Immigration refutes activist's claims on poor treatment of refugees

The Immigration Department has refuted claims by a human rights activist that refugees have received poor treatment in detention centres.

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud responded to a Facebook posting by NGO Refuge for the Refugees director Heidy Quah on June 5 claiming that she visited a woman who had just given birth and complained of receiving poor treatment in an Immigration depot.  

In her posting, Quah also mentioned assault and death which allegedly happened in the depot, and claimed that the refugees were facing problems such as insufficient food and access to clean water.

"Immigration takes the allegations seriously.

"Throughout the movement control order (MCO) from March 18 until now, no visitors were allowed to enter the depot area.

"Following that, Quah has to state which depot she had visited the said woman in so that an investigation can be launched," Khairul said in a statement.

He said Immigration manages the refugees based on the Nelson Mandela Rule on the minimum standard requirement of detention.

"All detainees are given quality food and diet as recommended by the Health Ministry.

"The cost of food is RM12.50 per person.

"The water is clean and comes from a treated water supply," he said.

Khairul (photo) added that other agencies such as the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), and International Committee of the Red Cross have frequently visited the depots.

He also said that the picture depicting refugees cramped in a cell which accompanied Quah's posting is an old picture from 2008.

However, Quah had mentioned in her posting that while she acknowledged the picture is old, the situation she witnessed was similar to the one in the photo.

Khairul warned that a police report will be lodged against slanderous social media postings.

On June 5, Quah shared her experience helping a woman who was detained after giving birth.

"She was detained right after giving birth with her teeny-tiny baby.

"Cells were so cramped up that they were no place to sleep. Barely any food to eat.

"No access to sanitary pads. She had to bleed through her pants every single day, and wash it under water that wasn't clean," her post read.

Quah revealed that the baby had to use a t-shirt as a diaper.

"Immigration officers called me telling me the baby needs milk and diapers. I went to buy (the items). 

"When I got there - they said they only allowed cash and I had to hand the money to officers who then marked the amount to an alphanumeric number tagged on her. Not even her real name (was used)," she said.

Quah said that the woman was handcuffed to a table while talking to her through a plastic wall with holes in it.

Following her posting, she claimed her Facebook inbox was flooded with hate messages. - Mkini