INTERNATIONAL
Is Malaysia enabling transnational repression within its borders?
Malaysia must take a stronger stand by upholding refugee rights and ceasing all deportations, says Douglas Teoh from the End Transnational Repression Alliance. BERNAMA pic
KUALA LUMPUR: In September, Cambodian domestic worker Nuon Toeun was arrested and deported to her homeland by Malaysian authorities at the request of her home government, despite holding a valid work permit.
The reason? Her social media posts had criticised Cambodian leaders.
Her case is among the high-profile instances of transnational repression within Malaysia’s borders in recent years.
According to Douglas Teoh from the End Transnational Repression Alliance, the Home Ministry has engaged in multiple deportations over the years.
“These refugees that are deported back are at risk of being tortured and killed in military camps after their return,” he told Astro AWANI.
In the case of Myanmar, which has been under military junta rule since 2021, Teoh warned that Malaysia’s deportations could further fuel and prolong the conflict.
“The junta is fighting a losing battle. They have been losing a lot of ground over the last four years and they need forced conscription to bolster their military ranks.
“If we are complicit in deporting people back to Myanmar, where they are unsafe, that's effectively collaborating on human rights violations.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has previously condemned the ongoing conflict in Myanmar as “atrocious”, emphasising the need to secure peace.
However, Teoh pointed out inconsistencies in this stance, citing Anwar’s decision to appoint former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as personal advisors during his tenure as ASEAN Chairman.
“I think the international community would look at this and say, ‘Hey, isn't it a little bit hypocritical that we are saying one thing but we are doing another?’”
He stressed that Malaysia must take a stronger stand by upholding refugee rights and ceasing all deportations.
“It's really basic international law. Non-refoulement is a basic principle that all countries have to abide by, regardless of whether you are a signatory of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Convention.”
Another step, said Teoh, was to involve civil society organisations in reviewing Directive No. 23 under the National Security Council.
“It's important because, supposedly, it outlines some basic tenets of refugee protection, the right to work, and how we register and determine the status of refugees.
“I believe that with civil society involvement, we can help to make that better.”
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The reason? Her social media posts had criticised Cambodian leaders.
Her case is among the high-profile instances of transnational repression within Malaysia’s borders in recent years.
According to Douglas Teoh from the End Transnational Repression Alliance, the Home Ministry has engaged in multiple deportations over the years.
“These refugees that are deported back are at risk of being tortured and killed in military camps after their return,” he told Astro AWANI.
In the case of Myanmar, which has been under military junta rule since 2021, Teoh warned that Malaysia’s deportations could further fuel and prolong the conflict.
“The junta is fighting a losing battle. They have been losing a lot of ground over the last four years and they need forced conscription to bolster their military ranks.
“If we are complicit in deporting people back to Myanmar, where they are unsafe, that's effectively collaborating on human rights violations.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has previously condemned the ongoing conflict in Myanmar as “atrocious”, emphasising the need to secure peace.
However, Teoh pointed out inconsistencies in this stance, citing Anwar’s decision to appoint former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as personal advisors during his tenure as ASEAN Chairman.
“I think the international community would look at this and say, ‘Hey, isn't it a little bit hypocritical that we are saying one thing but we are doing another?’”
He stressed that Malaysia must take a stronger stand by upholding refugee rights and ceasing all deportations.
“It's really basic international law. Non-refoulement is a basic principle that all countries have to abide by, regardless of whether you are a signatory of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Convention.”
Another step, said Teoh, was to involve civil society organisations in reviewing Directive No. 23 under the National Security Council.
“It's important because, supposedly, it outlines some basic tenets of refugee protection, the right to work, and how we register and determine the status of refugees.
“I believe that with civil society involvement, we can help to make that better.”