following his indictment on mismanagement investigated, arrested and prosecuted for of such funds. criticizing the government. The government The vaccination roll-out began in March used Covid-19 measures to restrict the with 512,000 doses. In May, the World Bank rights to freedom of expression and approved a US$30 million grant to help assembly. Further custodial deaths were Malawi acquire more vaccines. Thousands of recorded but no one was held to account. people were unable to receive their Covid-19 Immigration raids, detention and other vaccinations when, in June, health authorities forms of persecution against refugees, closed over half the country’s vaccination asylum seekers and migrant workers centres because of shortages. By August, continued. LGBTI people faced increased around 455,000 people had received their discrimination. first dose, and at least 139,000 had been BACKGROUND fully vaccinated. The government’s handling of the Covid-19 DETAINEES’ RIGHTS pandemic caused public protest and political Prisons were chronically overcrowded and instability. A state of emergency was imposed conditions were poor; facilities were from January to 1 August 2021 in response dilapidated and there was insufficient access to the pandemic under which the national to basic services. By April, overcrowding fell parliament and state legislative assemblies from 260% of prison capacity to 186% due were suspended. Prime Minister Muhyiddin to the Chilungamo Programme (an initiative Yassin resigned on 16 August after losing to improve justice and accountability in the majority support. His replacement, Ismail country). However, in Chichiri prison, the Sabri Yaakob, was sworn in one week later. largest in the Southern Region, cells with a FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 60-person capacity continued to hold over 200 men. In February, news outlet Malaysiakini was DEATH PENALTY fined RM500,000 (approximately US$119,000) for contempt of court for In April, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled comments posted by its readers criticizing a that the death penalty was unconstitutional court judgment. The Communications and and contrary to the right to life guaranteed Multimedia Act (CMA) and Sedition Act were under the Constitution. The Court ordered the used to criminalize dissenting voices. In re-sentencing of all convicts facing execution. March, the government enacted an However, following the retirement of Chief ordinance to combat “fake news” in relation Justice Dunstain Mwaungulu in August, the to Covid-19, which expired with the lifting of 1 remaining judges issued what they called a the state of emergency in August. perfected judgment, overturning the Activists, journalists and others faced declaration that the death penalty was investigation, prosecution and harassment for unconstitutional. criticizing the authorities. In July, refugee rights activist Heidy Quah was charged under the CMA for a comment posted on social MALAYSIA media in 2020 highlighting poor conditions at an immigration detention centre. Malaysia In July, police raided the offices of the Head of state: Abdullah makers of an animated film on police Head of government: Ismail Sabri Yaakob (replaced violence. On 29 July student activist Sarah Muhyiddin Yassin in August) Irdina Arif was detained under the Sedition Act and questioned for social media posts Human rights defenders, journalists, supporting “Lawan”, a movement protesting opposition leaders and others were Amnesty International Report 2021/22 242