TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Rights group warns of dictatorship with Malaysia's new law
President Barack Obama, center, shakes hands with Malaysiaâs Prime Minister Najib Razak, right, as Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor watches at left after arriving for the East Asia Summit gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Nov
Change Size
President Barack Obama, center, shakes hands with Malaysiaâs Prime Minister Najib Razak, right, as Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor watches at left after arriving for the East Asia Summit gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 21. (AP/Susan Walsh) (AP/Susan Walsh)
P
span class="inline inline-center">President Barack Obama, center, shakes hands with Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak, right, as Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor watches at left after arriving for the East Asia Summit gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 21. (AP/Susan Walsh)
Human Rights Watch has slammed a proposed new security law by Malaysia's government that will give sweeping powers to a council led by the prime minister, warning it is a step toward a dictatorship.
The National Security Council bill, sent to Parliament this week, would give power to the National Security Council to declare a security area to protect Malaysia's interests. Once such an area is declared, security forces would be allowed, among other things, to conduct searches and arrest individuals without a warrant.
Human Rights Watch calls the proposed law a "frightening" tool, and said Thursday that it is "far broader than can be justified by any real threat to Malaysia's national security" and warns of abuse by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his embattled government. (kes)(+)
