Malaysia’s 'safety from the state' score drops, survey reveals

MALAYSIA'S “safety from the state” score at 5.8 out of 10 suggests that many people are not safe from one or more of the following - arbitrary arrest, torture and ill-treatment, forced disappearance, execution, or extrajudicial killing - a survey revealed.

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) survey revealed that in 2022 Malaysia's score was at 6.8 out 10 which was slightly better compared to last year.

HRMI East and Southeast Asia engagement lead Phoenix Yeo said that the drop in score for safety from the state based on their data, among others, is for targeting specific groups of people.

“We find there is the use of repressive laws to arrest protestors, for example Indigenous people (Orang Asli) being targeted when they advocate for the protection of their land and customary rights.

“When they (OA) oppose large developments they tend to be targeted when they voice out their opinions. There was also the issue of the organisers of the 2024 Women Day march who were questioned by police.

“We see very little tolerance when it comes to advocating for various rights. They end up being at higher risks of various violations. There is also the issue of migrants and asylum seekers at risk,” Yeo told The Vibes.

She said the survey was part of their effort to measure the performance of human rights in countries around the world.

She said among some of the Asian countries on safety from the state, Thailand scored 6.9, Singapore 7.3, Taiwan 7.7 and South Korea 7.8.

Yeo said in terms of economic and social rights such as for housing, education, employment and many others, Malaysia is performing not too poorly.

“However, we are still not performing as well as Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.”

As for the quality-of-life score, she said Malaysia has been stagnant for the last 10 years.

“There has not been much improvement at all. Quality of life comprises the right to food, education, healthcare and housing. However, in the year 2000 our score for jobs was 87.7% and now our score is 99.6%.”

She said the survey was part of the methodology to produce civil and political rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of association and political participation.

“The people we surveyed were those that monitor human rights on the ground, such as human rights advocates, institutions, civil society groups, lawyers and others. Anybody who has direct knowledge of the situation in Malaysia.”

Yeo said previously they saw the use of repressive laws to stifle the people who criticised the government during the pandemic.

“But since 2020 we have seen a gradual progress, and this is due to civil society groups advocating for people rights," she said.

Yeo also added that compared to the previous year, LGBTQIA+ people continue to be particularly vulnerable across almost 14 of the human rights issues they measured.

“Our network of human rights experts in Malaysia has identified LGBTQIA+ people to be particularly at risk of torture and ill-treatment, especially because of state-sponsored anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination, such as ‘conversion’ practices.

“Those advocating for LGBTQIA+ people’s rights are also at heightened risk of having their right to opinion and expression violated.”

LGBTQIA+ is the acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and the + holds space for the expanding and new understanding of different parts of the very diverse gender and sexual identities.

Yeo said that for Malaysia to improve, the country needs to create an environment where people feel safer to voice their opinions.

“We need to be more tolerant to different opinions and ensure that people have basic rights.

“Malaysia has the resources now to improve people's lives," she added. – June 28, 2024.