‘Threatening migrants with detention will scare them off Covid-19 testing’

CORONAVIRUS | The government’s announcement that it will place all undocumented migrants found in the areas under the enhanced movement control order (MCO) in immigration detention is “suicidal” because it will make it harder to trace Covid-19 infections among such communities.

North South Initiative director Adrian Pereira said the announcement made by Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Wednesday will spook other migrants living outside the enhanced MCO areas from seeking treatment.

He said the minister’s statement also undid the work done by NGOs to assure undocumented communities that it is safe to get tested.

“This is madness. It is really suicidal because when other (undocumented) migrants hear that, they will go even deeper into hiding.

“We are building trust among the migrants to seek healthcare. We tell them doctors will not arrest them, and their motivation to seek help is the assurance of no legal action over their status.

“The fear is real, and this statement (by Ismail Sabri) is going to push them further underground,” he said.

Pereira added that placing more detainees in already overcrowded and unhygienic immigration detention centres also compounds the risk of infection.

Yesterday, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry will treat and test without discrimination.

However, what happens to undocumented migrants after they are tested is up to the National Security Council, he said.

Foreigners make the bulk of positive cases in several enhanced MCO areas including Menara City One (41 out of 55 cases), Selangor Mansion (151 out of 168 cases) and Malayan Mansion (10 out of 12 cases).

The enhanced MCO in the areas within the vicinity of the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market was imposed following the death of a 36-year-old Myanmar man, who died of Covid-19 on the day he sought treatment on April 18. It is unclear if he was documented.

There are no official figures for the total number of foreign workers in Malaysia, including undocumented workers.

However, researchers estimate there are at least 3.85 million foreign workers, representing a quarter of the country’s workforce. - Mkini

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