Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) slammed Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s denial of a report that claimed over 1,400 children were locked up at immigration detention centres nationwide.
In a statement, LFL director Zaid Malek said the report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) warrants a serious investigation, rather than “knee-jerk denial” and a pretence that all is well.
“HRW is an organisation that consistently supports the rule of law and civil liberties in Malaysia.
“When HRW staunchly spoke up for (Prime Minister) Anwar (Ibrahim) when he was prosecuted by the BN government, Pakatan Harapan praised and welcomed HRW.
“It is hypocritical for the Harapan-led government to disparage the veracity of HRW, now that they are in government and on the receiving end of criticism,” Zaid said in a statement today.
He was responding to Saifuddin questioning the veracity of the HRW report that claimed there were over 1,400 children detained at immigration depots nationwide.
“What are their sources? Where did these so-called incidents happen? Where were these incidents reported?
“They (HRW) can’t simply do that (make claims). We have 19 immigration depots, and I know the exact number of children in each of them,” Saifuddin was quoted saying by Sinar Harian.
Gross misstatement
Zaid cited a remark by Saifuddin in October last year, when he said there were 1,499 children (846 boys, 653 girls) at immigration depots nationwide. Unicef, even in its 2023 annual report, also quoted the same numbers.
“With what effrontery does Saifuddin now deny HRW’s claim?
“His umbrage at HRW’s assertion on the number of children in detention is baseless and stems either from a lapse of memory or is a false statement to escape criticism over the treatment of children. Either way, it is a gross misstatement of facts by a minister,” Zaid charged.
He further accused the Harapan-led government of failing to halt increasing xenophobic crackdowns against migrants and refugees by enforcement bodies, which contradicts its promises made while in the opposition.
“In the interest of transparency, we ask that the government immediately allow full and unimpeded access to Suhakam to conduct a fact-finding mission to the immigration detention centres to ascertain the number of children in immigration detention centres and the conditions in which they are held,” said Zaid. - Mkini
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