UN expert urges Malaysia to protect its tradition of tolerance from the rise of fundamentalism
GENEVA (25 September 2017) – A United Nations human rights expert says Malaysia has much to lose if the authorities do
not take seriously warning signs that the country’s culture of tolerance is under threat.
“Malaysia has over the years risen to the challenge of building a society inclusive of its broad cultural diversity, but
this achievement should not be taken for granted and could be at risk if steps are not taken to meet current
challenges,” said the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Karima Bennoune.
In a statement at the end of a 10-day fact-finding mission to the country she noted that there was growing pressure to
adopt a narrow interpretation of the Muslim religion and identity, which excludes the country’s cross-cultural history,
marginalizes religious minorities and fails to take account of the diversity of Malay Muslims.
“I have heard worrying reports of attempts at Islamization spreading in many areas of society which could lead to
cultural engineering: changing how people dress, in particular women, and girls in schools, and altering the arts,
cultural practices, religious beliefs, and even the historical narrative of the country,” the Special Rapporteur said.
“The government must respect and ensure the rights of human rights defenders challenging fundamentalism who often face
harassment.”
“Such developments not only reduce space for the free expression of cultural diversity, but also trigger a sense of
exclusion and restriction among people who therefore do not feel fully recognized as Malaysians,” she added.
“In its efforts to foster unity in diversity, I encourage the Government to move away from viewing people primarily
through the lens of ethnicity and to put greater emphasis on their shared and equal belonging to the Malaysian nation,”
she emphasized.
The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned about bans and restrictions to specific traditional performing arts in
the State of Kelantan, namely Wayang Kulit, Mak Yong, Main Puteri and Dikir Barait, as well as limitations on women
performing in public, because of fundamentalist interpretations of religion.
“These bans and restrictions create stigma, disrupt the transmission of unique and meaningful Malaysian traditions to
future generations, and have a negative impact on the artistic freedom and livelihood of local artists. They must be
lifted.”
Ms. Bennoune was also concerned to hear of the banning of books, including those about moderate and progressive Islam in
the country when the government extolled those very concepts abroad. “Such moves could lead to a failure to engage in
much needed debate,” Ms. Bennoune added. In particular, she called for charges and a travel ban to be dropped against
the cartoonist Zunar.
The UN expert is encouraging the Government to support a diversity of spaces and platforms for people to engage
meaningfully with one another about culture, including on issues about which they do not agree.
The Special Rapporteur met a large number of public agencies and assessed positively the institutional framework
developed in Malaysia to address questions of national unity based on cultural diversity, support for the arts and
cultural sector taking into account the numerous minority groups in national programming.
“I am impressed by the high level of awareness among the authorities of the value of cultural diversity and the stated
importance of multiple languages, heritages, and beliefs in shaping Malaysia,” she said.
“However, I have concerns about the process of meaningful consultation and the lack of involvement of all relevant
stakeholders, such as grassroots activists, in some of the ongoing policy developments and programming. Sometimes those
most concerned are not included in the decision-making processes that have an impact on their human rights, and their
cultural rights in particular. This is especially true in the case of the indigenous people and the land they inhabit.
Their involvement and empowerment in the resolution of the more than 400 cases of land disputes will be central to their
capacity to preserve their culture.”
The Special Rapporteur noted: “it is time to ensure that the lived reality of unity, diversity, moderation and
progressiveness in Malaysia is consistent with the rhetoric of its government. This is essential for the enjoyment of
cultural rights. The many gains achieved since independence must be protected with vigilance. They cannot be preserved
by rhetoric alone but rather by concrete action demonstrating the effective commitment to the cultural rights of all, to
cultural diversity and pluralism and to the unequivocal rejection of fundamentalist ideology,” she said.
In addition to the capital Kuala Lumpur, the Special Rapporteur visited Kota Bharu in the State of Kelantan and Kuching
in the State of Sarawak where she also received a delegation from Sabah. She met federal and state authorities, as well
as a wide range of people working in the fields of culture and human rights.
The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report and recommendations to a future session of the UN Human
Rights Council.
ENDS