Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been urged to give his assurance that the entire government will support the vaccination of those without documents and demonstrate that those coming forward to be vaccinated will not be reported or arrested.
In making this call today, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's statement alone that everyone in Malaysia is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine regardless of documentation status is insufficient to convince undocumented migrant workers to get vaccinated.
"Recent statements by Khairy are a welcome nod toward more equitable access to vaccines. But unless the government follows through with actions to back the words, Malaysia’s many undocumented migrants are unlikely to risk stepping forward to get the vaccine," HRW Asia legal adviser Linda Lakhdhir said in a statement.
In his visit to Pulau Larapan in Sabah’s east coast Semporna district on Tuesday, Khairy reportedly said that he was encouraged by the vaccination drive at the island which saw undocumented individuals receiving their vaccines.
Khairy said he had instructed health officials that public health is the top priority now and that those who show up must not be rejected by any vaccination centre.
However, Lakhdhir pointed out this was not the first time Khairy has given his assurance to the undocumented migrants that it was safe to come forward for vaccination.
"In February 2021, as science minister and coordinator of Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccine programme, Khairy announced that undocumented migrants seeking vaccines would not be arrested.
"But in June, that pledge was seriously undermined when Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin announced a crackdown on undocumented workers, and the Immigration Department arrested and detained hundreds in a series of raids. As a result, migrants without proper documentation are rightfully sceptical of any government promises," she said.
"Last month, Ismail Sabri Yaakob became the new prime minister, but little else has changed to offer comfort to undocumented migrants fearing arrest and deportation.
"Officials involved with the June raids remain in the government. Hamzah, who has long taken a hard line on refugees and undocumented migrants, was reappointed as home minister. The director-general of the Immigration Department also remains unchanged," she said.
"The assurances of one minister will not be sufficient to convince fearful migrants to come forward, meaning little progress in protecting migrants’ right to health and controlling the spread of Covid-19.
"The prime minister needs to make it clear that the entire government supports the vaccination of those without documents, and demonstrate that those coming forward to be vaccinated will not be reported or arrested.
"Featuring this resolve in public awareness campaigns in multiple migrant languages is the first step, and the government should work with community groups and non-governmental organisations to reassure the migrant population that they can be vaccinated without fear," Lakhdhir said.
She added: "Ultimately, however, the government will have to establish trust with the affected migrant populations. The government should announce a halt to the repeated raids on irregular migrants during the pandemic.
"In failing so, the authorities will only force an already fearful population further into hiding, undermining migrants' rights and the government’s efforts to control Covid-19." - Mkini
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