In September, however, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision, citing improper procedures by the company in taking possession of land with a customary right claim. Malaysia's population in 2022. Each constituency elects one member of parliament. During the same period, three people died while in police lock-ups, and 188 prison inmates died. Noting that Malaysiakini, Astro Awani, Free Malaysia Today, and the China Press had been subjected to police investigations, the foregoing media groups declared that the press should not be summoned by the government or threatened with action based on articles they publish in their capacity as the media, and termed harassment of journalists for doing their jobs a tactic to stifle press freedom.. Abiding by the governments restrictions did not protect some protesters from harassment or arrest. Malaysia: leading environmental issues 2019 | Statista 13 Comments. In September Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin reported to parliament that as of August 25, there were 2,881 prison detainees younger than 21. According to police figures, a total of 872 teenagers aged 15 to 18 committed suicide between January 2019 and May 2021. Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people remains pervasive in Malaysia. The nationwide January-August state of emergency restricted freedom of assembly and prohibited worker strikes and protests. The law states that sodomy and oral sex acts are carnal intercourse against the order of nature. In February the Federal Court nullified a Selangor State law on same-sex sexual conduct. The governments Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and SUHAKAM monitored prisons on a case-by-case basis. A March 2021 ASEAN Today article revealed that Malaysia is experiencing an increase in mental health problems, which the existence of COVID-19 may be exacerbating. Hartalega finished its reimbursements process of 41 million ringgit ($9.8 million) to existing workers who joined the firm prior to April 2019. Criminal defamation is punishable by a maximum two years imprisonment, a fine, or both. Malaysia restricts the rights of followers of any branches of Islam other than Sunni, with those following Shia or other branches subject to arrest for deviancy. The notice warned residents they could be fined up to 500,000 ringgit ($120,000), serve a five-year jail term, or both, if found guilty of the offense of building structures on government land. Media reported the prison only informed the family on February 19 and only agreed to conduct an autopsy after the family filed a police report. Limited pretrial discovery in criminal cases impeded the defense. 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. 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. Police may use certain preventive detention laws to detain persons suspected of terrorism, organized crime, gang activity, and trafficking in drugs or persons without a warrant or judicial review for two-year terms, renewable indefinitely. In the election the Pakatan Harapan coalition unseated the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, marking the first federal transition of power between coalitions since independence in 1957. The last two years saw a series of continuous and rapid political developments, starting with the change in federal government in early 2020, alongside shifts in many state governments, and ending most recently with yet another government change in August 2021. UPDATED: Check out what Singaporeans cared about in 2021. The constitution also provides for transfers of power without new legislative elections. The law permits police to arrest and detain individuals for some offenses without a warrant, even outside situations of a crime in progress or other urgent circumstances. Pandemic failures will transform Malaysian politics Yet, as the realities of the coronavirus pandemic set in, shocking the system as the 1MDB scandal did, the opportunities for new political arrangements and thinking are real. Other ways to share 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. 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. Baseline figures of stateless persons and persons at risk of statelessness in Sabah, where approximately 80,000 Filipino Muslim refugees resided, were unavailable. List of 150 Social Issues Topics and Ideas for 2023 - EduBirdie Federal police reported approximately 20,000 internet addresses in the country uploading and downloading child pornography. No judicial review is permitted for these measures. Ensuring access to health, mental health and behavioral health services. On 12 January, Malaysia was put under a nationwide emergency under then premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's directive. MACC noted that all transactions associated with the 29 charges against Noor Ehsanuddin were advances that had been fully repaid. The great floods. Analysis: Mental health issues growing more serious | The Star SUHAKAM urged the government to reconsider its decision to impose heavier punishments for offenses associated with the LGBTQI+ community. The government cooperated to a limited extent with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. Employers did not respect laws on wages and working hours. In August police stopped a candlelight vigil organized by the NGO Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat to commemorate COVID-19 victims in Kuala Lumpur and arrested 31 activists for violating infectious disease control regulations despite participants following all necessary COVID-19 standard operating procedures for gatherings. Malaysia has to identify which global issues are in its interest and engage the Americans actively in the bilateral relationship, as well as in multilateral forums. There were 46,170 children younger than age 18. 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. Sabri added that the government was serious about the issue, as Malaysia is a country that adheres to the religion of Islam.. Malaysia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff - IMF Media reported police told the family that Umar had fallen to his death while he attempted to escape. Umars familys lawyer told media, however, that something was definitely not right about the circumstances of his death and indicated he planned to file a suit against police and the government for causing Umar Faruqs death. There were some restrictions on in-country movement by refugees and asylum seekers (see section 2.f., Freedom of Movement). AFP pic Another study in Hong Kong published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health also found that 25.4 per cent of 500 survey respondents reported that their mental health had deteriorated since the pandemic began. Nevertheless, many businesses could operate for years without an inspection. Applicants had to provide their name and address for their vaccine status to be recorded, and some feared authorities could use the information later to raid their homes. SPEAKERS. Male children between ages 10 and 18 may receive a maximum of 10 strokes of a light cane in a public courtroom. To date, no Malaysians have been held responsible for their role in the deaths of over 100 ethnic Rohingya trafficking victims whose bodies were found in the camps. - STR/MIKAIL ONG. First is mismanagement of the health crisis. 05:27 AM (GMT) Embattled Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to resign on Monday after a tumultuous 17 months in power marked by his government's poor response to . Thank you for this excellent article. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. Malaysia's political turmoil: Five things to know - Al Jazeera The Newcastle research found that 85 percent of workers reported paying recruitment fees and 43 percent reported taking out loans averaging more than $2,000 to cover the costs, which took nearly a year on average to repay. Child labor was also evident among migrant domestic workers. UNHCR noted that because most schooling was virtual during the year, some populations, such as Rohingya, allowed girls to participate in schooling virtually when they would have been prohibited from attending in person. The political environment was hostile towards women. In August 2020, the Federal Court upheld the constitutionality of the mandatory death penalty. Access to Basic Services: The government provided access to health care at a discounted foreigners rate of 50 percent to UNHCR-registered refugees, but not to persons without UNHCR registration cards. Discrimination: The constitution prohibits discrimination against citizens based on gender and gives men and women equal property rights, although sharia, which deviates from these principles in some areas, was sometimes applied. Child sex trafficking also occurred (see section 6, Children). We understand that pulling together the top most common and popular issue prevailing in 2021 is not simple. Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin highlighted one of the concerns during the closing session of the 74th World Health Assembly held virtually tonight was on how the pandemic had impacted mental health and social well-being. The officials were allegedly offered cash and women for sexual services to ignore the cartels activities. Attacks on female politicians and women who were critical of the countrys politics were common, including sexist remarks in parliament against female members, threats of rape and murder via Facebook and other social media platforms, and stereotyping female political candidates. In August, NGOs reported that after activists cancelled a planned protest against the government, police went to many of the organizers homes and questioned them and their families. In parliament 33 women held 14.8 percent of the seats, an increase from 10.8 percent in the previous election cycle. The Judges Ethics Committee suspended Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer from February through August because of an affidavit he filed in 2019 as part of a lawsuit against then chief justice Richard Malanjum. 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. In January authorities seized 1,500 tons of frozen meat worth 30 million ringgit ($7.2 million) during a raid in Johor State. Homelessness is a symptom of an array of social issues. Macroeconomic conditions in 2021: Will it improve or worsen? Jason 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. The law prohibits defense and police officials and retired or dismissed workers from joining a union. Parts of the country were hit with devastating floods that lasted for days at the end of 2021 following non-stop heavy rains in the Klang Valley and the state of Selangor, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu. In September Selangor State Criminal Investigation Department chief Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal told media that police would investigate the reported sudden death in custody of Vinaiyagar Thinpathy for foul play and noncompliance with standard operating procedures. Migrants, refugees, and stateless persons receive no government support. Further custodial deaths were recorded but no one was held to account. Social problems has been invited many negative things that can threaten the peace and safety of the country. Otherwise, defendants must rely on legal aid, and the amount of time to prepare for trial is at the discretion of the judge.