In April, news portal Malaysiakini submitted to the Ministry of Education a list of 15 schools that allegedly required female students to undergo intrusive physical examinations to prove that they were menstruating and hence exempted from prayers. There is no minimum age for engaging in light work. The law classifies some types of workplace sexual harassment as criminal offenses (see section 7.d.). In May Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin declared the government would round up and vaccinate undocumented migrants to help them and protect Malaysians. If the migrants did not come for vaccinations, the government would go after them, he told media, adding that authorities would then work with employers and embassies to get individuals documented only for the purpose of vaccination. Such programs limited opportunities for non-bumiputra (primarily ethnic Chinese and Indians) in higher education and government employment. A March 2021 ASEAN Today article revealed that Malaysia is experiencing an increase in mental health problems, which the existence of COVID-19 may be exacerbating. In cases related to terrorism or national security, the law allows police to hold persons, even after acquittal, against the possibility of appeal by the prosecution. Anti social behavior /crime. Instead, bilateral agreements or memoranda of understanding between the government and some source countries for migrant workers include provisions for rest periods, compensation, and other conditions of employment for migrant domestic workers, including prohibitions on passport retention. The same thing will happen all over the world in 2023. For example, the rural district of Igan had 18,000 registered voters, while the urban district of Kapar had more than 144,000 registered voters. 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. Child labor in urban areas was common in the informal economy, including family food businesses and night markets, and in small-scale industry. The number of labor enforcement officers was insufficient to enforce compliance. 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. Child labor occurred in some family businesses. According to police figures, a total of 872 teenagers aged 15 to 18 committed suicide between January 2019 and May 2021. But in Malaysia, mental health problems were already on the . In July Speaker of the Lower House Azhar Harun repeatedly told female opposition members to shut up during parliamentary proceedings. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Abuse of Migrants and Refugees: UNHCR reported that as of December 31, there were 180,440 refugees and asylum seekers in the country who were registered with the agency, of whom 155,400 were from Burma: 103,380 Rohingyas, 22,570 Chins, and 29,450 of other ethnic groups coming from conflict-affected areas or fleeing persecution in Burma. This is also one of the major social issues in India. On November 1, Kelantans Sharia Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 came into force, criminalizing 24 new offenses applying to Muslims. Government social protection policies will need continuous revisions and adjustments to bring Malaysia forward into a more equitable future. There were confrontations between indigenous communities and logging companies over land, and uncertainty over their land tenure made indigenous persons vulnerable to exploitation. Police released him on bail. Impunity was a significant problem in the security forces due in part to corruption and political influence over the police force. The broadly worded fatwa declares that Sisters in Islam and any individuals, organizations and institutions holding on to liberalism and religious pluralism are deviant from Islamic teachings. Parts of the country were hit with devastating floods that . There were some restrictions on in-country movement by refugees and asylum seekers (see section 2.f., Freedom of Movement). . Authorities provide defendants free interpretation in Mandarin, Tamil, and some other commonly used dialects from the moment charged through all appeals. 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. 5. Back to Malaysia MALAYSIA 2021. The nationwide January-August state of emergency restricted freedom of assembly and prohibited worker strikes and protests. There are no specific regulations, laws, or guidelines to protect the welfare of gig workers, except for the provisions under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 that require self-employed individuals to register and contribute. Defendants may present witnesses and evidence on their behalf. Malaysia has a long history of environmental issues. Islamic authorities may enter private premises without a warrant to apprehend Muslims suspected of engaging in offenses such as gambling, consumption of alcohol, and sexual relations outside marriage. This included any enterprise not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia or other professional body and included more than one million self-employed or micro businesses, such as in-home workers, street vendors, and small workshops. The cofounder of youth group Misi Solidariti, Sharon Wah, questioned along with four other activists, declared: Laws that arbitrarily criminalize speech and legitimate criticism remain on the book. The incompatibility in the focus of higher education institution and the needs of labour market. The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism urged the Kelantan government to review its recently enforced law, including punishments against homosexual activities and a slew of other offenses. There were no reports of the revised code being used to prosecute LGBTQI+ individuals at years end. Share this via Facebook Based on 2017 data, Malaysia extracts 18.375 billion liters of raw water per day for treated water supply alone. Television stations censored programming to follow government guidelines. The economy factor also cause why fresh graduate unemployed. Social problems are matters or situations that reduce quality of life in a society. Police suspended two officers pending investigation. Media reported police told the family that Umar had fallen to his death while he attempted to escape. Umars familys lawyer told media, however, that something was definitely not right about the circumstances of his death and indicated he planned to file a suit against police and the government for causing Umar Faruqs death. The government focused on preventing sexual exploitation of children, including sex trafficking. 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. Conditions in prisons and detention centers could be harsh and life threatening. They performed hazardous duties and had no meaningful access to legal counsel in cases of contract violations and abuse. In April police threatened activist and artist Fahmi Reza with sedition for mocking the queen over her Instagram posts. UNHCR reported the government brought charges in a few cases against employers for hiring refugees. A synchronous fiscal, monetary and financial policy response has helped cushion the economic impact. Strict rules of evidence apply in court. Each of these groups has its own set of traditions, religions, and challenges. Malaysia did little to stop a vicious online hate speech campaign against Rohingya refugees in the country in April. A group of civil society organizations later reported that on the day of the protest, roadblocks, closure of the public square where protesters were gathering, police crowding, and ostentatious surveillance, including by drones and a helicopter, obstructed the publics freedom of expression and assembly.. The government curbed freedom of expression, particularly freedom of the press. The law affords persons with disabilities the right to equal access and use of public facilities, amenities, services, and buildings open or provided to the public. UPDATED: Check out what Singaporeans cared about in 2021. Birth Registration: A child born in the country obtains citizenship if one parent is a citizen or permanent resident at the time of birth and the parents are married. UNHCR declared that the deportees included at least six individuals registered with the agency. Employers of domestic workers sometimes failed to honor the terms of employment and subjected workers to abuse. LGBTQI+ persons reported discrimination in employment, housing, and access to some government services because of their sexuality. Multiple logistic regression shows that adolescents . Laws on workers compensation cover both local and migrant workers. Malaysias faltering reform movement was halted in March when the Pakatan Harapan coalition collapsed and was replaced by a new coalition comprised of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the Malaysian Islamic Parti (PAS), and defectors from the Pakatan Harapan coalition. Malaysia restricts the rights of followers of any branches of Islam other than Sunni, with those following Shia or other branches subject to arrest for deviancy. The government's national five-year roadmap for 2021-25 targets child marriage. Nevertheless, four states Johor, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Pahang extend equal parental rights to Muslim mothers. Working hours may not exceed eight hours per day or 48 hours per week, unless workers receive overtime pay. Access to those in detention centers was often significantly limited. Penalties for violations were not commensurate with those for similar crimes. Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred with respect to women; members of national, racial, and ethnic minorities; and persons with disabilities. Otherwise, defendants must rely on legal aid, and the amount of time to prepare for trial is at the discretion of the judge. The ruling found the user comments, which Malaysiakini removed within 12 minutes of posting, contemptuous of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat. 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. 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. Arbitrary Arrest: Authorities sometimes used their powers to intimidate and punish opponents of the government. 9/4/2013. The report also alleged that one accredited election observer actively campaigned for the former Barisan Nasional government. It has been identified that the leading causes for homelessness are unemployment, poverty, old age and abandonment, . Police also raided her home without a search warrant. The remaining 24,040 individuals, UNHCR reported, came from 50 countries, including 6,730 Pakistanis, 3,720 Yemenis, 3,300 Syrians, 3,210 Somalis, 2,800 Afghans, 1,690 Sri Lankans, 1,200 Iraqis, 770 Palestinians, and others. The Malaysian Bar Council claimed these restrictions were excessive. Depression. 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. In January a male inmate raped a 16-year-old girl, also an inmate, at a local police station in Miri, Sarawak State. Union officials claimed legal requirements for strikes were almost impossible to meet; the last major strike occurred in 1962. Attacks on female politicians and women who were critical of the countrys politics were common, including sexist remarks in parliament against female members, threats of rape and murder via Facebook and other social media platforms, and stereotyping female political candidates. The stay was issued pending appeal of a High Court ruling dismissing a challenge to the fatwa for lack of jurisdiction. Also see the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. The proposed commission would not even be able to visit lock-ups without giving advance notice, and is precluded from even investigating any act covered by the standing orders issued by the police inspector general. Criminal defendants have the right to confront witnesses. SPEAKERS. Censorship or Content Restrictions: The government maintained the ability to censor media. Everyone would agree about . Police may use certain preventive detention laws to detain persons suspected of terrorism, organized crime, gang activity, and trafficking in drugs or persons without a warrant or judicial review for two-year terms, renewable indefinitely. Corruption: Corruption and abuse-of-power criminal trials were ongoing for former prime minister and sitting member of parliament Najib Razak, United Malays National Organization (UMNO) political party president Zahid Hamidi, and opposition Democratic Action Party head Lim Guan Eng, among others. The countrys Jewish population was estimated at 100-200 persons, consisting mostly of foreign residents. NGOs reported that stateless children in Sabah State were especially vulnerable to labor exploitation in palm oil production, forced begging, and work in service industries, including restaurants. The law does not prohibit discrimination with respect to race, religion, national origin, color, sex, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, HIV or AIDS status, or refugee status in employment and hiring; the director general of labor may investigate discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment for both foreign and local employees. Since then, authorities have opened investigations into numerous activists and opposition politicians for speech critical of the government. Advocacy groups such as the Association of Women Lawyers stated these provisions were not comprehensive enough to provide adequate help to victims. The UN panel urged the country to abolish the practice. In April, Reporters Without Borders, referring to the March emergency ordinance, cited the countrys restoration of more authoritarian rule as the government imposed a fake news decree enabling authorities to impose their own version of the truth.. In September Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin reported to parliament that as of August 25, there were 2,881 prison detainees younger than 21. Nonetheless, NGOs reported continued discrimination against women in the workplace in terms of promotion and salary (see section 7.d.). Government restrictions on radio and television stations mirrored those on print media, and electronic media predominantly supported the government. Separate education facilities also existed but were insufficient to meet the needs of all students with disabilities. The immigration director general issued a statement confirming that the ships departed with 1,086 of the 1,200 Burmese nationals aboard. According to the minister, of 30 investigations opened from March to October, 12 were brought to court, 14 were classified as no further action, and four remained under investigation. He said social media, while being an effective communication platform, can be abused and trigger discord when issues concerning race, income or religion are . In July, the home minister banned Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance and Hope in New Malaysia under the Printing Presses and Publications Act after claims that the books cover resembled the countrys coat of arms. Malaysia has to identify which global issues are in its interest and engage the Americans actively in the bilateral relationship, as well as in multilateral forums. Keep posting! Citizenship law and birth registration rules and procedures created a large class of stateless children in the migrant and refugee population. Observers noted that authorities took claims seriously, but victims were often reluctant to report sexual harassment because of the difficulty of proving the offense and the lengthy trial process. Local and international NGOs estimated most of the countrys 12 permanent and nine temporary immigration detention centers were at or beyond capacity, with some detainees held for a year or longer. Moreover, those graduates with essential skills are more preferable compared to them who does not have any skills. No law specifically prohibits torture; however, laws that prohibit committing grievous hurt encompass torture. Public schools are open to some UNHCR-registered refugees, but not to the children of illegal immigrants. Girls age 16 and older can marry with permission of their states chief minister. The government regards those who post content as publishers, thereby placing the burden of proof on the poster. In-country Movement: Sabah and Sarawak States controlled immigration into their areas and required foreigners and citizens from peninsular Malaysia to present passports or national identity cards for entry. Youth suicide costs a staggering RM350 mil each year, according to Relate Malaysia's new study. Union officials expressed frustration about delays. The Judges Ethics Committee suspended Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer from February through August because of an affidavit he filed in 2019 as part of a lawsuit against then chief justice Richard Malanjum. Sexual Harassment: The law prohibits a person in authority from using his or her position to intimidate a subordinate by any conduct that is sexual in nature. Human Rights Watch called on the government to investigate the deportations and to provide UNHCR with access to all detainees, refugees, and asylum seekers in the country, stressing the risk they faced of a return to persecution. The next caste census will take place in 2021, the problems associated with it is that it will encourage caste-based politics rather than concentrating on developmental activities. If found guilty, the cost of deportation generally fell to the detainee, which led to prolonged detention for those unable to pay. A functioning and affordable healthcare system remains elusive in the United States. These priority issues are: 1. Within seven days of the initial detention, however, police must present the case for detention to a public prosecutor. 16 Aug 2021. The verdict ruled on an appeal of a Selangor State sharia courts 2019 conviction of a man for intercourse against the order of nature. The Federal Court found that existing federal legislation outlawing the same conduct for the same reason preempted the state law, meaning it was unconstitutional and hence the case should not have been brought nor ruled on by the sharia court. . See the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. In July the Federal Court upheld a 2018 criminal defamation conviction against online news portal Malaysiakini for articles and videos published in 2012 about pollution allegedly linked to Raud Australian Gold Mining and ordered Malaysiakini to pay 550,000 ringgit ($132,000) in damages and costs. Malaysia's polarizing divides remain dominant and seem entrenched. Subscribe to our Telegram channel for our latest stories and breaking news. Social issues topics list relevant in 2023. According to various statistics, the unemployment peak in April 2021 reached over 12.7% in the United States. The political environment was hostile towards women. In September Minister of Human Resources Saravanan announced that the government had found 49 workers hostels unfit for human habitation and ordered them closed, causing the relocation of 2,942 workers. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. In August, Malaysia refused to renew the visas of two Al Jazeera journalists based in the country. In January authorities seized 1,500 tons of frozen meat worth 30 million ringgit ($7.2 million) during a raid in Johor State. 1. Numerous state Sharia laws prohibit both same-sex relations and non-normative gender expression, resulting in frequent arrests of transgender people. According to observers, as of September, there were at least 600 registered asylum seekers and refugees, including 57 children, held in immigration detention centers. Discrimination: The constitution prohibits discrimination against citizens based on gender and gives men and women equal property rights, although sharia, which deviates from these principles in some areas, was sometimes applied. To date, no Malaysians have been held responsible for their role in the deaths of over 100 ethnic Rohingya trafficking victims whose bodies were found in the camps. Those convicted of a first offense face a token fine and a maximum sentence of 14 days in jail. Government procurement and licensing policies favored bumiputra-owned businesses. In August, Alladin Lanim was arrested for online child exploitation and sentenced to 48 years and six months in prison and 15 strokes of the cane after joint investigations by the Royal Malaysian Police and Australian Federal Police revealed he was sexually abusing children at a plantation in Sarawak State and sharing the material online. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Authorities do not register children born to illegal immigrants or asylum seekers. Journalist Tashny Sukumaran was questioned over her report on a round-up of migrant workers, and in June, police opened an investigation of Boo Su-Lyn, editor of the health news portal CodeBlue, under the Official Official Secrets Act and the penal code for a series of articles about the findings of an independent investigation into an October 2016 hospital fire that killed six patients. A prominent human rights advocate stated, the amount is not punitive. In June, 40 religious and educator groups jointly protested an online program, School as a Safe Place for Individuals of Various Sexual Orientations, arguing that schools must be saved from elements of pro-unnatural sex orientations and transgenderism ideology that are against religious teachings (see section 6, Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity). For example, if the issue of climate change and sustainable development is of common concern, we should determine exactly how we . Although parliament annulled the emergency ordinance in October, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa declared that any ongoing investigations of fake news would not be affected by the annulment. 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.
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