People want govt to act against migrants who broke the law - minister

Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said today the government is prioritising the people's wish over any reported concerns raised over its treatment of migrant workers.

Hamzah said they include allegations of mistreatment of migrants caught in Covid-19 red zones around Kuala Lumpur during the MCO period, as highlighted by Qatar-based media Al Jazeera in a recent news documentary.

"This government is siding with the people's wish. They wish to see everyone in this country living according to our laws.

"If they want to work here, they must have a permit and valid documents," he told reporters in Port Klang.

Hamzah also maintained that authorities in arresting the undocumented migrants have acted according to procedures under the law, contrary to the story told in Al Jazeera’s "101 East" segment on July 3, titled "Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown".

He noted that contributions of the migrant workforce is crucial for Malaysia's development, but said it was more important to ensure they follow the laws here.

"So although the foreign media claims that we are harsh and strict, I feel that is what the people want. The people need a government that acts against those who broke the law.

"So we don't need to bother about foreign media that like to twist stories," Hamzah (below) added.

“101 East investigates why Malaysia’s migrant workers are at risk in the time of Covid-19,” Al Jazeera's video blurb stated.

The segment included interviews with both documented and undocumented migrants, NGOs, civil societies, and trade associations, among others.

It was stated in the video that requests for interviews with Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Hamzah and their deputies were declined.

Following its release, there have been mounting attacks against not only Al Jazeera but also interviewees featured in the episode.

This included "doxxing" attempts where the subject's phone number was circulated online with messages inciting hate and assault.

Public sentiment against refugees and migrants have intensified since the MCO was imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with hateful comments proliferating on the Internet. - Mkini