Malaysia hits back at U.S. criticism over human rights

Malaysia on Friday lambasted a U.S. State Department document that criticised alleged human rights violations and restrictions on civil liberties in the country.

The State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015, released two days ago, noted that the most significant human rights problems included government restrictions on freedoms of speech and expression, press and media, assembly, and association.
It cited police intimidation, investigations into alleged sedition and illegal assembly as well as "politically motivated prosecution and jailing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim."

Anwar is serving a five-year jail sentence after being convicted of sodomy.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry responded to the report, saying it had taken a "one-sided approach" and did not include the government's efforts to protect human rights.
"This unwarranted report by the U.S. was prepared in the absence of any formal engagement with government officials," the ministry said.
Malaysia has been under fire from local and foreign activists over its repressive laws, such as the colonial-era Sedition Act that prohibits people from criticising the government.

Several political activists and critics of the government, including top Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar, have been charged in court under the Sedition Act. (dpa/NAN)