The government does not recognize marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims and considers children born of such unions illegitimate. Rape is punishable by a maximum 20 years imprisonment and caning. Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malaysian economy is coming out of its economic trough in 3Q 2021 (GDP at -4.5% yoy) and is on the path of recovery in 2022, supported by the reopening of economic and social sectors. Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. A government voluntary code of conduct provides a detailed definition of sexual harassment intended to raise public awareness of the problem. The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism urged the Kelantan government to review its recently enforced law, including punishments against homosexual activities and a slew of other offenses. There were no reports of the revised code being used to prosecute LGBTQI+ individuals at years end. On May 13, police detained two boys, ages 12 and 13, at a local police station in Sentul, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, on suspicion of throwing firecrackers at policemen sent to disperse a crowd of approximately 200 setting off fireworks. Access to education was limited to schools run by NGOs and ethnic communities, and UNHCR estimated no more than 40 percent of refugee children attended school. Government social protection policies will need continuous revisions and adjustments to bring Malaysia forward into a more equitable future. The law classifies some types of workplace sexual harassment as criminal offenses (see section 7.d.). Sabri added that the government was serious about the issue, as Malaysia is a country that adheres to the religion of Islam.. Such groups also sometimes attempted to intimidate opposition groups through demonstrations. The countrys Jewish population was estimated at 100-200 persons, consisting mostly of foreign residents. Examples can include: Illiteracy. State authorities continued to deny entry to certain national leaders to these states. 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. There were four non-Muslim judges serving on the Federal Court. The government occasionally censored foreign magazines, newspapers, and news programming, most often due to sexual content. The sentences for subsequent convictions are fines and up to three months in jail. In July, after Al Jazeera aired a documentary about Malaysias treatment of migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, the police announced that they were investigating Al Jazeera for sedition, defamation, and violation of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA). In 2013 the state government had awarded Sri Jengka, a semi-state government corporation, a 99-year lease on the 1,618-acre tract. Supporting the essential social work workforce. They performed hazardous duties and had no meaningful access to legal counsel in cases of contract violations and abuse. The trial of former deputy prime minister Zahid Hamidi for his role in a fraudulent scheme involving hundreds of thousands of Nepali workers seeking jobs in the country continued as of September. CAUSES. If they refuse to comply, employers face additional fines for each day that wages are not paid. Displacement. The government generally restricted publications it judged might incite racial or religious disharmony. 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. The government claimed that deaths caused by police were rare, but civil society activists disputed this claim. Multiple logistic regression shows that adolescents . The legislation expanded this authority to include housing and local government agencies, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs in order to enforce fines and penalties up to 200,000 ringgit ($48,000), three years jail time, or both, against employers that failed to adhere to regulations. Police reportedly questioned Suaram staff to assess whether the film violated sedition or communications legislation but made no determination. Ministry of Health guidelines allow the practice in general but only at government health-care facilities, which was not always the case. Read summaries of the latest scientific research pertaining to a range of social issues. The new government has taken a hard line on refugees, with the home minister stating that they have no status, rights, or basis to present any demands to the government. The authorities pushed boatloads of desperate Rohingya refugees who were trying to reach Malaysias shores back out to sea, claiming that they were doing so to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Cultural barriers and government policies impeded access to sexual and reproductive health services. A prominent human rights advocate stated, the amount is not punitive. In June the Royal Malaysian Police Sexual, Women, and Child Investigation Division reported an increase in the number of reports of child rape by older family members during the various movement control orders. But in Malaysia, mental health problems were already on the . Nationwide Emergency. Share this via Telegram Over 175,000 refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom come from Myanmar, are registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office but have no legal status and remain unable to work or enroll in government schools. A November 2 hearing was fixed for Ibu Yati. Malaysia's RHB Investment Bank noted in a report this month that serious weaknesses to the economy due to concerns that sluggish expansion in the construction and retail sectors, coupled with . Authorities deported some of these parents, leaving their children without guardians. He claimed their collaborators would get promoted to dominate the police hierarchy, so that when they are top officers and have power, they will start to do their dirty work, including collaborating with criminals. In November the Home Affairs Ministry referred the matter to the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission for further investigation. SUHAKAM may not investigate court cases in progress and must cease its inquiries if a case becomes the subject of judicial action. Local advocates contended that imprisoned transgender women served their sentences in prisons designated for men and that police and inmates often abused them verbally and sexually. No matter how small or big their problems, their troubles may feel unbearable or overwhelming. Previously the federal government permitted stateless children to enroll in public school if parents were able to prove the childs father was a citizen, but in November 2020 the minister of education informed parliament that stateless children did not have access to public schools but could attend private schools. Social issues topics list relevant in 2023. Some NGOs also reported the government monitored their activities to intimidate them. The government generally did not impede organizations providing protection and assistance to migrants, refugees, and stateless persons, most of whom lived intermingled with the general public. Social problems are matters or situations that reduce quality of life in a society. There was also a sexual investigations unit at each police headquarters to help victims of sexual crimes and abuse, and police sometimes assigned psychologists or counselors to provide emotional support. Private-sector strikes were severely restricted. In January the Selangor Islamic Religious Department detained transgender social media influencer Nur Sajat for questioning regarding an online video of her saying Islamic prayers in womens clothing in 2018. Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. Penalties for employers who fail to follow the law begin with a fine assessed per employee and may rise to imprisonment. Hartalega finished its reimbursements process of 41 million ringgit ($9.8 million) to existing workers who joined the firm prior to April 2019. #3. In February the High Court issued an interim stay on the deportation of 1,200 Burmese nationals after the deportees were already aboard Burmese naval ships. First is mismanagement of the health crisis. According to the Home Affairs Ministry, 20 of the countrys 37 prisons were overcrowded. Laws prohibit such actions; nevertheless, authorities sometimes infringed on citizens privacy. Defendants may present witnesses and evidence on their behalf. Eventually, they asked for money, which I had no choice but to oblige.. Laws on workers compensation cover both local and migrant workers. Alladin, one of the child sex offenders most wanted by global law enforcement authorities, was linked to at least 34 victims between ages two and 16; he had uploaded more than 1,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children over the course of 14 years. This is also one of the major social issues in India. Federal police reported approximately 20,000 internet addresses in the country uploading and downloading child pornography. Youth suicide costs a staggering RM350 mil each year, according to Relate Malaysia's new study. Authorities provide defendants free interpretation in Mandarin, Tamil, and some other commonly used dialects from the moment charged through all appeals. Healthcare. Umars wife, who viewed the body before the autopsy, said she saw swellings all over the body. The book contains a collection of writings about the 2018 general election and subsequent events compiled by editor Kean Wong. The constitution provides for a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right. With their shared culture, religion and a very similar language, Indonesia was the single biggest contributor of immigrants to Malaysia. 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. Moreover, those graduates with essential skills are more preferable compared to them who does not have any skills. In July authorities charged Toh Han Boon for producing and promoting the movie Babi, which the government banned in 2020 over its portrayal of race relations in the country. This included any enterprise not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia or other professional body and included more than one million self-employed or micro businesses, such as in-home workers, street vendors, and small workshops. In February 2021, the Malaysian government decided to build and manage a state-operated 5G . Abiding by the governments restrictions did not protect some protesters from harassment or arrest. Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government, Section 5. The government's national five-year roadmap for 2021-25 targets child marriage. Homelessness is a symptom of an array of social issues. Minimum wage rates varied according to location and were less than Ministry of Finance-published poverty income levels in Sabah and Sarawak states. In July the Federal Court upheld a 2018 criminal defamation conviction against online news portal Malaysiakini for articles and videos published in 2012 about pollution allegedly linked to Raud Australian Gold Mining and ordered Malaysiakini to pay 550,000 ringgit ($132,000) in damages and costs. Nur Sajat failed to appear for her court date on February 23, citing a medical condition. Freedom of the press has also come under attack. A July study by Newcastle University of 1,500 mainly migrant workers found that the following forced labor indicators in the country had worsened during the pandemic: restrictions on movement, isolation, abusive working and living conditions, and excessive overtime. nstagram takipi satn almak istiyorsan tkla. In September, Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin told parliament that since January, 42 individuals had died while in custody, 14 in prison or police custody and 28 in immigration detention centers. PBM might be better to focus on the 5.6 percent of the population in poverty, that effects one in twenty Malaysians, or 1.7 million people. Employers, employment agents, and labor recruiters subjected some migrants to forced labor or debt bondage. . The cause of unemployed graduates nowadays is the incompatibility in the focus of higher education institutions and the needs of labor market. In September a sessions court fined immigration officer Yusrazif Wan Yusoh 50,000 ringgit ($12,000) after he pleaded guilty to five counts of accepting kickbacks totaling 15,000 ringgit ($3,600) to free Filipino and Chinese nationals detained by the Immigration Department. Occupational Safety and Health: Occupational health and safety laws cover all sectors of the economy except the maritime sector and the armed forces. The NGO Womens Aid Organization reported that from January through September, it received 1,662 complaints involving domestic violence, and the number of survivors seeking shelter increased one and a half times during the same period. Employers may immediately deport pregnant or ill workers. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. There are no specific regulations, laws, or guidelines to protect the welfare of gig workers, except for the provisions under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 that require self-employed individuals to register and contribute. Indigenous persons are governed by customary laws with no fixed minimum age for marriage. Estimates of the street-child population ranged from a few thousand to 15,000, many of whom were born in the country to illegal immigrant parents. Like in much of the world, social isolation, economic insecurity and the loss of loved ones have become major drivers of anxiety, depression, stress and other challenges. On July 28, the Selangor State sharia high court charged Ibu Yati and two others with expounding religious doctrines contrary to Islamic law and spreading them through Facebook from December 2020 through February 1. Published by Statista Research Department , Oct 5, 2022. Crowded and understaffed courts often resulted in lengthy pretrial detention, sometimes lasting several years. Male children between ages 10 and 18 may receive a maximum of 10 strokes of a light cane in a public courtroom. Employers reportedly restricted workers movement and use of mobile telephones; provided substandard food; did not provide sufficient time off; sexually assaulted workers; and harassed and threatened workers, including with deportation. The court scheduled a hearing for October 14, and the case continued at years end. Also, there will be strong sentiments for or against reservations. The social problems in Malaysia are getting worse to worst nowadays. Civil and criminal law exempt men older than 50, unless convicted of rape, and all women from caning. Family Frontiers president Suriani Kempe lamented a missed opportunity for the government to rectify this discrimination and make amends to its women who have been negatively impacted for over 60 years by their inability to obtain citizenship for their children on an equal basis as Malaysian men. After the Attorney Generals Chambers filed the appeal, NGO Lawyers for Liberty coordinator Zaid Malek termed the government position unacceptable and declared that mothers with foreign spouses and children born overseas live in fear that their children could be rendered stateless.. Nevertheless, four states Johor, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Pahang extend equal parental rights to Muslim mothers. Voting rights. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Ensuring access to health, mental health and behavioral health services. The government held thousands of individuals in immigration detention centers and other facilities. Child labor occurred in some family businesses. The government allowed UNHCR and NGOs to work with these populations, but government cooperation with UNHCR was inconsistent. The number of unemployed female graduates is much higher in comparison male graduates. In June then deputy religious affairs minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary proposed that social media postings that promote LGBTQ lifestyles and insult Islam be punishable offenses under sharia. The law excludes them from provisions that stipulate one rest day per week, an eight-hour workday, and a 48-hour workweek. UNHCR registers children born to refugees (see section 2.g., Stateless Persons). Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. The Immigration Department announced that it had revoked the work permit of Mohammed Rayhan Kabir, a migrant worker from Bangladesh who featured in the documentary. In such cases courts generally issued an open verdict, meaning that there would be no further action against police. If a unions recognition request was approved, the employer sometimes challenged the decision in court, leading to multiyear delays in recognizing unions. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the biggest social issues of 2021 in this blog. This returned the long-dominant UMNO to power . The law prohibits speech with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person.. 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. Addressing economic inequality and promoting financial asset building. Ahmad Marzuk also announced a special multiagency government task force, including the government multimedia agency and police, to monitor posts related to LGBTQI+ issues. The great floods. Malaysia raises mental health and social well-being concerns amidst pandemic. The law does not prohibit discrimination with respect to race, religion, national origin, color, sex, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, HIV or AIDS status, or refugee status in employment and hiring; the director general of labor may investigate discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment for both foreign and local employees. Government procurement and licensing policies favored bumiputra-owned businesses. The UN panel urged the country to abolish the practice. The worst floods in decades in some states have tempered the recovery in . In 2018 parliamentary elections, the Pakatan Harapan coalition defeated the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, resulting in the first transfer of power between coalitions since independence in 1957. Immigration law allows authorities to arrest and detain noncitizens for 30 days, pending a deportation decision. In 2021, the UN's planned Food Systems Summit during the General Assembly will be an important moment, as well as a yearlong focusing mechanism, to help move the world toward a more sustainable model that addresses all these issues and more. Most concerning environmental issues in Malaysia 2019. Some refugees holding UNHCR identification cards reported limited ability to move throughout the country because authorities sometimes did not recognize the UNHCR card. Television stations censored programming to follow government guidelines. Employers were unilaterally able to terminate work permits, subjecting migrant workers to immediate deportation. Women experienced some economic discrimination in access to employment. No judicial review is permitted for these measures. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. The government reserved large quotas for the bumiputra majority for positions in the federal civil service as well as for vocational permits and licenses in a wide range of industries, which greatly reduced economic opportunity for minority groups (see section 6, Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination). Nine cabinet positions were held by women. They also faced a maximum of five years imprisonment, a fine, or both, and mandatory caning with a maximum of six strokes if convicted of immigration law violations. In other cases the law allows investigative detention for up to 28 days to prevent a criminal suspect from fleeing or destroying evidence during an investigation. According to a survey conducted by Ipsos on the most concerning environmental issues . No law specifically prohibits torture; however, laws that prohibit committing grievous hurt encompass torture. The law requires two-thirds of the members of a registered trade union to vote for a strike through a secret ballot, and a report must be submitted to the director general of trade unions to approve the strike as legal. The government also had the right to compel arbitration in the case of failed collective bargaining negotiations. 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 . March 11, 2021 End Poverty, Equality, . The time needed for a union to be recognized remained long and unpredictable. The investigation remained open at time of writing. The religious NGO Ikram warned that some residents rejected the COVID-19 vaccine, believing it to be part of the Jewish agenda, that it contained nonhalal ingredients and tracking chips, and that it could cause death. Arbitrary Arrest: Authorities sometimes used their powers to intimidate and punish opponents of the government. Her lawyer presented a medical leave certificate to the court the next day, but the judge rejected it. In September Minister of Human Resources Saravanan announced that the government had found 49 workers hostels unfit for human habitation and ordered them closed, causing the relocation of 2,942 workers. This ambiguity over the communitys status in the constitution led to selective interpretation by different public institutions. Nevertheless, many businesses could operate for years without an inspection. Subscribe to our Telegram channel for our latest stories and breaking news. It requires employers to identify risks and take precautions, including providing safety training to workers, and compels companies with more than 40 workers to establish joint management-employee safety committees. Anti-Semitism was a serious problem across the political spectrum and attracted wide support among segments of the population. Students returning to Malaysia will have to undergo a COVID-19 swab test and quarantine procedures. Malaysia's polarizing divides remain dominant and seem entrenched. Penalties included fines but were seldom assessed and were not commensurate with those under other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. Human rights defenders, journalists, opposition leaders and others were investigated, arrested and prosecuted for criticizing the government. 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. In Kuala Lumpur as well as Selangor and Kelantan States, prisons exceeded capacity by 45 to 50 percent. That year, Malaysia's GDP contracted by 7.4 per cent. Public-sector workers have some collective bargaining rights, although some could only express opinions on wages and working conditions instead of actively negotiating. Non-Muslims are not subject to sharia. - STR/MIKAIL ONG. In 2019 UNHCR estimated there were 450,000 stateless persons residing in the eastern state of Sabah. In May 1998, the ringgit's exchange rate fell to a low 4.90 against the US dollar. This verdict could potentially nullify some strict anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) legislation at the state level that uses the same rationale as the federal laws. Even children have been detained in shelters and threatened with prosecution. SPEAKERS. The governments national five-year roadmap for 2021-25 targets child marriage. She faced up to a year in prison and a fine of 50,000 ringgit ($12,000). In September the Perlis State Fatwa Committee declared that men who appear like women such as cross-dressers or transgender individuals were forbidden from entering mosques while not in gender-conforming appearances. Penang State mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor suggested that transgender individuals should change their appearance if they wanted to be in mosques or suraus (Islamic assembly buildings) so that they do not look odd and avoid uncomfortable feelings among other worshippers. Representatives from the NGO Sisters in Islam observed that the fatwa and statement of the mufti not only contradicts the federal constitution but was not in accordance with inclusive Islamic traditions.. According to MACC, authorities arrested 337 public officials for corruption and bribery from January to August. In parliament 33 women held 14.8 percent of the seats, an increase from 10.8 percent in the previous election cycle. They were released on bail the next day. The nationwide January-August state of emergency restricted freedom of assembly and prohibited worker strikes and protests. In August that coalition lost its majority in the lower house of parliament, resulting in a transfer of power to a Barisan Nasional-led coalition headed by the new prime minister, Ismail Sabri. As a result, after a deep recession in 2020, and assuming the pandemic is brought under control in Malaysia and globally, growth would rebound to 6.5 percent in 2021 as supply side . As we continue to understand more clearly, issues such as conflict, hunger, and climate change are deeply interlinked. Malaysias efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, while generally successful, had a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. 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. Ongoing travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 prevented many individuals from presenting themselves to renew their UNHCR cards, leaving them with expired documentation. 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. 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. Reports indicated that COVID-19 led to an increase in the number of self-employed gig employees. Based on 2017 data, Malaysia extracts 18.375 billion liters of raw water per day for treated water supply alone. Pre-existing inequalities in education were exacerbated by students unequal access to the internet, with rural and indigenous communities particularly affected. Of the total, 30 percent were physical and sexual abuse. Many companies hired foreign workers using recruiting or outsourcing companies, creating uncertainty about the legal relationship between the worker, the outsourcing company, and the owner of the workplace, making workers more vulnerable to exploitation and complicating dispute resolution. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): The law does not prohibit FGM/C, and it was a common practice among Muslim and some indigenous communities. Opposition lawmakers slammed then minister of health Adham Baba for breaking his promise that no action would be taken against doctors who participated in the strike. Malaysia has a long history of environmental issues. Individuals or organizations may sue the government and officials in court for alleged violations of human rights; however, a large case backlog often resulted in delays in civil actions to the disadvantage of plaintiffs. The cause of unemployed graduates nowadays is the incompatibility in the focus of higher education institutions and the needs of labor market. Reproductive awareness advocates and NGOs that provided sexual health education were frequently accused of encouraging sin and eliciting sexual behaviors. Access to Asylum: The law does not provide for granting asylum or refugee status, and the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. (i) High Rate Of Unemployment Among Graduates. When the attorney general orders an official inquiry, a coroners court convenes, and the hearing is open to the public. 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. For examples of social problems in Malaysia include crime, violence, gangsterism, drug abuse, baby dumping, vandalism, and young relationship among youth. The government warned internet users to avoid offensive or indecent content and sensitive matters such as religion and race, and it aggressively pursued charges against those criticizing Islam, the countrys royalty, or its political leaders.
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