PAKATAN Harapan, a year into office, has not proven it is capable of implementing human rights reforms, said Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

HRW Asia deputy director Phil Robertson called the lack of such reforms in Malaysia “a deep disappointment”, while Amnesty executive director Shamini Darhsini Kaliemuthu said Putrajaya lacks political will.

“A year ago, PH took power by pledging to make Malaysia’s human rights record respected globally,” said Robertson.

“But, it has done little to fulfil its promises, and has even back-pedalled on announced rights reforms.”

Shamini said: “We see a lack of clear direction towards reform. We need to see a plan that is clearly articulated, and in the spirit of promoting and protecting human rights in the country.”

The duo noted that the government appears afraid to push for rights reforms since its U-turn on ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

“In the early stages, we heard (the government’s) commitment to abolish the death penalty and ratify international treaties, but a year on, there has been very little progress. We want permanent reforms,” said Robertson.

“It seems that the government has been afraid to move forward since ICERD. When Malaysia said it would sign the Rome Statute, we were happy, our headquarters in New York were excited, but at the last minute, they (Putrajaya) pulled out, and we were baffled. What is happening, one after another?”

The government backed down from ratifying ICERD after pressure from Malay rights groups, and did the same with the Rome Statute after some members of the monarchy expressed their reservations about the country acceding to the treaty.

Shamini urged PH to remain committed to implementing reforms.

“We are disappointed with the U-turns made by the government. They should remain steadfast, and they need to speed up these reforms. Efforts to introduce human rights reforms are there, but progress is slow.”

PH’s win in the 14th general election on May 9 last year ended more than 60 years of Barisan Nasional rule.

The now-ruling pact, in its election manifesto, vowed a reform of government institutions and laws, including setting up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), and abolishing the death penalty and Sedition Act.

IPCMC remains a topic of heated discussion, with some police officers opposed to its formation. The Sedition Act, which has been labelled “draconian”, is still in place, and capital punishment has yet to be done away with. – May 8, 2019.