We, the undersigned non-government organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), student groups, activists, and members of civil society, strongly condemn the heavy-handed investigative measures taken against MANDIRI and HAYAT this month; freezing the personal bank accounts of MANDIRI Directors Amir Hadi and Dobby Chew, and the organisational bank accounts of MANDIRI and HAYAT, as well as the travel restrictions placed on Amir Hadi and Dobby Chew barring them from leaving the country. These actions are the latest in a pattern of repressive actions taken against civil society this year, and are a frightening vision of a Malaysia in regression to its darkest days.
Background
In May 2026, unsubstantiated attacks against MANDIRI surfaced online alleging that the organisation had received foreign funding to conduct political and disinformation activities with the alleged objective of destabilising the administration and ultimately bringing down Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. These attacks were amplified by then Chief of Angkatan Muda Keadilan and Political Secretary to Anwar Ibrahim, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim – who issued a formal media statement linking the issue to allegations of foreign interference, national sovereignty and national security. Kamil also urged the authorities to invoke the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, Anti-Restricted Activity Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) in investigating the allegations.
Following public criticism of Kamil’s statement, Kamil subsequently shifted the emphasis towards alleged misuse or misappropriation of funds, stating that the concern was not foreign funding itself. Lawyers acting for MANDIRI and Amir Hadi issued a letter of demand to Kamil demanding that Kamil retract the allegations, issue a public apology and publish the retraction and apology publicly. Kamil declined to comply with the demands. MANDIRI and Amir subsequently commenced defamation proceedings against Kamil. The case remains pending before the courts.
From the outset, MANDIRI publicly stated that it had committed no wrongdoing and was fully prepared to cooperate with any legitimate investigation. Despite the seriousness of the allegations and public calls for action by enforcement agencies, for months neither MANDIRI nor its directors or staff were summoned or questioned by PDRM, MACC, Bank Negara Malaysia or other relevant authorities concerning these allegations. No criminal charges, regulatory findings or other adverse findings were made against MANDIRI or its personnel during this period.
In September 2026, Amir Hadi and Dobby Chew were informed that both had been barred from travelling outside Malaysia. At the time the travel restrictions were discovered, neither Amir nor Dobby had been called in for questioning concerning any allegations of wrongdoing. To this day, Amir and Dobby have not been provided with a clear explanation as to why the travel restrictions had been imposed or the precise allegations forming the basis of the action.
Subsequently in the same month, it was discovered that the personal bank accounts of Amir Hadi and Dobby Chew, together with the organisational bank accounts of MANDIRI and HAYAT, had been frozen. The freezing of the accounts represented a significant escalation from the allegations that first emerged in May. This development is particularly concerning given that Kamil had specifically urged the authorities to use AMLA in relation to MANDIRI in the statement issued on 17 May 2026.
The freezing of the organisational accounts also has consequences beyond Amir and Dobby. It affects the ability of MANDIRI and HAYAT to carry out ordinary and legitimate organisational obligations, including payment of salaries, programme expenditure and other operational commitments.
Risk of repressing civil society voices
To date, no formal notice or explanation has been given to any of the parties involved regarding the basis for the freezing of accounts or the travel bans. None of the parties have been summoned for questioning regarding any investigations by any regulatory or enforcement agency, which calls into question the legitimacy of these measures. The logic of a travel ban, for instance, is to ensure that persons do not abscond from the country and will be able to assist with an investigation. So why has the government restricted Amir and Dobby from leaving Malaysia without summoning them for questioning? Additionally, none of the parties involved received any formal notice of the account freezing orders made against them. They were only informed of the basis for the freezing of their accounts through a letter from their bank.
We acknowledge that harsh measures such as the freezing of bank accounts and travel bans may be necessary under certain circumstances to facilitate investigations into wrongdoing. But this reality must be considered in tandem with the risk of repressing civil society actors. In situations like this, we hold that the government has a greater burden to use these powers carefully and to uphold transparency to avoid clamping down on legitimate freedom of speech, expression, and association.
Broader pattern of civil society repression
The actions taken against Amir, Dobby, MANDIRI, and HAYAT are only the latest in a broader pattern of state suppression of civil society voices. Just this year, we have also seen the following:
- then CEO of C4 Center Pushpan Murugiah, along with several journalists and academics, being summoned to Bukit Aman Police Headquarters in connection to an investigation under Section 124B of the Penal Code (activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy);
- environmental activist Shakila Zen from Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA) being summoned by the police over a social media post that allegedly defamed the Pahang royal institution, for an investigation under Section 500 of the Penal Code (criminal defamation) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (improper use of network facilities); and
- Faisal Abdul Aziz (Chairperson of BERSIH), Asraf Sharafi (Executive Director of BERSIH), Anas Nor’azim (Advocacy Officer of BERSIH), and Alyaah Hani (member of BERSIH Steering Committee) being banned from entering Sabah.
Taken together, these incidents paint a grim picture of freedom of speech and expression in Malaysia today. This presents a frightening vision of a Malaysia in regression, and civil society must take a stand to prevent further decline of the hard-fought freedoms we have won over the past few years. This pattern should be viewed as a canary in the coal mine for freedom of speech, and must not be a precursor of more stringent repression in the future, lest we return to the darkest days of state suppression of civil society.
Our demands
As such, we call upon the government to provide an explanation of the grounds for these actions to be taken against Amir, Dobby, MANDIRI, and HAYAT. This explanation must include a clear explanation of a genuine need to use such drastic measures against them, and if there is no legitimate basis, the government must lift the account freezing orders and the travel bans. These harsh measures must not be used so frivolously, as they will cause serious threats to the ability of civil society actors to perform their duty as defenders of human rights, democracy and rule of law.
Further, the government must commit to a review of the laws that enable investigative powers to be used without sufficient oversight, such as those under AMLA and the Immigration Act 1959/63. We call upon the government to affirm that the criminal law shall not be used to silence free speech, political dissent, and fair critique of the government. If we wish to build a mature democratic Malaysia, the Anwar Ibrahim government cannot be allowed to reuse the same draconian tactics employed by previous administrations. We stand together in solidarity with all our impacted comrades, and stand firm against any attempts by the government to silence us.
Jointly issued by:
- Agora Society Malaysia
- All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
- Angkatan Kesatuan Siswa Sosialis (AKSI)
- Angkatan Kesatuan Siswa Sosialis (AKSI)
- ARTICLE 19
- Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
- Bersih Sabah
- Beyond Borders
- Borneo komrad
- Buku Jalan Chow Kit
- Cahaya Society
- Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
- Citizens International
- CSO Platform for Reform
- Demokrat UM
- Diversity Inclusivity Equity Malaysia (DIEM)
- Family Frontiers
- Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan
- Freedom Film Network
- Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH)
- Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (GAMIS)
- Gempur Rasuah Sabah
- Gerakan Anak Muda Tuntut Hak Rakyat Sabah (GEGAR)
- Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia
- Gerakan Perempuan Melawan
- Greater Equitable Measures (GEM)
- Greenpeace Malaysia
- HAYAT
- Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (HARAM)
- Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (HARAM）
- Ikatan Anak Muda Tawau (IKAT)
- Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
- JEJAKA
- Justice for Sisters
- Kemban Kolektif
- KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH-CRC)
- KLSCAH Youth
- KMUiTM
- Kolektif Feminis Malaysia
- Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia
- Liga Mahasiswa UM
- Liga Mahasiswa UniSZA
- Liga Mahasiswa USM
- Liga Mahasiswa UTM
- Liga Rakyat Demokratik (LRD)
- Malaysia East Coast Coalition of Activists (MECCA)
- Malaysian Cannabis Awareness Association
- Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA)
- Malaysian Youth Generation Organisation (MYGO)
- MANDIRI
- MARTABAT UNTUK SEMUA PETALING JAYA
- Mekar Club
- MUDA Selangor Bahagian Selayang
- Neo Siswa UM
- New Generation Universiti Malaya
- OHMSI Sdn Bhd
- PACOS Trust
- Pangrok Sulap
- Parti Bersama Malaysia (BERSAMA)
- Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
- Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA)
- Persatuan Kesaksamaan Demi Kedamaian Rakyat Sejagat (SEDARJAT)
- Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)
- Pertiwi Progresif
- Pertubuhan Mahasiswa Kongres Gombak (CONGRESS)
- Pro-Siswa Kolej Komuniti Dan Politeknik
- Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA)
- ProSiswaKkP
- PUSAT KOMAS
- Reformasi Mahasiswa UTM (formUTM）
- Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)
- Ruang Lawan Malaysia
- Sekretariat Lawan Dua Darjat
- SIS Forum (Malaysia)
- SPARC UTEM
- Student Against Corruption and Wrongdoings (SACAW)
- Studio Persekutuan
- Suara Mahasiswa UMS (SMUMS)
- Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
- Suara Siswa UiTM
- Tenaganita
- Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democracy
- TEROKA
- The Bangsart
- The Center To Combat Corruption And Cronyism (C4)
- UMANY
- UNDI18
- Women’s Aid Organisation
