Malaysia’s Najib attends Warriors’ Day celebration amid UN criticism

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Sunday attended a ceremonial event honoring fallen servicemen in Putrajaya, 30 kilometers south of capital Kuala Lumpur, amid UN criticism of a new security act that the international body says could restrict civil liberties, an epa journalist reports.

The leader met with war veterans at the Warriors’ Day Ceremonial Celebration, held each year to commemorate Malaysians who lost their lives in the line of duty, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Armed Forces chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and InspectorGeneral of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

King Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Queen Tuanku Hajah Haminah binti Hamidun were greeted by a 21gun salute at the event, which was followed by a parade of around 800 Malaysians from the armed forces, police, and veteran associations, the New Straits Times newspaper reported.

Najib is facing criticism from the UN Human Rights Office for SouthEast Asia (OHCHR) over the National Security Council (NSC) Act, which comes into force tomorrow.

The Act establishes a National Security Council headed by the prime minister, which the OHCHR says gives him “sweeping security powers and could restrict civil liberties”.

Under the act, Malaysian security forces will have the power to arrest and search people, enter and search premises and seize property without a warrant, and be allowed to use force against people ‘to preserve national security’, the UN office said.

“We are gravely concerned that the immunity provisions in the Act may encourage human rights violations,” said Laurent Meillan, OHCHR’s acting regional representative in Bangkok, adding that he was concerned the measure could impose “unjust restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of assembly”.