Advancing equality through Malaysia’s UPR
“The UPR process cannot be looked at every 4 or 5 years, we have to make reference to the recommendations given and accepted by our government periodically.”- Faribel Maglin Fernandez
Faribel Maglin Fernandez is the Programme and Operations Manager at Pusat KOMAS, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Malaysia that advocates for non-discrimination, minority rights and the promotion of equality for all in the country. is the Programme and Operations Manager at Pusat KOMAS, a Malaysian NGO dedicated to promoting equality, minority rights, and non-discrimination. She joined the organisation more than twenty years ago, starting out in the accounts department—a role that unexpectedly became her entry point into the world of human rights.
“Although the progress might not be remarkable,” she reflects, “I can see the changes we’ve achieved in defending the rights of those the government does not always recognise.
But the journey has not been easy. Over the past decade, Pusat KOMAS and other Malaysian NGOs have navigated shifting political landscapes and an increasing number of anti-rights groups. Advocating for human rights—both at home and internationally through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)—has often meant facing targeted narratives that attempt to portray human rights principles as incompatible with Islamic values. This “fear-mongering,” as Faribel describes it, continues to be a major barrier.
Yet progress is visible. Faribel has watched the Malaysian government gradually accept more UPR recommendations across cycles. During Malaysia’s fourth cycle review in January 2024, the country received 348 recommendations and accepted 182. Seventeen of these were directly connected to Pusat KOMAS’ work on equality for minority and Indigenous communities—ten of which were accepted. For Faribel, each one represents a small but meaningful step forward.
Pusat KOMAS has been involved in Malaysia’s UPR process since the very first review. One of their top priorities in the latest cycle was advocating for the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Through the UPR, NGOs have been able to voice their concerns directly to the government—something that was far more difficult in the early years. During the first review, the government had labelled the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (COMANGO), of which Pusat KOMAS was involved with as “not in line with Islamic values”. Today, however, the UPR has helped create a space for dialogue rather than hostility.
Faribel sees the UPR as a valuable mechanism which has softened the relationship between NGOs and the government. She emphasises that the UPR should not be treated as a one-moment review but a continuous four-and-a-half-year cycle of accountability, and collaboration. Some institutional improvements have also emerged in recent years. One example is the Ministry of National Unity, established in 2020 “to undertake a comprehensive approach to foster national unity and integration.” The Ministry created the National Unity Advisory Council, bringing together NGOs, private sector representatives, and experts to guide the government on unity and reconciliation.
Still, many concerns raised by Pusat KOMAS in their UPR submissions—particularly around inclusive policies and non-discrimination—remain unaddressed. This disconnect poses a challenge: recommendations accepted during the review do not always reflect the priorities put forward by civil society.
To bridge this gap, Pusat KOMAS maintains continuous dialogue with ministries and agencies. Every year, on 21 March—International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination—they launch their annual report, a key advocacy tool in their engagement with the government. But their work extends beyond policymakers. The organisation also invests heavily in outreach to young people in schools and universities. “We want to nurture young people’s minds” and to create a society in Malaysia which truly promotes racial harmony.
Faribel and her colleagues participated on several occasions in capacity-building activities organized by UPR Info, both in the country and online, aimed at strengthening strategic advocacy around the UPR. They also attended UPR Info’s Pre-Sessions, an opportunity for Pusat KOMAS to highlight the issues they presented in their reports and raise awareness of the inequalities that racial minorities are facing in Malaysia.
"The UPR is an international platform to advocate for issues and to highlight issues in our country to add pressure and bring change for the betterment of the country.”
Faribel hopes that the process can further help Pusat KOMAS expand their reach into advocating for the Indigenous community and defending ancestral land rights and self-determination.
This Article is part of the series, ‘People Behind the UPR’.