Malaysia has participated in and endorsed International Conferences and Reservations on the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). These are: ICPD (1994), Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (2000).^[i] 

 Although having reduced its MMR drastically in earlier years, Malaysia now demonstrates a steady increase in the MMR. In 2005, Malaysia recorded a MMR of 62 per 100 000 live births compared to 2000 and 1995 (41 and 39 respectively.)^[ii] Despite economic growth and high increases in women’s education, Malaysia has a low Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of any modern method (29.8) which could be a contributing factor to the MMR.^[iii] A study done by the Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM) and the Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM) showed that the reasons behind a low CPR is fear of side effects, male spouse’s opposition to contraceptive use, lack of recognition of young and/or unmarried people’s need for sexuality education  and family planning services, and a continued low policy priority on family planning.^[iv]

In Malaysia, religious fundamentalism is increasingly becoming a barrier for the sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and adolescents. “Moral policing” of Muslims for Syariah law offences such as close sexual proximity of unmarried couples and dressing “inappropriately” or in opposite sex clothes, has increased since the International Conference of Population and Development (ICPD). Sex and sexuality are still taboo subjects and are perceived by society ad the government to be the rights of married heterosexual couples only, although it is accepted as a norm that men, especially Muslim men, have more sexual rights than women.^[v]  

 Although there is an increase in Malaysia’s MMR, it is more difficult to openly address issues such as gender relations, religious interpretations and morality, the body and sexuality than that of maternal mortality. “Sexuality, gender, culture and religion provides the complexity in all the SRHR issues and thus need to be addressed comprehensively as the cross cutting issues.”^[vi] 

Although women’s rights have had greater progress due to the effective gender equality and violence against women advocacy work of women NGOs and discriminative laws continue to be reformed including the constitution itself, marital rape and sexual harassment \ are not yet offences despite NGO advocacy. In fact, Muslim family law has retrogressed with polygamous marriages being easier to be approved now than in 1994. All forms of violence against women have continued to increase, especially rape and incest.^[vii] 

Among the main barriers to  progress in SRHR and women’s rights are lack of strong government acceptance of human rights; the lack of governmental and UN accountability  mechanisms for implementation of laws, policies and plans, agreements; and the limited role government asks NGOs to play.^[viii]

ARROW's Work in Malaysia

ARROW's Monitoring Reports on Malaysia

ARROW's Resources on Malaysia