LETTER | Human rights: M’sia still has a long way to go

LETTER | Today is Human Rights Day. It commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

For 75 years, the core thrust of the declaration has been to infuse societies with principles of equality, fundamental freedoms and justice. The theme for Human Rights Day 2023 is “Freedom, Equality and Justice for All”.

Malaysia being a part of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the term of 2022 – 2024, was elected to the council on Oct 15, 2021.

Unfortunately, Malaysia has failed to uphold the core articles enshrined under UDHR 1948 namely:

• Article 1: All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

• Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms outlined in this declaration without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

• Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

• Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thoughts, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

So, where is Malaysia heading?

It has been a year now since the present unity government under the stewardship of Anwar Ibrahim was formed and the people are increasingly growing impatient, dissatisfied and perplexed over the uncertain roadmap of the government in leading the nation.

Promises of reformasi made during the 15th general election campaign trail have yet to be delivered to the people and remain merely as yet another political speech.

Take, for instance, the recent announcement by the prime minister that a bumiputera economic congress would be held in January 2024 to establish a new direction and approach for bumiputera agenda empowerment.

This is not the first time such a congress was held and not the kind of reformation we expected. This raises a question, isn't Anwar supposed to be the prime minister of a multiracial, multi-religious nation?

Isn't the economic improvement should be beneficial for all Malaysians? During the GE15 campaign, Anwar claimed that the Indians and Orang Asli are among the country's poorest. So, shouldn’t we hold an economic congress for all Malaysians?

Statistics reveal that the majority of non-Muslims voted and supported Pakatan Harapan, the coalition led by Anwar due to political instability - hoping for meaningful reformation to fundamental rights, economy, education, health and social welfare development.

However, until today, we are still fighting an unresolved battle against racism, fanaticism, extremism, discrimination and double standard policies targeting the minorities in this nation.

Take, for instance, the more recent incidents that impact and relate to religious persecution:

• 1. At the National Tamil Language Carnival on Nov 23, participants were barred from reciting Tamil hymns to mark the start of the programme.

  Indian participants were not allowed to sing “Kadavul Valthu” (praises to God) and ”Tamil Valthu” (praises to the Tamil language) during the event which was held in a hotel in Kepala Batas. The carnival was a Tamil programme and it was organised to celebrate the advent and flourishing of the Tamil language over generations and restricting the two Tamil hymns was a gross and brazen infringement of participants' rights.

• The refusal by TV Sarawak and the state’s UNIFOR (Unit for Other Religions in Premier Department) to play “O Holy Night” heralding the birth of Jesus Christ in a Christmas programme on Dec 3 at Padang Merdeka has shocked many non-Muslims (and even right-minded Muslims) throughout the country.

  It seems this rejection was due to religious elements as well as owing to the protocol from the Film Censorship Board., which is utterly ludicrous and discriminating. The matter was raised vigorously by the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) and the matter was only resolved after Premier Abang Johari Openg intervened and ordered that the song should be allowed.

• The controversial dismissal of a non-Muslim restaurant worker in Bukit Bintang, simply because he wore a chain with a small crucifix pendant – a symbol that is commonly worn by Christians.

• Cases related to unilateral, unethical and unlawful religious conversions can be heard very often.

  It has affected families and friends tremendously as many families are broken up in the process. Some of these cases are still running in courts waiting for a just and fair closure.

As such, the time to uphold human rights in Malaysia is way overdue.

In the past three years, the Global Human Rights Foundation has been voicing out on matters concerning the violation of human rights especially those affecting non-Muslims and the minorities in this nation.

Many police reports and memoranda were also handed over to the relevant ministries and authorities for redress but our efforts were in vain.

NGOs and human rights activists are condemned and criticised, even branded as a security threat by politicians whenever matters of public concern are raised involving the violation of rights and injustices inflicted owing to policies, statements and actions.

GHRF registers its greatest disappointment towards Suhakam. Being a legitimate body established under the Parliament in 1999, Suhakam has painfully failed to address all the critical issues affecting human rights.

The agency seems inefficient and inactive in speaking up for the minorities and the injustice shown as well as the double standard policies impacting non-Muslims and non-Malays in the country.

Over the years, they seemed to act like “a puppet to the government”.

Today, NGOs and netizens are deeply concerned over the level of racial and religious intolerance in the country, which is morphing into a threat to national unity and harmony.

It is a widely held perception that the racial divisions in our society are getting worse and it cannot continue to be ignored if we regard patriotism as a vital ingredient for national peace and progress.

GHRF currently has three active cases pending in the courts concerning inflammatory speeches and postings in the public domain insulting and deriding non-Islamic religions in the country.

It has always been the case - the NGOs or the public have to individually or privately seek justice as the law enforcement agencies and authorities who are supposed to act on the matter without prejudice or bias seem to be operating on double standards.

‘Up to individuals, NGOs to fight for rights’

GHRF has also called upon the government to table a Racial and Religious Hatred Act in Parliament, which would ensure that those making any statements deemed as hate speech directed at a particular race or religion would be prosecuted.

GHRF has also requested for the government to set in place an independent body to oversee conversions into Islam, and for strict laws and guidelines to be drafted and enforced to avoid such conversions being done covertly, coercively and in a partial manner favouring the converted against the unconverted.

GHRF’s objective is to uphold the Federal Constitution, the principles of Rukun Negara, parliamentary democracy, the rule of law and equality without discrimination.

Towards this end, GHRF deems that enforcing and abiding by the 30 articles as enshrined in UDHR 1948 is non-negotiable.

Writer is the president of Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF)

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.