Malaysia - July 2026

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