Arrested refugees were placed under prolonged detention in immigration depots to serve as a "lesson" for other migrants to not enter the country illegally, according to Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin.
Malay-daily Utusan Malaysia quoted Hamzah as refuting criticisms that ill-treatment of refugees in detention had led to the recent mass breakout of 528 refugees from the Sungai Bakap immigration depot.
Six people - including women and children - died while escaping.
Hamzah insisted Malaysia has treated refugees well in the spirit of humanity by providing food and shelter, and that they could "leave the country" if they are unhappy here.
"Malaysia's action to not release them is to serve as an example for other refugees to not enter Malaysia illegally," the Larut MP was quoted as saying after a function in his constituency yesterday.
"So we place them in 'prison' for a period of time until they get bored of being in detention.
"So if they want freedom, don't come to Malaysia again. If they feel they were not treated well, then by right they should return to their own country," said Hamzah.
Hamzah previously confirmed that all 528 detainees who fled the immigration depot were Rohingya refugees held in detention since 2020. Most of them were arrested off the coast of Langkawi where their boats had attempted to land.
Remain at large
As of yesterday, it was reported that 432 of the detainees have been rearrested, while 96 remain at large.
Malaysia's immigration laws does not recognise refugee status, while deportation of other undocumented migrants in detention was done with assistance from their respective missions here.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in response to the mass breakout said it has not received approval from the immigration authorities to access any immigration detention centres in Malaysia since August 2019.
"This has unfortunately prevented UNHCR from seeing detained persons of concern to determine those in need of international protection and to advocate for their release," said the agency in a statement.
‘Abuse of natural justice’
In an immediate response to Hamzah, rights group North-South Initiative (NSI) director Adrian Pereira described the situation faced by Rohingyas as an "abuse of natural justice".
"It is a known fact that Myanmar is experiencing political violence, especially the Rohingya community.
"If they come here, they must be allowed to undergo the due process for asylum seekers as per the UNHCR procedures," Pereira told Malaysiakini.
"They are not here by choice and genuinely can’t continue living back in Myanmar.
"This does not make Malaysia look good as a UN Human Rights Council member," he said.
NSI has previously said that among those under indefinite detention include refugees released from prison after serving time for a conviction. The refugees have no access to consular services or assistance to move to another country.
Meanwhile, Suhakam had urged the government to explain the reasons behind the arrest and detention of refugees at immigration facilities with no immediate deportation plans. - Mkini
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