Migration body urges Malaysia to slow expulsion of foreigners
Migration body urges Malaysia to slow expulsion of foreigners
Agencies, Kuala Lumpur
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday
called on Malaysia to slow down a mass expulsion of migrant
workers from neighboring Indonesia and the Philippines.
"Malaysia should not push people out in large numbers within a
short period. If you take harsh measures to send people back,
some human rights are bound to be violated," Farooq Azam, the
Bangkok-based IOM regional representative, told AFP.
There have been protests in both Indonesia and the Philippines
this week over the alleged harsh treatment of their citizens by
Malaysia, which introduced new penalties including jail terms and
whipping for illegal immigrants on Aug. 1.
Philippine officials have said several Filipino children died
after being subjected to unhygienic conditions in holding areas
ahead of deportation -- a charge denied by Malaysia.
Indonesian officials say twenty-four returnees have died in
the border town of Nunukan after being expelled from Malaysia's
Sabah state.
A total of more than 300,000 illegal workers, mainly from
Indonesia, went home under a fourth-month amnesty ahead of the
introduction of the new laws.
"Malaysia should improve the system by allowing new migrants
to come in with proper documents and at the same time gradually
phase out the illegals," Azam told AFP.
Malaysia's foreign minister on Friday called Filipino
protesters who burned portraits of Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad "insolent" and ungrateful that his country had allowed
migrant workers into Malaysia.
"They have acted in an uncivilized way," Syed Hamid Albar said
of demonstrators who burned Malaysia's flag and photographs of
Mahathir during a protest at Malaysia's High Commission in
Manila. "Have they forgotten this is the place that their
countrymen earn a living? Is this how they show their
appreciation?"
The demonstrators were angered at reports of maltreatment of
illegal Filipino migrants being evicted in a Malaysian
immigration crackdown, which may include the deaths of three
children.
Syed Hamid said he hoped Philippine President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo's government "will check such actions ... and protect the
interests of Malaysians and the Malaysian embassy there."
The crackdown has triggered protests in Indonesia as well,
prompting the Malaysian government to warn its residents not to
travel to the neighboring country.
Malaysian authorities have been enforcing new laws that allow
whipping, imprisonment and large fines for illegal foreign
workers since Aug. 1 in a crackdown partly motivated by security
concerns.
More than 300,000 migrants - mostly from the Philippines and
Indonesia - have fled Malaysia in recent months to escape the new
penalties.
The Philippines this week lodged a formal protest with
Malaysia after reports that Filipinos were being held in cramped
detention centers, sometimes without food and water. Malaysian
authorities have denied the centers were overcrowded but have
said they will investigate the claims.
Deportations from Malaysia were being conducted "as humanely
as possible under the circumstance," Syed Hamid said, adding that
the large numbers of illegal migrants made the task difficult.
Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's wealthiest countries, has
become a magnet for migrants fleeing poverty or violence in their
home countries in the region. Hundreds of thousands of migrants
work legally in Malaysia, mostly in construction, agricultural or
service industries. Officials say hundreds of thousands more
remain illegally, despite the crackdown.
Syed Hamid said Malaysia gave neighboring governments fair
warning about the new laws, and now "we are now just exercising
what our laws provide."
"When we want to enforce our laws, no one should accuse us of
abusing people. This is not right," he said.