Rights groups hit out at Ismail Sabri over migrants issue

Senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says it is wrong for those who enter the country illegally to continue staying there without the necessary documentation.

PETALING JAYA: Two groups championing the rights of migrants in the country have slammed Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob over his criticism of those defending undocumented foreigners, in the wake of the government’s decision to deport those who test negative for Covid-19.

North-South Initiative director Adrian Pereira said Ismail, who is also the defence minister, was in denial about the government’s failure to protect migrant workers.

Adding that there were many reports of forced labour by NGOs in Malaysia as well as the global community, he said Ismail’s comments showed that the government was not being honest with the public.

“He must be very misinformed in dealing with the issue.

“Why hasn’t he contacted any of the migrant rights NGOs to seek solutions or to better understand the issue? It clearly shows Malaysia is incapable of using the ‘whole of government approach’ in tackling the issue,” he told FMT.

The whole-of-government approach refers to joint activities by several ministries and agencies to provide a solution to a particular problem.

Pereira also claimed the government had not listened to advice from the international community and medical experts on how to manage foreigners during the Covid-19 crisis.

“We must be an extremely thick-skinned nation which does not respect their advice,” he said.

Ismail in his daily briefing yesterday had said those fighting for the rights of illegal workers needed to understand that it was wrong for those who had entered the country illegally to continue staying there without the necessary documentation.

“I do not know of any country that allows undocumented people to remain,” he said, adding that those who were not caught might spread the virus.

He also said the government’s priority was to ensure the safety of its citizens, and that it would not bow down to the demands of human rights groups.

Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna, who leads an NGO called Our Journey, said it was probably best for migrants to go home as “we don’t know how to value their contributions”.

She also said Putrajaya should get Malaysians to perform the jobs of migrant workers if it had such a low opinion of the migrant community.

“I am fed up with the arrogance. Let the migrants go elsewhere then. There will be other countries that will value them better,” she said when contacted.

She also criticised the lack of a system to monitor the renewal of permits for these workers which she said was the responsibility of the employers.

“Why blame the migrants for being undocumented?” she said, adding that the number of undocumented migrants in the country reflected the government’s inefficiency in protecting its borders.

Rights group Lawyers for Liberty agreed that many undocumented migrants were the victims of those exploiting what it called ineffective government policies.

Yet, it said, they were vilified instead of the agents or employers who had exploited them.

“They (agents and employers) are the root cause of the problem, and the government mud tackle that head on instead of relying on cheap jingoistic rhetoric.”

In a statement, it added that treatment could be given without mass detainment which it said would also put healthy migrants at the risk of infection.

“Infection among migrants in detention centres must not be conceived as an ‘acceptable casualty’ in our fight against the pandemic.

“Healthcare is a basic right that should be the top priority during these trying times.” - FMT