse they had experienced at school by teachers and fellow students. Sarawak maintained its ban on Zakir Naik, an Islamic preacher; Mandeep Karpal Singh, formerly of the fair-election NGO coalition Bersih; sitting Bersih chair Thomas Fann; former chair Ambiga Sreenevasan; Wong Chin Huat, an academic and Bersih resource chair; Jerald Joseph, a SUHAKAM commissioner; and activists Colin Nicholas and Jannie Lasimbang, among others. According to the Malaysian Bar Council, defendants generally had adequate time and facilities to prepare a defense if they had the means to engage private counsel. In 2019 UNHCR estimated there were 450,000 stateless persons residing in the eastern state of Sabah. The government continued to arrest undocumented migrant workers, including children, and held thousands in confined and congested cells at immigration detention centers and other facilities. In July police raided the offices of Freedom Film Network in response to an animated short film the network and the NGO Suaram released in June about the lack of police accountability. Despite alleged electoral irregularities and systemic disadvantages for opposition groups, Barisan Nasional lost the election to Pakatan Harapan, the first transfer of power between coalitions since independence in 1957. The religious department then issued a warrant for her arrest without bail and sent department officers looking for her, with police support. The National Occupational Safety and Health Council composed of workers, employers, and government representatives creates and coordinates implementation of occupational health and safety measures. A childs testimony is acceptable only if there is corroborating evidence, which posed special problems for molestation cases in which the child victim was the only witness. Government regulations and policies provided extensive preferential programs to boost the economic position of bumiputra, a majority of the population. Self-censorship took place among academics at private institutions as well, spurred by fear the government might revoke the licenses of their institutions. Malaysia's GDP in 2019 was $364,684 million. . Civil law gives non-Muslim mothers and fathers equal parental rights, while sharia favors fathers. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government, Section 5. UNHCR reported the government brought charges in a few cases against employers for hiring refugees. were hot-button topics in 2020, but mental health awareness seems to have found the most success with stickiness, with 77% voting 'mental health' as their top 5 concerns in 2021, compared to 67% in the previous year. National-level unions are prohibited; the government allows three regional territorial federations of unions for peninsular Malaysia, and for the states of Sabah and Sarawak to operate. UNHCR noted that because most schooling was virtual during the year, some populations, such as Rohingya, allowed girls to participate in schooling virtually when they would have been prohibited from attending in person. Police reportedly questioned Suaram staff to assess whether the film violated sedition or communications legislation but made no determination. By law the minimum age for consensual, noncommercial sex is 16 for both boys and girls. Violence and Harassment: Journalists were subjected to harassment and intimidation. Rape and Domestic Violence: Rape of women or men is a criminal offense, as are most forms of domestic violence. Teens go through a vulnerable period at this stage in their lives. Toh was released on bail but could face a substantial fine, two years imprisonment, or both. See the Department of States International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/. In June human rights organizations called for inquests into what media termed a recent spate of deaths in police custody. In July the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM), an independent entity established by parliament, stated it was launching investigations into four fatalities in May and June, including the case of a security guard, Sivabalan Subramaniam, who died less than an hour after his arrest and detention on May 20 at Gombak District police headquarters in Selangor State, allegedly from injuries sustained while in custody. The courts increasingly encouraged the use of mediation and arbitration to speed settlements. Migrant workers without access to their passports were more vulnerable to harsh working conditions, lower wages than promised, unexpected wage deductions, and poor housing. Share this via Email Rape. For examples of social problems in Malaysia include crime, violence, gangsterism, drug abuse, baby dumping, vandalism, and young relationship among youth. Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36. The government focused on preventing sexual exploitation of children, including sex trafficking. On February 17, Rafi Ullah, a Pakistani refugee, died at Sungai Buloh Prison, near Paya Jaras, Selangor State, reportedly of a heart attack; his lawyer said serious injuries on his hands and feet raised questions about the cause of death. Continue reading and get to learn about the 10 common social issues around the world. In September, Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin told parliament that since January, 42 individuals had died while in custody, 14 in prison or police custody and 28 in immigration detention centers. In October, according to media reports, a senior politician from the Bersatu party, Borhanuddin Che Rahim, used an ethnic slur to describe an ethnic Indian member of the national badminton team. UPDATED: Check out what Singaporeans cared about in 2021. Independent Monitoring: Authorities generally did not permit NGOs and media to monitor prison conditions; the law allows judges to visit prisons to examine conditions and ask prisoners and prison officials about conditions. In parliament 33 women held 14.8 percent of the seats, an increase from 10.8 percent in the previous election cycle. Throughout the year there were numerous instances of police confiscating the cell phones of human rights defenders brought in for questioning. Other buyers requested suppliers to reduce or exclude FGV and Sime Darby products for supplies entering numerous countries. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin highlighted one of the concerns during the closing session of the 74th World Health Assembly held virtually tonight was on how the pandemic had impacted mental health and social well-being. Legal observers feared the February ruling by the Court of Appeal against Malaysiakini (see section 2.a., Freedom of Expression for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media) set a precedent that websites could be held responsible for reader comments posted in response to content. Nevertheless, four states Johor, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Pahang extend equal parental rights to Muslim mothers. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum age of marriage is 18 for men and 16 for women. Some politicians and human rights activists claimed the government used the loyalty pledge to restrain political activity among these groups. It is never a dull day in Malaysian politics, but there seems to be a brief pause - for the time being. Undocumented migrants are detained during a crackdown by MalaysiasImmigration Department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, May 20, 2020. The government bans membership in unregistered political parties and organizations. Several UN experts expressed concern that the crackdown was severely undermining efforts to fight the pandemic and immigration detention centers subsequently reported an increase in confirmed cases of Covid-19. Some workers organizations were independent of government, political parties, and employers, but employer-dominated or yellow unions were reportedly a concern. Share this via WhatsApp Respect for the Integrity of the Person, a. In particular, a social problem often happens to youngsters aged eighteen and older. Preschoolers, Year One and Year Two pupils will resume face-to-face classes on 1 March . Back to Malaysia MALAYSIA 2021. The number detained in these centers was not publicly available. NGOs reported that the government did not take action in cases of domestic violence; victims must keep evidence, gather witness testimony, and ensure their own safety. Health care costs is the only issue of the 15 asked on . Leong had been arrested three times since November 2020 in connection with a break-in, under a statute designed to combat organized crime and terrorism. In October the minister of home affairs reported that 374 individuals were detained under security legislation from January 1 through September 30. Nationwide Emergency. That year, Malaysia's GDP contracted by 7.4 per cent. On 12 January, Malaysia was put under a nationwide emergency under then premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's directive. The standard of care for those in detention is also problematic, with detainees dying of treatable illnesses. Teenagers who abuse alcohol increase their risk of negative health effects because their organs, brain and mental capabilities are still growing. For example, a government unit charged with tightening border controls posted an illustration on social media that showed armed naval vessels threatening a boat and captioned it, Rohingya migrants, your arrival is not welcome (section 2.f., Access to Asylum). KUALA LUMPUR- 24 July 2021 - After a year of intense uncertainty because of the COVID-19 pandemic, political instability, racial discord, and severe climate events, millennials and Gen Zs around the world are determined to hold themselves and others accountable on society's most pressing issues.These generations have long pushed for social change, but many now feel the world is at a pivotal . Freedom of association and collective bargaining were not fully respected. The report also alleged that one accredited election observer actively campaigned for the former Barisan Nasional government. Malaysia Outlook 2022: Five Risks to Watch. Many NGOs complained women did not receive fair treatment from sharia courts, especially in divorce and child custody cases (see section 6). See the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. In 2021, the UN's planned Food Systems Summit during the General Assembly will be an important moment, as well as a yearlong focusing mechanism, to help move the world toward a more sustainable model that addresses all these issues and more. In May the National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia, the Centre for Independent Journalism, and Gerakan Media Merdeka issued a statement in response to five incidents where authorities questioned and investigated journalists early in the year. In September Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat issued directives to improve the detention process and ensure suspects detained for investigation for more than 24 hours had access to legal representation, were in good health, and were allowed to testify in court about their treatment while under detention. Laws prohibit such actions; nevertheless, authorities sometimes infringed on citizens privacy. 3 million people owe more than $10,000. The countrys Jewish population was estimated at 100-200 persons, consisting mostly of foreign residents. The government's national five-year roadmap for 2021-25 targets child marriage. There is no minimum age for engaging in light work. Among the refugees and asylum seekers, 68 percent were men and 32 percent were women. The governments Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and SUHAKAM monitored prisons on a case-by-case basis. These priority issues are: 1.