Suhakam tells govt to protect refugees, recognise UNHCR

 

The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has urged the government to protect migrants and refugees instead of employing “strong-arm enforcement” and negative portrayals.

In a statement last night, it expressed concern over recent statements “portraying migrants, undocumented or irregular migrants, refugees and asylum seekers as a threat to the safety and security of the country”.

Suhakam did not specify who had made those statements.

Last week, the National Task Force came under fire for a poster warning Rohingya refugees escaping Myanmar’s junta regime that they were “not welcome” in Malaysia.

The poster featured gun-toting personnel and was shared by the Immigration Department on social media. The post was deleted following outrage and criticism of hypocrisy.

Suhakam urged Putrajaya to be consistent in its stand against xenophobia.

“The Malaysian government has been condemning xenophobia at international fora and should do the same in the country.

“We should work towards typifying the spirit of empathy and humanity that Malaysians are known for.

“The government should commit to strictly observe the international principle of non-refoulement of refugees and asylum seekers and instead undertake to protect and provide the migrant and refugee community with the necessary assistance to be able to live their lives in dignity, able to seek work, access to education, healthcare and shelter whilst in the country,” it said.

Malaysian law does not recognise or differentiate refugees from other migrants.

Suhakam further urged the government to acknowledge the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

“It is also important to recognise the role of UNHCR and the issuance of UNHCR cards which affords refugees and asylum seekers with some protection and ‘legality’ to remain in the country,” it said.

Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin recently warned the UNHCR against “simply issuing” the agency’s cards to refugees without proper vetting.

He also defended immigration’s move to bar UNHCR from entering immigration detention centres to identify refugees. The ban has been in place since August 2019.

The minister opined that “the majority of Malaysians do not agree with the huge number of refugees who made Malaysia their destination of choice as it might lead to various social ills”.

Raids harm herd immunity

Suhakam also remarked that the government’s “strong-armed enforcement” on migrants could jeopardise its own Covid-19 vaccination drive.

Immigration began cracking down on undocumented migrants during the total lockdown and is set to continue doing so amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

A raid last week saw immigration officers spraying arrested migrants with disinfectant, sparking public outrage over the inhumane and unscientific practice.

“Suhakam reminds the government of its commitment to Article 56 of the Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, to closely cooperate to resolve the cases of migrant workers who, frequently become undocumented due to no fault of their own.

“Instilling fear through threats of arrests and detention of undocumented foreigners is counter-productive, in light of ongoing efforts to overcome the pandemic and the urgency to achieve herd immunity,” said the commission.

Suhakam’s concerns echo that of the All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia for the Reform of Prisons and All Places of Detention, opposition MPs and human rights groups.  - Mkini