In October UNHCR estimated there were 9,040 stateless persons residing in peninsular Malaysia, the majority of whom were of Indian Tamil ethnicity. The law requires a permit to own a printing press, and printers often were reluctant to print publications critical of the government due to fear of reprisal. Within seven days of the initial detention, however, police must present the case for detention to a public prosecutor. Significant human rights issues included: reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings by the government or its agents; reports of torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary detention; problems with the independence . Cultural barriers and government policies impeded access to sexual and reproductive health services. Federal police reported approximately 20,000 internet addresses in the country uploading and downloading child pornography. Before and during that campaign, opposition politicians and civil society organizations alleged electoral irregularities and systemic disadvantages for opposition groups due to a lack of media access for the opposition and malapportioned districts favoring the then ruling coalition. 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. UNHCR affirmed that authorities continued to disallow visits by its staff to detention centers to meet refugees and asylum seekers, determine those in need of international protection, and advocate for their release. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress is a registered society of trade unions in both the private and government sectors that does not have the right to bargain collectively or strike but may provide technical support to affiliated members. The inquiry against him took place behind closed doors, causing human rights NGOs to question the independence of the decision. The law also restricts the formation of unions of workers in similar trades, occupations, or industries. The time needed for a union to be recognized remained long and unpredictable. As of April, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development recorded 2,040 cases of child abuse. Foreign workers may join a trade union but may not hold union office unless they obtain permission from the Ministry of Human Resources. In 2019 UNHCR estimated there were 450,000 stateless persons residing in the eastern state of Sabah. In April, the United States Commission on International Freedom of Religion recommended that Malaysia be placed on a special watch list for violations of religious freedom. Civil law gives non-Muslim mothers and fathers equal parental rights, while sharia favors fathers. Authorities arrested Yusrazif as part of a special operation conducted by MACC and the Immigration Department since 2020 at the countrys entry and exit points that saw the arrest of 65 individuals, including 39 immigration officers, 17 agents, and nine civilians. The law provides for the rights to strike and to bargain collectively, but both were severely restricted. Many human rights and civil society organizations had difficulty obtaining government recognition as NGOs. Those found contravening child labor laws faced penalties that were not commensurate with those for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Investigations revealed Yusrazif received a list of names and passport details of the detained foreigners from two agents and facilitated the release and return of detainees to their countries of origin in exchange for bribes. Migrant workers also faced employment discrimination (see sections 7.b. Muslim women younger than 16 may marry with the approval of a sharia court. 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 . Libel/Slander Laws: The law includes sections on civil and criminal defamation. Opposition members of parliament, media, lawyers, and civil society activists called the ordinance draconian and prone to abuse because fake news was not clearly defined. NGOs and members of the public criticized the law, noting it could cause self-censorship due to liability concerns. No law specifically prohibits torture; however, laws that prohibit committing grievous hurt encompass torture. The government may revoke registrations for violations of the law governing societies. Each year, millions of people have to escape from their home countries because of wars, conflicts, persecution, or climate change (UNHCR, 2022). Defendants may present witnesses and evidence on their behalf. In May 2021, speed-testing company Ookla measured Malaysia's mobile internet download speed at 54.54 Mbps and fixed-line broadband at 105.14 Mbps. Parts of the country were hit with devastating floods that lasted for days at the end of 2021 following non-stop heavy rains in the Klang Valley and the state of Selangor, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu. 2020 was an extremely happening year - well, Covid-19, and a General Election that took place amidst this pandemic. These groups also expressed concern that some deportees might not have had their UN-issued cards with them when they were picked up and pointed out that others had applied for asylum but were awaiting assessment of their claims. In October the minister of home affairs reported that 374 individuals were detained under security legislation from January 1 through September 30. Authorities restricted rights to religious observance for members of all non-Sunni practices of Islam, which the government bans as deviant.. 16 Aug 2021. The police questioned six Al Jazeera staff members and raided the organizations offices in Kuala Lumpur. The government restricted access to the internet. 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. Malaysia permits the death penalty for various crimes and makes the sentence mandatory for 11 offenses. Migrant workers often worked in sectors where violations were common. Supporters congregated at the police station, and civil rights organizations demanded his release; they were then also called in for questioning. In February, Court of Appeal President Rohana Yusuf found independent online news portal Malaysiakini guilty of contempt for user comments posted to an article the portal published in June 2020; chief editor Steven Gan was acquitted. 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. Police suspended two officers pending investigation. The great floods. Curtailing internet freedom to combat dissenting political views online, authorities blocked some websites and monitored the internet for messages and blog postings deemed a threat to public security or order. Migrants and refugees who lost their jobs due to the pandemic were excluded from government aid programs, and many were left unable to feed their families. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation - IJPR, is an editorial & peer-reviewed journal publication for mental health care providers, practitioners, nurses, consumers, and applied researchers, bearing ISSN: 1475-7192. Nonetheless, police often denied detainees access to legal counsel and questioned suspects without allowing a lawyer to be present. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, b. Nearly a third reported that their recruitment agency threatened them not to speak about being charged the fees. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the biggest social issues of 2021 in this blog. Ongoing political instability led to an emergency proclamation that suspended Parliament for the first time since 1969, followed by an unprecedented public rebuke of political leaders by the Malaysian king, and the third new government in as many years. The Ministry of Home Affairs maintained a list of more than 1,700 banned publications as of November 2020. Registering a new political party remained difficult because of government restrictions on the process. 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 . For examples of social problems in Malaysia include crime, violence, gangsterism, drug abuse, baby dumping, vandalism, and young relationship among youth. Authorities deported some of these parents, leaving their children without guardians. The law prohibits women from working underground, such as in mines, and restricts employers from requiring female employees to work in industrial or agricultural work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. or to commence work for the day without having 11 consecutive hours of rest since the end of the last work period. They focus mainly on students . According to Abdul Rahman Hamid (2015), drug abuse issues in Malaysia is still trouble matter even though it is . A lawyer representing Ganapathys family said an autopsy revealed his death was due to severe injuries to his legs and shoulders. 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. Malaysia raises mental health and social well-being concerns amidst pandemic. Hartalega finished its reimbursements process of 41 million ringgit ($9.8 million) to existing workers who joined the firm prior to April 2019. 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. The National Registration Department did not maintain records of stateless persons. Police abuse of suspects in custody and a lack of accountability for such offenses remained a serious problem. Those suffering from problems can reach out to: Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or WhatsApp 019-261 5999); Jakim's Family, Social . Representatives of these groups argued that the lines between the executive, the judiciary, and the state were very blurred and that the judiciary needed to exert more independence and objectivity. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association but allows restrictions deemed necessary or expedient in the interest of security, public order, or (in the case of association) morality. The Barisan Nasional (BN) political coalition ruled Malaysia from independence in 1957 until 2018, maintaining power by manipulating electoral districts, appealing to ethnic nationalism, and suppressing criticism through restrictive speech laws and politicized prosecutions of opposition leaders. In separate statements Batu Kawan member Kasthuri Patto and Petaling Jaya member Maria Chin Abdullah criticized Acryl Sani for his remarks about a police report made by a student, age 17, that a classmate had threatened to rape her after she called out her teacher for making jokes about rape. It is never a dull day in Malaysian politics, but there seems to be a brief pause - for the time being. Trade unions in companies granted pioneer status may not negotiate terms and conditions that are more favorable than the provisions stipulated in labor law unless approved by the minister of human resources. 5 Social Issues In Malaysia. Saddiq pleaded not guilty in a lower court in Johor State to two counts of money laundering, involving 100,000 ringgit ($24,000). The government did not effectively enforce laws prohibiting forced labor in some cases, and large fines as penalties were not commensurate with those for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. In February media reported an accusation by the attorney for retail worker Leong Ann Ping that Leong was sexually harassed by male suspects while detained in the local jail at Mukah, Sarawak State, that she suffered from insomnia and headaches while incarcerated, and that police were not responsive to her request for morning headache medicine. Addressing economic inequality and promoting financial asset building. The prevalence of suicidal behaviour among adolescents is 17.1%, in which 11.9% had suicidal thoughts, 10.2% had a suicide plan, and 8.4% had made a suicide attempt. Students with disabilities attended mainstream schools, but accessibility remained a serious problem. In September religious authorities in Kelantan State posted fliers in public places such as shopping malls and grocery stores warning the community about LGBTQI+ persons and the need to be vigilant against their influence. According to these NGOs, none of which were formally accredited to observe the polls, federal and state governments spent more than five billion ringgit ($1.2 billion) on handouts after legislatures had been dissolved and lawmakers were ostensibly prohibited from making new financial commitments. Government procurement and licensing policies favored bumiputra-owned businesses. The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic throughout the year 2020 and into 2021 has necessitated further rethinking on the question of poverty and inequality as new evidence has emerged. The minister of home affairs stated refugees might lead to various social ills.. While authorities generally recorded votes accurately, there were irregularities perpetrated by the former Barisan Nasional coalition government that affected the fairness of elections. The law requires internet and other network service providers to obtain a license and permits punishment of the owner of a website or blog for allowing offensive racial, religious, or political content. Indigenous persons in peninsular Malaysia, known as Orang Asli, who number approximately 200,000, constituted the poorest group in the country and had very little ability to participate in decisions that affected them. Other one-word responses: "health", "unity", "equity", "prices", and "money". During investigations police may hold a suspect for 24 hours, which may be extended for a maximum of 14 days by court order under general criminal law provisions. In modern times, people often migrate for security, work and even for education opportunities. Activists have filed two court cases, in the High Court and the Federal Court, challenging the existence and use of these laws in Selangor. 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. Citizenship law and birth registration rules and procedures created a large class of stateless children in the migrant and refugee population. Although the government and NGOs maintained shelters and offered other assistance to victims of domestic violence, activists asserted that support mechanisms remained inadequate. It has a parliamentary system of government selected through regular, multiparty elections and is headed by a prime minister. The divisions principal assistant director, Siti Kamsiah Hassan, told media that police received an average of 15 incest cases every month during the year. UNHCR reported the government brought charges in a few cases against employers for hiring refugees. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is responsible for investigating corruption in both private and public bodies but does not have prosecutorial authority. 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. In February 2020 the Pakatan Harapan coalition collapsed, and power transferred to the Malay-dominated Perikatan Nasional coalition which included the main Barisan Nasional components, headed by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. A lack of resources and qualified teachers limited opportunities for the majority of school-age refugee children. On July 13, the Federal Court announced that it would be taking time to deliberate before issuing a decision. Share this via Reddit Police justified this practice as necessary to prevent interference in investigations in progress, and the courts generally upheld the practice. Most private-sector workers have the right to bargain collectively, although these negotiations may not include matters of transfer, promotion, appointments, dismissal, or reinstatement. Kossan completed repaying more than 5,500 workers a total 54 million ringgit ($13 million) with a final transfer of 24 million ringgit ($5.8 million) at the end of June. All it takes is one offhand comment, one misplaced statement, and youre on the receiving end of a police investigation too.. Authorities do not register children born to illegal immigrants or asylum seekers. Minimum wage rates varied according to location and were less than Ministry of Finance-published poverty income levels in Sabah and Sarawak states. Nine cabinet positions were held by women. 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. It has been identified that the leading causes for homelessness are unemployment, poverty, old age and abandonment, . The number of unemployed female graduates is much higher in comparison male graduates. The social problems in Malaysia are getting worse to worst nowadays. Unless trends change this year, the annual total of newborns in the world's third-largest economy is on track to hit . 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. When the attorney general orders an official inquiry, a coroners court convenes, and the hearing is open to the public. Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. They performed hazardous duties and had no meaningful access to legal counsel in cases of contract violations and abuse. The government also sought to hold online news portals responsible for comments posted by their readers. 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. Self-censorship took place among academics at private institutions as well, spurred by fear the government might revoke the licenses of their institutions. They discovered that an international cartel for more than 40 years had smuggled noncertified meat into the country and falsely represented it as halal-certified by using national halal logos with the help of corrupt senior government officials from at least four agencies. A synchronous fiscal, monetary and financial policy response has helped cushion the economic impact. In September, however, Hamzah informed parliament the government would require healthcare workers to notify security forces if undocumented migrants appeared at health facilities and vaccine centers. Social problems are matters or situations that reduce quality of life in a society. Covering a range of teaching and learning challenges impacting learners and teachers, the contributors highlight the pervasiveness of the pandemic on Malaysian society and how Malaysians have found ways to cope. UNHCR declared that the deportees included at least six individuals registered with the agency. Malaysia continues to permit child marriage under both civil and Islamic law, in violation of its obligations under international law. The king determined that Sabri commanded a parliamentary majority and appointed him prime minister after meeting with parliamentarians, in conformity with constitutional parameters.
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