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.