On 18 September, Malaysian authorities raided the offices of youth activism organization MANDIRI and human rights NGO HAYAT, seizing documents and freezing both organizational and personal bank accounts linked to their leadership, and imposing travel bans on staff. On 22 September, the executive directors of both organizations were detained under anti-money-laundering legislation after voluntarily appearing for questioning. The organizations said authorities had not been able to identify the alleged underlying offence beyond citing ‘suspicious funds’. The allegations appear to be related to an anonymous social media campaign in May 2026 that alleged MANDIRI had received foreign funding to destabilize the Malaysian government. International human rights organizations criticized the authorities’ actions as unjustified and aimed at creating a chilling effect on civil-society activity. The measures represent a deterioration in the operating environment for civil society organizations, potentially limiting advocacy, public engagement and associational activity. 

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Forum Asia, Utusan

On 29 September, Malaysian authorities began returning 5,000 ethnic Rohingya Myanmar nationals from immigration detention centres, despite warnings from civil society organizations, the UN refugee agency and rights groups. More than 160 civil society organizations had earlier urged the government to halt planned deportations, arguing that Rohingya refugees and other returnees could face persecution, ongoing armed conflict and forced conscription if sent back to Myanmar. They also criticized governmental efforts to cooperate with Myanmar's military junta, and warned that returns could violate international refugee protection principles. While Malaysian authorities maintained that returns were voluntary, the UNHCR stated it was unable to independently verify that decisions to return were genuinely free and informed.

Sources: France24 , Reuters

Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim granted former prime minister Najib Razak a conditional royal pardon on 18 September, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, provided he pays a reduced court-imposed fine. Najib has been imprisoned since 2022 following convictions linked to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB corruption scandal. The decision overrides earlier court rulings that had rejected Najib’s bid for house arrest and reduces the punitive consequences of his conviction. Critics, including civil-society groups, argued that the move undermines equality before the law and public confidence in anti-corruption efforts, while supporters defended it as a constitutional, albeit unprecedented, exercise of royal clemency. 

Sources: Associated Press, The Diplomat, International IDEA

On 28 August 2026, Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education directed all public universities to halt disciplinary proceedings related to freedom of expression, criticism of authorities, peaceful assembly and the expression of personal opinions. The ministry also announced that the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) and student disciplinary regulations that restrict students' rights to speak, organise associations, manage student activities, communicate publicly and publish materials would no longer be enforced, and that it would investigate the extent to which existing legislation could be used to better protect students’ civil liberties. The decision was presented as part of a broader reform agenda following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's call to expand students’ civil rights. While legal restrictions remain in place for criminal offences and other misconduct, the move significantly broadens protections for student expression and association in public universities. 

Sources: The Star, Utusam.my, Kosmo 

In July 2026, Malaysia’s Cabinet approved constitutional amendments that would increase Parliament’s role in the appointment of the Public Prosecutor and further separate the offices of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor. Under the proposed reforms, candidates for Public Prosecutor would be scrutinized by a parliamentary committee, which will make recommendations to the Judicial and Legal Service Commission for appointment by the King. The amendments followed review by a bipartisan parliamentary committee and consultations with legal experts and civil society organizations. If adopted, the changes would represent a significant institutional reform of Malaysia’s justice system and strengthen safeguards supporting independent prosecutorial conduct. The amendments are tabled for debate in July 2026 sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.

Sources: The Vibes , Malay Mail 

In July 2026, the Malaysian government instructed the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to temporarily suspend the registration of refugees so it could implement a new state-managed refugee registration system. Officials said the measure would improve efficiency and allow Malaysian authorities to assume greater control over refugee identification, monitoring and regulation. However, critics and human rights groups raised concerns that the new system is intrusive, lacks clear criteria for determining refugee status, and may exacerbate existing issues such as indefinite detention and even deportation of registered refugees. The policy was introduced amid growing public hostility toward Rohingya refugees, including widespread online hate speech, misinformation campaigns and an online petition attracting more than 500,000 signatures calling for their removal from Malaysia.  

Sources: The Diplomat (1), The Diplomat (2), Human Rights Watch 

Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki stepped down in May after months of pressure surrounding allegations that he had abused his office to assist private businessmen in efforts to take control of listed companies. Under Baki’s leadership, MACC allegedly pursued investigations against company founders, including arrests and freezing of accounts, in order to pressure them to relinquish control of targeted companies. The allegations were surfaced in a February 2026 Bloomberg News investigation. Separate reports revealed Azam had violated civil service regulations by failing to declare shares in publicly listed companies worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars. The Prime Minister’s office defended Azam and conducted only an internal inquiry, and no criminal charges were filed. Civil society organizations and opposition figures argued that the affair exposed weaknesses in oversight and accountability within Malaysia’s principal anti-corruption institution.  

Sources: Bloomberg News , Straits Times (1), Straits Times (2), Straits Times (3)