Human rights group urges gov't to reject 'vigilantes' out to hunt migrants

Ahead of a Dec 31 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave Malaysia under an amnesty exercise, a human rights initiative has condemned an expected crackdown by unauthorised individuals.

North-South Initiative director Adrian Pereira said any attempts by unauthorised individuals to act against undocumented migrants — unable to leave under the "Back For Good" programme — would pose a risk to public safety.

"Malaysia must never condone such acts. It will only raise fears of the deep state supporting such groups," he told Malaysiakini today.

Pereira said this in response to an expected announcement of the setting-up of a "volunteer squad" by Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) to assist the Immigration Department's operation after the deadline for amnesty has passed on midnight of Dec 31.

"This vigilante group is mischievous and must never be condoned. It is only putting the public safety at risk," said Pereira.

Putra, in a press invite for a formal announcement to be made tomorrow at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, said it has rallied over 1,300 volunteers nationwide.

However, Putra deputy president Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said the party, as a registered organisation, will never jeopardise its status by going against the law.

"That (condemnation) is a typical reaction from our enemy. They are worried about our growing influence," claimed Khairul Azam (below), who is also a lawyer.

Asked whether Putra had obtained approval from the Immigration Department to assist in the operations, Khairul Azam said he had written to Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Mohd Daud on Monday, and requested for a meeting.

"Now we are waiting for a date to meet him," said Khairul Azam.

Back For Good, not so good

Pereira, meanwhile, noted that many undocumented migrants who remained in Malaysia with less than a week left before the deadline were forced to be in their present predicaments.

"I spoke to some of them. They told me their employers did not let them go (to register) because they were required to work.

"And some (employers) withheld their salaries," he said.

"Not all of them have enough cash to go back early, so they have to work till the last minute before going back," he added.

The Back For Good amnesty programme commenced on Aug 1.

All undocumented migrants are expected to procure their travel documents, purchase their own flight ticket home, and turn themselves in at the nearest Immigration Department office to pay a RM700 fine.

Various reports have indicated long queues at Immigration offices as the dateline looms, with some migrants complaining they had to repurchase their flight tickets after being unable to get a registration number.

In the past, an Immigration crackdown following the end of an amnesty exercise had forced undocumented migrants to flee into the jungles, particularly women and children. - Mkini