Malaysia: Human rights undermined: Restrictive laws in a parliamentary democracy

Index Number: ASA 28/006/1999
Date Published: 31 August 1999
Categories: Asia And The Pacific, Malaysia

This report shows how the government of Malaysia has undermined constitutional principles safeguarding basic human rights. A number of restsrictive laws have been passed which allow, among other things, the detention of individuals without charge or trial and the outlawing of unauthorized gatherings. The report presents the cases of individuals whose rights have been restricted or denied by this legislation as well as examining in detail the trial of Anwar Ibrahim and his subsequent imprisonment as a prisoner of conscience.