PAKATAN Harapan has backtracked on many of its commitments and manifesto promises since it took power last year, said civil society groups Article 19 and Civicus in a joint report.

The report, New Government, Old Tactics, pointed to the government’s reversal of its decisions to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Rome Statute after coming under pressure from right-wing groups.

“These failures and shortcomings clearly demonstrate a lack of political will by the PH government to follow through on its commitments and take the decisive action needed to protect and promote human rights in Malaysia,” said the report.

“Article 19 and Civicus have yet to see the proposed amendments, raising concerns about the government’s intentions and its lack of transparency with the reform process.”

The review criticised the government’s relative lack of action to repeal and reform the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and the Official Secrets Act.

“There has been continuous use of the Communications and Multimedia Act by the current government. The investigation of posts on social media and filing of police reports also create an intimidating environment for Malaysians,” said Nalini Elumalai from Article 19, speaking at the report’s launch in Kuala Lumpur today.

“It is very inconsistent of the government to say something and do something else. If you are committed to reforming legislation, be consistent by not using them. Enforce a moratorium.”

Zaharom Nain, a professor of media and communication studies, said that the use of these legislation made the government’s declared reforms “a bit of a mockery”.

He said the government tended to address issues, such as the spread of fake news and hate speech by creating legislation, an approach which failed to take cause and effect fully into account.

Zaharom also said despite increased press freedom since PH’s takeover, some mainstream media organisations have failed to shed their emphasis on race and religion when reporting and commenting on Malaysian politics.

“Institutional reforms are also needed to make the state-owned media, such as RTM, serve the public and not the government.

“There is a reluctance to disseminate alternative narratives that are in line with the government’s declared reforms and agenda.” – May 6, 2019.