Since then, authorities have opened investigations into numerous activists and opposition politicians for speech critical of the government. Published by Statista Research Department , Oct 5, 2022. The political environment was hostile towards women. The government does not recognize marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims and considers children born of such unions illegitimate. Several UN experts expressed concern that the crackdown was severely undermining efforts to fight the pandemic and immigration detention centers subsequently reported an increase in confirmed cases of Covid-19. At least 17 migrants from Myanmar committed suicide between March and September. Government procurement and licensing policies favored bumiputra-owned businesses. 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. Those suffering from problems can reach out to: Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or WhatsApp 019-261 5999); Jakim's Family, Social . After the suspension, Hamid retired. Nevertheless, four states Johor, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Pahang extend equal parental rights to Muslim mothers. Freedom of expression came under attack immediately after the change in government, when authorities opened a sedition investigation into activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri for organizing a protest against the method by which the new government came to power. In 2019 UNHCR estimated there were 450,000 stateless persons residing in the eastern state of Sabah. Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups: No laws limit participation by women or members of minority groups or of historically marginalized groups in the political process, and they did participate. Employers routinely asked women their marital status during job interviews. Child labor in urban areas was common in the informal economy, including family food businesses and night markets, and in small-scale industry. According to various statistics, the unemployment peak in April 2021 reached over 12.7% in the United States. It lists the main causes of anxiety, stress, and depression as being social isolation, a precarious financial situation, and the loss of a loved one. 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. 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. 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. The investigation remained open at time of writing. The next caste census will take place in 2021, the problems associated with it is that it will encourage caste-based politics rather than concentrating on developmental activities. According to the International Press Institute, the nationwide state of emergency declared in January to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, postponing parliamentary sittings and elections while banning interstate travel and imposing restrictions on media, posed a grave threat to press freedom and freedom of expression. In March the government enacted an emergency ordinance prohibiting the spread of fake news related to COVID-19 and the state of emergency declaration with heavy fines, three years in prison, or both for violations. Moreover, those graduates with essential skills are more preferable compared to them who does not have any skills. Some employers and migrant workers reported that workers sometimes requested employers keep their passports, since replacing lost or stolen passports could cost several months wages and leave foreign workers open to questions about their legal status. These are problems that are specific to a place such as a nation, city or neighborhood. The director general may issue necessary directives to an employer to resolve allegations of discrimination in employment, although there were no penalties under the law for such discrimination and thus penalties were not commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. The government did not effectively enforce laws prohibiting employers from seeking retribution for legal union activities and requiring reinstatement of workers fired for trade union activity. The old saying "the rich keep getting rich" rings true in the United States. The social problems in Malaysia are getting worse to worst nowadays. 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. Freedom of the press has also come under attack. Defendants have the right to be informed promptly of the charges against them, to a timely trial, and to be present at their trial. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The law bans child pornography and states that a child is considered a victim of sexual abuse if he or she has taken part as a participant or an observer in any activity that is sexual in nature for the purposes of a photograph, recording, film, videotape, or performance. Authorities often banned street protests, and police sometimes confronted civil society and opposition demonstrations with mass arrests. Zahid faced charges filed in 2018 of corruption, money laundering, and taking bribes totaling three million ringgit ($720,000) from a company that ran a visa center for the workers, who paid tenfold higher costs for visa services and medical tests over a five-year period without receiving additional protections or benefits. Malaysia's Ministry of Health (KKM) reported that one in three of the country's adults are at risk of developing mental health condition for the last 5 years. The government, however, did not mandate accessibility to transportation for persons with disabilities, and authorities retrofitted few older public facilities to provide access for persons with disabilities. The sentences for subsequent convictions are fines and up to three months in jail. The government focused on preventing sexual exploitation of children, including sex trafficking. Online media outlets were more independent but were often the target of legal action and harassment. The constitution fixes the number of seats in parliament assigned to each state to the advantage of rural states and regardless of population shifts over time. They subsequently charged her with defamation of Islam, punishable by a fine, up to three years imprisonment, or both, and released her on bail. The Royal Malaysian Police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The government monitored the internet and threatened to detain anyone sending or posting content the government deemed a threat to public order or security (see section 2.a.). The measures included school officials forcing girls to show their blood-soaked sanitary pads; doing swabs of their vaginas with cotton buds, tissues, or fingers; or patting them down to feel if they were wearing a sanitary pad. Recent Elections: The countrys most recent general election was held in 2018 amid allegations of partisanship on the part of public institutions, in particular the Election Commission and the Registrar of Societies. The BN lost to an opposition alliance . The broadly worded fatwa declares that Sisters in Islam and any individuals, organizations and institutions holding on to liberalism and religious pluralism are deviant from Islamic teachings. COVID-19 recovery. 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. Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy. What does a boil look like after it pops? Hamid alleged government interference in previous judicial decisions and complicity by judges in sham cases designed to reward government supporters with large settlements. Authorities, however, often treated children exploited in commercial sex as offenders or undocumented immigrants rather than as victims. Rural versus Urban Social Issues. The government claimed these policies were necessary to attain ethnic harmony and political stability. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings, c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees, f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence, a. The aims of this . The constitution provides indigenous and nonindigenous persons with the same civil and political rights, but the government did not effectively protect these rights. The law provides for the rights to strike and to bargain collectively, but both were severely restricted. The next element to address in the PESTEL analysis of Malaysia is the economic environment. . Vinaiyagars death in police custody was the tenth since January. John Spacey, November 18, 2021. In Kuala Lumpur as well as Selangor and Kelantan States, prisons exceeded capacity by 45 to 50 percent. and 7.e.). The law bars the production, distribution, or exhibition of films without authorization from the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia. The law prohibits employers from interfering with trade union activities, including union formation. Forced migration and displacement are global social problems which currently affect more than 89 million people worldwide (UNHCR, 2022). In September, however, Hamzah informed parliament the government would require healthcare workers to notify security forces if undocumented migrants appeared at health facilities and vaccine centers. The police had opened 262 investigations into the spread of false and seditious news as of May 11, and 264 investigations into false news on Covid-19. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. 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. The National Registration Department did not maintain records of stateless persons. According to the Director of Enforcement of the Immigration Department met by the mission, there are reportedly 1,9 million foreign workers in Malaysia and 5 to 600 000 people would be there illegally. Biggest Social Issues . Displaced Children: Street children were most prevalent in Sabah State. UNHCR reported the government brought charges in a few cases against employers for hiring refugees. The government occasionally censored foreign magazines, newspapers, and news programming, most often due to sexual content. Share this via Printer, As More Climate Chaos Looms, Slashing Fossil Fuels Is Key. The government reported that 23 people, including two children, died while in immigration detention during the first six months of 2020. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. What are the current issues in our society? For instance, Islamic inheritance law generally favors male offspring and male relatives. ReachOut at au.reachout.com. It is vindictive.. As one of the biggest economies in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is an attractive destination for workers from neighboring countries seeking better wages and employment. Other buyers requested suppliers to reduce or exclude FGV and Sime Darby products for supplies entering numerous countries. Many human rights and civil society organizations had difficulty obtaining government recognition as NGOs. Indigenous persons are governed by customary laws with no fixed minimum age for marriage. By law the government is not allowed to redraw the electoral boundaries until 2026 unless members of parliament amend the federal constitution, a process that requires a two-thirds majority vote. 2020 was an extremely happening year - well, Covid-19, and a General Election that took place amidst this pandemic. According to a survey on mental health and wellness conducted by Rakuten Insight in Malaysia in May 2022, 59 percent of the respondents . There is no minimum age for engaging in light work. Homelessness is a symptom of an array of social issues. Self-censorship took place among academics at private institutions as well, spurred by fear the government might revoke the licenses of their institutions. Although China is Malaysias largest trading partner, in July 2020 Malaysia rejected in its entirety Chinas claims to rights in the South China Sea encompassed by the nine-dash line. 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.. Displacement. Independent Monitoring: Authorities generally did not permit NGOs and media to monitor prison conditions; the law allows judges to visit prisons to examine conditions and ask prisoners and prison officials about conditions. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum age of marriage is 18 for men and 16 for women. Malaysia Outlook 2022: Five Risks to Watch. It remained at 4.1% in 2022 and is forcasted to stabilised at -3.1% in 2023 and 2024. 03 / Select Countries You can add more than one country or area. In May 2021, speed-testing company Ookla measured Malaysia's mobile internet download speed at 54.54 Mbps and fixed-line broadband at 105.14 Mbps. The organizers had held two street protests in July, demanding the prime ministers resignation, the reopening of parliament, and an automatic loan repayment moratorium for all. 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. Baseline figures of stateless persons and persons at risk of statelessness in Sabah, where approximately 80,000 Filipino Muslim refugees resided, were unavailable. In June the government expanded social security coverage to local and migrant domestic workers. In December the NGO Suaram stated that deaths in police custody were severely underreported and reported there were 19 custodial deaths from January 20 through November 16. The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court, and the government generally observed these requirements. The government curbed freedom of expression, particularly freedom of the press. 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. There was a lack of investigation into accusations of rape and gender-based violence, and little accountability. The law prohibits women from working underground, such as in mines, and restricts employers from requiring female employees to work in industrial or agricultural work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. or to commence work for the day without having 11 consecutive hours of rest since the end of the last work period. Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. They discovered that an international cartel for more than 40 years had smuggled noncertified meat into the country and falsely represented it as halal-certified by using national halal logos with the help of corrupt senior government officials from at least four agencies. Malaysia's polarizing divides remain dominant and seem entrenched. Doctors at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang COVID-19 Center canceled their walkout after police allegedly threatened them with arrest. The ruling found the user comments, which Malaysiakini removed within 12 minutes of posting, contemptuous of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat. FEBRUARY 18 With the current four-digit infection cases and no sign that the situation will abate anytime soon, it would seem that Malaysia's macroeconomic conditions will worsen rather than improve for 2021. The king determined that Sabri commanded a parliamentary majority and appointed him prime minister after meeting with parliamentarians, in conformity with constitutional parameters. While recent data was very limited, a 2012 study by a professor at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, found that more than 93 percent of approximately 1,000 Muslim women surveyed in three of the countrys 13 states had undergone the procedure. Malaysia continues to detain individuals without trial under restrictive laws. Conditions in prisons and detention centers could be harsh and life threatening. In June the Malaysia Stock Exchange removed Top Glove from its responsible investment indexes based on allegations of forced labor. Police detained Reza after he compiled two Spotify playlists of songs that referenced either the queen, Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, or her Instagram question to followers if they were jealous of her and her servants for receiving early COVID-19 vaccinations. A government voluntary code of conduct provides a detailed definition of sexual harassment intended to raise public awareness of the problem. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. 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. 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. The government's national five-year roadmap for 2021-25 targets child marriage. Authorities often charged transgender persons with indecent behavior and importuning for immoral purposes in public. The law allows the detention of a material witness in a criminal case if that person is likely to flee. Three constitutional articles provide the basis for an independent judiciary; however, other constitutional provisions, legislation restricting judicial review, and executive influence over judicial appointments limited judicial independence and strengthened executive influence over the judiciary. The kingship rotates among the sultans of the nine states with hereditary Malay rulers. Kossan completed repaying more than 5,500 workers a total 54 million ringgit ($13 million) with a final transfer of 24 million ringgit ($5.8 million) at the end of June. The law protects foreign domestic workers only regarding wages and contract termination. The courts increasingly encouraged the use of mediation and arbitration to speed settlements. Rape. Parents must register a child within 14 days of birth. Viewed as illegal immigrants, refugees and others were subject to deportation at any time. Depression. Abuse of Migrants and Refugees: UNHCR reported that as of December 31, there were 180,440 refugees and asylum seekers in the country who were registered with the agency, of whom 155,400 were from Burma: 103,380 Rohingyas, 22,570 Chins, and 29,450 of other ethnic groups coming from conflict-affected areas or fleeing persecution in Burma. A consortium of NGOs released a formal report in 2018 detailing irregularities in the election, including vote buying, the use of public funds for partisan activity, and allegations of biased behavior by public officials. The director general of the Ministry of Labor may grant exceptions if there are special circumstances making the extra hours necessary. While authorities generally recorded votes accurately, there were irregularities perpetrated by the former Barisan Nasional coalition government that affected the fairness of elections. Malaysia's political news continued to be a key agenda in the media last year, following a series of continuous and rapid political developments that took place in 2020. Is there a senior discount for license plate stickers in Illinois? The government may seize this land if it provides compensation. In parliament 33 women held 14.8 percent of the seats, an increase from 10.8 percent in the previous election cycle. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. In September the High Court ruled that mothers who are citizens have the right to confer citizenship to their children born overseas on an equal basis with men who are citizens, but the government appealed the decision. Part of a mini series of Focus books on COVID-19 in Malaysia, the chapters in this book address the pandemic's impacts on education and literacy. In August 2020, the Federal Court upheld the constitutionality of the mandatory death . The great floods. However, it should be acknowledged that mental health issues do not discriminate just like adults, the young have been significantly impacted mentally and emotionally by the pandemic.