中文
BMThe press statements by YB Dato’ Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Minister of Home Affairs on 29 May 2021 and 3 June 2021 have created the perception among many that the government has decided to launch a plan to arrest and detain undocumented migrants (or illegal immigrants in government lingo) on a massive scale over a short period of time.
We, from the various organizations that have signed this petition, view the current approach of arresting and detaining undocumented migrants at this time further complicating efforts to fight the pandemic among Malaysians, because:
1. Such operations will intimidate foreign workers, regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented. In fact, such actions would cause them to avoid any government representative and go to hide. Therefore, this will defeat the government’s efforts to create herd immunity in Malaysia. Herd immunity requires vaccination for 80% of the Malaysian population, including the migrant community. Failure to reach the vaccination level of 80% of the population will delay the country’s economic recovery and extend the suffering of the people.
2. There is a strong possibility that the arrest and detention of undocumented migrants at this time will result in new clusters of Covid-19 in immigration detention centres. This will increase the spread of Covid-19 among undocumented migrants and will also infect immigration officers, police officers and court staff (who are involved in remand control), as well as their family members. This possibility can and should be avoided.
3. The immigration department does not have the capacity to arrest and repatriate the two to three million undocumented migrants that are in Malaysia. According to Suhakam, estimates as of 1 July 2020 show that immigration detention centres that can only accommodate 12,530 detainees have exceeded their capacity by being filled with as many as 15,163 detainees. Besides that, more than 95% of undocumented migrants are working and contributing to the national economy. In fact, our country’s economic activities also require their services.
Perhaps YB Dato’ Seri Hamzah Zainudin believes that his assertiveness in this matter will help overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. However, YB should remember that every action plan taken must be based on clear, objective and reasonable scientific analysis. Currently, the approach of arresting and detaining undocumented migrants will be detrimental to the government’s efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 in our country.
We sincerely hope that YAB will bring this issue to the National Security Council meeting so that a more appropriate and integrated approach can be formulated for handling undocumented migrants when Covid-19 is spreading. At this point of time, we should focus on the goal of controlling the spread of Covid-19 in our country. Other goals are secondary and should be postponed if they conflict with the primary goal that is to control and overcome the spread of Covid-19.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Signed by:
List of endorsements:
Organisation:
People’s Health Forum (Forum Kesihatan Rakyat)
Citizens’ Health Initiative
Agora Society Malaysia
Third World Network
Health Equity Initiatives
Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Aliran
All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP Malaysia)
ALTSEAN-Burma
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
Archdiocesan Human Development Commission (AHDC)
Asylum Access Malaysia
Beyond Borders Malaysia
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED)
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
Demokrat Kebangsaan
ENGAGE
Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerants (ECMI)
Family Frontiers
Forum Ekonomi Manusiawi
Fugee
G25 Malaysia
Gabungan Serikat Buruh Indonesia (GSBi)
GERAK
Geutanyoe Foundation
Humanity Heroes Foundation
IMAN Research
In Between Cultura
Institute for Leadership and Development Studies
International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
Islamic Renaissance Front
Jaringan kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia
Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
Koalisi Buruh Migran Berdaulat
The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Bina Karya Utama (LBH-BKU)
Liga Rakyat Demokratik
LLG Cultural Development Centre
Mahasiswa Amanah Nasional
Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia
Majlis Kebajikan Kanak-kanak Malaysia (MKKM)
Malaysia Hindu Sangam
Malaysian CARE
Malaysian Health Coalition
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA)
Migrant Workers Right to Redress Coalition
Muslim Professionals Forum
MyPJ
New Student Movement Alliance of Malaysia (NESA)
North South Initiative
Our Journey
PACOS Trust
Pemuda Sosialis
People Like Us Support Ourselves (PLUsos)
Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Anak Miskin Sabah
Persatuan Kebajikan Biji Sawi (Mustard Seed Soup Kitchen)
Persatuan Kebajikan Komuniti Dan Dialog
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia
Pertubuhan Jaringan Orang Asli Johor (JPOAJ)
PeSAWAH
Prison Fellowship Malaysia Sabah
Projek Wawasan Rakyat (POWR)
Pusat Komas
Refuge For The Refugees
Sabah Reform Initiative (SARI)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia (SBMI) Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT)
Sisters in Islam
Stairway to Hope
Student Progressive Front UUM
Student Unity Front UKM
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Tenaganita
Tindak Malaysia
Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of KL (TRCAKL)
Together Against Cancer (TAC)
UMANY
Individual:
Abu Mufakhir
Ahmad Kamal
Ananti Rajasingam
Andrew Khoo
Anthony David
Arief Subhan
Arutchelvan
Bernice Ho
Bin Rites
Celine Khoo
Charles Bertille
Cikgu Mohd Azmi b Abdul Hamid
CR Selva
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Dato M. Ramachelvam
Dato Noor Aziah Mohd Awal
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
Datuk Dr Anwar Fazal
Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon
Dr Ayesah Uy Abubakar
Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj
Dr Lee Boon Chye
Dr Ryan Chua
Elain Lockman
Elaine Lau
Faisal Tehrani
Hamidon Ali
Hana Maisurah
Hartini Zainudin
Heidy Quah Gaik Li
Hew Kuen Hin
Jarud Romadan
Jeremy Kwan
K. Jeyaraj
Kelvin Soimin
Lilian Si
Lim Siew Kiau
Linda Lumayag
Loh Jon Ming
LY Phang
Lynn Tung
M.Pusenthi P.Maniam
Mahirah Hanis
Mohd Nadzir bin Mohd Nordin
Muhammad Sha’ani bin Abdullah
Mui Mei Moon
Nazihah Muhamad Noor
Ng Peng Wah
Nik Elin Zurina Bt Nik Abdul Rashid
Ooi Vern Hau
Peter Pang
Prof Shad Saleem Faruki
Pua Lay Peng
Saha Deva A. Arunasalam
Salina Hussein
Sangeeta choudhury
Sivarajan A
Sunita Rajakumar
Surina Shukri
Teng Pooi Kui
Teoh Siang Chin
Veronica Anne Retnam
Victoria Ng Yiow Kheng
Vizla Kumaresan
Yap Heng Lung
Zahid Alom
Zhen Ling Ong
Mary Shanthi Dairiam
Ronnie Hii
Thamboo Devaraj
