Two international rights organisations have raised concerns over what they describe as increasing pressure on human rights defenders in Malaysia, following restrictions placed on two civil society groups and their senior representatives.
ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS issued a joint statement on 15 September condemning measures involving MANDIRI, a youth-led civil society organisation, and HAYAT, a human rights organisation. They said the actions represented an increasingly worrying pattern of harassment against those working to defend human rights.
MANDIRI executive director Amir Harir Hadi's personal bank account was frozen on 11 September under Section 44(1) of Malaysia's Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. The bank accounts of HAYAT chief executive Dobby Chew, as well as the accounts belonging to MANDIRI and HAYAT, were also blocked, according to the organisations.
The measures followed travel restrictions imposed on Hadi and Chew. Hadi confirmed on 3 September that he had been prevented from travelling abroad, while Chew encountered difficulties returning to Kuala Lumpur from Jakarta and was subsequently informed that he was also subject to a travel ban.
Hadi and Chew voluntarily went to Bukit Aman police station on 14 September seeking clarification about the restrictions. ARTICLE 19 said the two men had not received prior contact or information from authorities concerning the measures. MANDIRI also said it had not received an official letter or notice about the investigation as of 14 September.
The scrutiny of MANDIRI began in May, according to ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS, after Kamil Munim, political secretary to the finance minister and head of the youth wing of the People's Justice Party (PKR), called for an investigation into alleged foreign funding involving organisations, individuals and politicians. Munim said such investigations were necessary in the interests of national security.
MANDIRI has denied involvement in political efforts to destabilise the government. Amir Hadi has said the organisation is prepared to cooperate with any investigation and has maintained that its work focuses on issues including social justice, human rights, government transparency, economic justice and environmental sustainability.
ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS criticised the restrictions, saying that limiting the financial operations and movement of human rights organisations without transparency, due process or clear legal justification interferes with legitimate civil society work. They called for the affected bank accounts to be restored, the travel restrictions on Hadi and Chew to be lifted and the investigations to be dropped.
The two groups also pointed to several other recent cases involving Malaysian activists and civil society figures. These include an investigation into Pushpan Muruguah, former chief executive of the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, over alleged conduct detrimental to parliamentary democracy, as well as investigations involving political commentators and academics.
ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS also cited the arrests of youth activists Hamdin Nordin, Fakrurrazzi Khairur Rijal and Ahsanul Akmal Sulam in connection with allegations involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Other cases mentioned include an investigation into activist Shakila Zen over an alleged offence involving a royal institution and restrictions placed on three activists from electoral rights group BERSIH.
Josef Benedict, Asia-Pacific researcher at CIVICUS, said the cases collectively raised concerns about pressure on people who speak out and seek accountability. ARTICLE 19's Alfred Wu similarly argued that restrictions on civil society organisations could affect their ability to operate independently and support the communities they serve.
The organisations have urged Malaysian authorities to provide clear explanations for the measures against Hadi, Chew, MANDIRI and HAYAT and to ensure that human rights defenders can continue their work without fear of reprisals.
Based on reporting by UCA News.
