CORONAVIRUS | Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob once again hits out at critics of immigration raids against undocumented migrants around the Masjid India enhanced movement control order (MCO) area in Kuala Lumpur.
Responding to human rights group Amnesty International, Ismail reiterated that all migrants arrested had tested negative for Covid-19, and their undocumented status meant they could not be allowed to walk free even after the lifting of the MCO.
"Are they supposed to be allowed to return to their rented homes or remain in the area?
"What we have done is based on the laws of our country," the senior minister in charge of the security cluster said during the daily National Security Council Covid-19 update press conference in Putrajaya today.
"Amnesty International must respect our laws. As a sovereign state, we have legal powers to protect our nation's interest.
"So to Amnesty International, thank you for the views, but the decision to protect our national interest is in our right to do so," he stressed.
Amnesty International has been among the rights groups critical of Putrajaya's crackdown on undocumented migrants in enhanced MCO areas, arguing that it would lead to a culture of fear against coming out to be tested for Covid-19.
In a separate statement today, the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) reminded Ismail of the government's previous promise that no one coming forward to be tested or seeking medical treatment for Covid-19 will be arrested based on their immigration status.
Suhakam said this was further reinforced by the Health Ministry's announcement that treatment would be free for anyone, including foreigners, showing symptoms.
"The news of actual large-scale arrests, taking place in the last 72 hours, is counter-productive and clearly a step backward in the ongoing public health response to the pandemic," it said.
Suhakam said the large scale arrests reinforced the negative perception within migrant communities, thereby reaffirming their original fear of arrest and detention.
"As a consequence, one can expect these vulnerable people will be less willing to come forward for any tests or medical treatment, regardless of the argument or persuasion for them to do so," it added.
Ismail yesterday defended the government's move and denied claims of alleged mistreatment of migrants arrested during the raids. - Mkini
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