KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 14 -- Malaysia has regressed in terms of human rights since the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, led by prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, took over in March 2020, global watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its annual report.

The report released yesterday stated that the first nine months under the new coalition government showed alleged crackdown on freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, threats against the media, discrimination against migrants, and retreat from genuine police accountability.

"Malaysia has undergone an incredible reversal of human rights in 2020 - all for the worst.

"Hopes for human rights reforms have never risen so fast in Malaysia nor collapsed so quickly." its deputy Asia direc...