Malaysia earns WHO praise, with reminder to care for migrants

Dr Jacqueline Lo Ying-Ru is WHO’s head of mission and representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has described Malaysia’s Covid-19 response as strong and robust, as the country goes through the next phase of the war against the virus.

WHO head of mission and representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, Dr Jacqueline Lo Ying-Ru, noted that Malaysia had adopted a “whole of government” approach to managing the pandemic.

She said the multiple phases of the movement control order had brought about a reduction in the number of cases, “though much still needs to be done to sustain efforts and to adapt to the evolving situation,” she told FMT in an email interview.

Lo said Malaysia had systematically planned and implemented a phased transition away from physical distancing measures and restrictions on movements.

However, Lo called for action to prevent and stop stigmatisation of migrant populations.

She said that while the health ministry had provided access to testing and free medical treatment, there had been social stigma and discrimination against certain migrant workers and ethnic communities.
“This is very risky as these populations may hide and not come forward for testing. This makes the virus more likely to spread and can result in difficulties controlling the outbreak.

“Governments, citizens, media, key influencers and communities have an important role in preventing and stopping stigma,” she said.

“The fear of arrest and detention has pushed some workers into hiding, preventing them from seeking treatment, with negative consequences for their own health, and creating further risks to the spreading of Covid-19 to others.”
Malaysian authorities have also come under criticism from local and international human rights groups for the arrests and detention of undocumented migrants in Kuala Lumpur.

Lo said the authorities must ensure physical distancing and other preventive measures if foreign workers are detained. Overcrowded conditions in detention centres carry a high-risk of Covid-19 infections among staff and detainees, she said.

“So consideration must be made to release minor offenders. It is especially important to prioritise the release of all children and their caregivers from immigration detention.”

Lo said that although Covid-19 cases were showing a downward trend, Malaysia and other countries must remain vigilant and be prepared for a possible resurgence of cases and large-scale community transmission of the virus. - FMT