Seputeh MP horrified by cop's 'whip migrants' suggestion

 

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has expressed her horror at a suggestion by a top enforcement official that the government use corporal punishment against undocumented migrants repeatedly caught entering the country via illegal entry points.

She urged the human rights commission Suhakam to conduct human rights awareness training to the police and other enforcement agencies to be at par with international human rights standards.

"I read the suggestion made by the Federal Police Internal Security and Public Order Department director Hazani Ghazali to whip undocumented migrants who have been caught repeatedly entering the country with great trepidation.

"I wonder whether his suggestion of whipping will also extend to include the sly enforcement officers who have failed in their duties to prevent undocumented migrants from entering Malaysia and also the civil servants who aided and abetted the smuggling of unlawful migrants," Kok said in a statement today.

Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act states that the penalty for illegal entry is a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, and offenders are also liable to whipping of not more than six strokes.

Callous suggestion 

Kok said that senior civil servants and police officers should be fully reminded that whipping is seen as a barbaric act, which demeans human dignity internationally.

"Many undocumented migrants who sneak into Malaysia are the poor from our neighbouring countries seeking employment here.

"Such a callous suggestion will only harm relations with our neighbours.

"Hazani is reminded that there are some poor Malaysians seeking employment who have overstayed in foreign countries too. How would he feel if whipping is imposed on our poor Malaysians abroad?" she asked.

Adhere to int'l human rights standards

Calling his statement a reckless one, Kok said that Suhakam should conduct human rights concept training courses for officers from enforcement agencies, including the police and Immigration Department, to adhere to the international human rights norms and standards while performing their duties.

"They should refrain from making petty statements - such as imposing such barbaric and archaic acts," the lawmaker added. - Mkini