Raids a signal for migrants to hide even with Covid-19 symptoms, NGOs warn

CORONAVIRUS | Immigration raids targeting undocumented migrants at locations under enhanced movement control order (MCO) today could frustrate future attempts to contain the spread of Covid-19, several NGOs warned.

Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said the raids are a signal to all remaining migrant workers not to cooperate with the movement control order or other measures to contain Covid-19, as they would become “sitting ducks” for arrest if they do so.

“I'm sure the Health Ministry is not happy about this new challenge for them and the Foreign Affairs Ministry is hardly thrilled at the headache they will face trying to persuade home countries to take back their nationals while the Covid-19 pandemic rages on.

“These migrants are likely starting an experience of months and perhaps years, in horrible conditions under immigration detention,” he said in a statement today.

He said Malaysia also risks repeating Singapore’s mistakes by concentrating migrants in a way that makes it easy for Covid-19 to spread.

“From a public health perspective, this is perhaps the most mindless and inane thing Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his Home Ministry could have done, but they appear committed to promoting a policy of fear and xenophobia that transfers the anger of the Malaysian public on to foreigners who cannot defend themselves.

“This is not surprising, given that Muhyiddin wants to avoid taking any responsibility for the rapid spread of Covid-19 throughout Malaysia that occurred while he was too busy playing politics in March to see the crisis brewing right under his nose,” he said.

In a separate statement, NGO Engage said the raids would cause fear amongst undocumented migrants in the country and they would go into hiding even if they have developed Covid-19 symptoms or come into close contact with Covid-19 patients.

“As Malaysia’s long coastlines make it impossible to completely stop the illegal movement of persons from Indonesia, which registers 10,551 cases as of today, the weeks after Hari Raya Aidilfitri may see a surge in cases if undocumented non-citizens who have contracted the disease avoid screening and contact tracing.

“And the great sacrifice Malaysians have endured for seven weeks of the MCO may be all in vain,” they said.

Engage said that foreign workers - including those who lack proper documentation - are a vital part of Malaysia’s economy.

“Even for purely economic reasons, deporting foreign workers now is a bad move and misplaced priority because this obstructs restarting of economy and may cause supply chain shock for those industries heavily dependent on foreign workers,” they said.

Meanwhile, Tenaganita executive director Glorene A Dass acknowledged that irregular migration is a problem, but said a more holistic solution needs to be found.

“This would require efforts beyond just among government agencies and ministries and involving stakeholders and experts who could provide the necessary insights and resources to create a truly holistic effort but this is not the time to do so when we have a serious pandemic that threatens our lives,” she said.

She also queried whether some of those arrested today were also victims of the government’s botched rehiring programme, which collected over RM2 billion from undocumented migrant workers but failed to deliver its promise to legalise their status.

“Till today, the government (though the governments have changed, but the same individuals are the leaders today) refuses to be accountable for the failure of the programme and for losses suffered by the migrant workers.

“According to the reports of migrant workers who have sought the assistance of Tenaganita, the whole rehiring programme was riddled with inefficiency and corruption.

“As a result, about half a million migrant workers have become victims of what can only be described as a government-sponsored scam to make money from the migrant workers.

“Not only did they lose their money and passports, but they also remain undocumented due to no fault of their own and they continue to be detained, charged in court and deported,” she said.

This morning, over 300 Immigration Department officers aided by other agencies carried out raids against undocumented migrants at Malayan Mansion, Menara City One and other buildings along Jalan Masjid India.

This is despite an earlier assurance that the government would not take action against undocumented migrants who come forward for Covid-19 testing.

However, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that despite the assurance, no undocumented migrants had voluntarily come forward for Covid-19 tests. - Mkini