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Country visit to Malaysia: inputs received

Background

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, conducted an official country visit to Malaysia from 13 to 23 August 2019 at the invitation of the government. His visit focused on the links between poverty and the realisation of human rights in Malaysia.

This report will be presented at the 44^th session of the HRC in 2020.

Inputs received

While all submissions were welcome, and the questions below were by no means exhaustive, the Special Rapporteur was grateful for comments that addressed topics such as:

• The nature of poverty and inequality in Malaysia, including how poverty is or should be defined and measured, its prevalence, and its distribution.
• The major challenges and human rights-related problems facing people living in poverty.
• People disproportionately impacted by poverty, including women, children, minorities, non-citizens, and people living in urban and rural areas.
• The impact of poverty on civil and political rights, as well as on economic, social and cultural rights such as the rights to health, housing, food, education and social security.
• The impact of environmental issues and climate change on people living in poverty.
• The role of infrastructure and development projects; international financial institutions; the management of public finances; and multinational or domestic corporations in relation to poverty.
• Regions, provinces, districts, or cities in Malaysia that the Special Rapporteur should visit because of their particular relevance to poverty and human rights.
• Individuals and organizations with whom the Special Rapporteur should meet during his country visit.

The inputs received are available below:

UN agencies and international organizations

• UNICEF

Civil society organisations

• CIVICUS and North South Initiative
  
• Harm Reduction International, Release and Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network
• Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), National University of Malaysia (UKM) and COMMACT Malaysia
• JERIT (Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas) - Marginalized Peoples Network (English)
• Justice for sisters
  
• KUASA
• Malaysia Care
• Malaysian CSO SDG Alliance and Kingsley Strategic Institute, Annexes 1-2
• RHYTHM foundation
• Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia, Annex 1
• World Vision Malaysia

Academics

• Associate Prof. Yin Yap
• Prof. Datuk Denison Jayasooria
• Prof. Sulo articles 1 and 2
• Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puket, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Annex 1
• Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, International Islamic University of Malaysia
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. (P.h.) Doris Padmini Selvaratnam, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Annexes: 1-2

Individuals

• Indigenous Children- Submission from Amar Singh- June 2019
• Jeyakumar Devaraj
• Sunitha Bisan (Video by Penita Initiative, “Women of the Forests: The Hidden Burdens of Climate Change”)

Public Institutions

• Yeong Pey Jung, Senior Analyst, Penang Institute