Malaysia has launched a long-awaited national action plan to improve and safeguard human rights in the country, a move that Prime Minister Najib Razak says will make for a “kinder Malaysia”. The National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) has five key pillars – political and civil rights, socio-economic and cultural rights, the rights of the disabled, indigenous rights as well as complying with Malaysia’s international commitments. Mr Najib brought up Operation Lalang in his keynote address – a major crackdown on opposition politicians and activists during Dr Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister, pointed out the fact that he had abolished the Internal Security Act which was used during Ops Lalang, and also introduced laws such as the Peaceful Assembly Act instead.