Overview

The Pakatan Harapan coalition government struggled to implement human rights reforms as promised in its 2018 election manifesto. While it took steps toward creating a formal police complaints commission, repressive laws limiting the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly remained on the books. The government accepted more recommendations during a review of its human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council than ever before. However, it rejected recommendations to protect the rights of LGBTI and Indigenous peoples.[i] The government also backtracked from its decision to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in April, a month after it had promised to accede to it.

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