PETALING JAYA: Amnesty International has accused Malaysia of being selective when it came to speaking up on human rights, saying the federal government has been outspoken on the plight of Palestinians but mum on Rohingya and Uyghur deportations.
Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s interim co-regional director for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said Malaysia is not the only middle power caught in a “double-standard” trap.
“Malaysia has been very supportive of the calls against Israel in the context of Gaza, but quiet or the opposite of supportive on Rohingya deportations or Uyghur deportations,” she said during a press conference in London.
Ferrer’s comments come in the wake of news that Malaysia had detained and deported Uyghur American scholar Abdulhakim Idris on March 30.
Ferrer said middle powers, like Malaysia, risked practising double standards by citing policies implemented by the major powers.
In 2024, Lubna Sheikh Ghazali of Asylum Access Malaysia questioned Malaysia’s treatment of Rohingya refugees, saying it is in stark contrast to its support for the Palestinians.
Lubna said Malaysia “seems to have collective amnesia and is selective about who deserves protection”.
Malaysians have organised numerous rallies to show solidarity with Palestine, which is in an ongoing war with Israel.
