APHR: Smear Attacks on Malaysian MP Part of Alarming Regional Pattern against Progressive Lawmakers

JAKARTA, 15 September 2025—ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) condemns the recent smear campaign and politically-motivated blackmail attempt targeting Malaysian MP Wong Chen, who disclosed that he was the subject of a fake sex video; the same visual used on another MP.

This attack is not isolated. It sits within a worrying regional pattern of harassment, intimidation and violence against democratically-elected representatives, especially those who challenge power, speak for marginalized groups or demand accountability.

As detailed in APHR’s 2023 report on Parliamentarians at Risk, threats against parliamentarians are escalating across Southeast Asia, and the tactics being used aim to silence dissent, erode democratic norms and disregard public trust.

Wong Chen’s account echoes what many of APHR members have long asserted; that answering to the public with integrity requires courage in the face of personal risk.

As Maria Angelina Sarmento, APHR Board Member and Member of Parliament of Timor-Leste has said, “as elected representatives of the people, APHR and its member parliamentarians will continue to stand united and unflinching in the fight against authoritarianism that undermines fundamental freedoms, including free speech, association and assembly.”

APHR recalls how Malaysian MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid spoke of threats so serious that they transcended political disagreement into matters of personal safety; “beyond the walls of parliament, I’ve faced challenges that strike deeply at my sense of safety and purpose. One of the most chilling moments was when I received a death threat accompanied by a bullet in the mail at my office. I fear not just for myself but for all women who dare to step into the public arena.”

Similarly, Former Representative France Castro of the Philippines reflected on how relentless harassment follows those who dare to defend the rights of workers, peasants, women, youth and indigenous communities; “strong voices carry strong risks,” she has stated. “We must not allow legislation, judicial systems to be used as weapons against those who speak for the defenceless.”

Furthermore, APHR Member and Thai MP, Chonthicha “Lookkate” Jangrew who is facing a lèse-majesté case, expressed that “the law in Thailand is being weaponized by the state to terrorize, harass and silence people, including parliamentarians.”

These testimonies illuminate what Wong Chen’s case also shows; smear attacks are not collateral damage of politics, they are tools of political control designed to restrict what parliamentarians can say, to intimidate them into silence and to prevent them from fulfilling their mandate to their constituents.

“The effects are profound, not only for the individuals involved, but for democratic accountability, transparency, public confidence, and the rule of law,” remarked Mercy Chriesty Barends, Chairperson of APHR and Member of the House of Representatives of Indonesia.

APHR demands that the Malaysian government act with urgency to investigate this episode with full independence, ensuring legal remedies are available to those targeted, and to strengthen protections for parliamentarians under existing laws and institutions.

APHR urges political parties, civil society, media outlets and social platforms to reject smear and blackmail tactics, to insist on due process, and to cultivate a political culture where disagreement is met with debate not defamation.

The network of Southeast Asian lawmakers for human rights stands in solidarity with Wong Chen and with all Members of Parliament across Southeast Asia who are at risk simply for doing their jobs—challenging injustice, seeking truth, defending rights. #