About 200 people demonstrating in front of the Malaysian embassy in Manila yesterday to protest Kuala Lumpur's treatment of undocumented migrants slammed a planned crackdown and deportation by Malaysia as a 'reign of terror'.

The Malaysian government announced Wednesday that it would delay and tone down the operation against illegal immigrants by employing a 'soft approach' to persuade them to leave on their own accord within a week of being caught.

However, According to Migrante International (MI) secretary-general Matia Santiago, Malaysia's past record of human rights violations against undocumented migrants as well as past deportation exercises make it unlikely that Malaysia's 1.3 million undocumented migrants will receive fair treatment.

"For migrant workers, the next few weeks and months ill be a reign of terror. The use of half a million 'vigilante' volunteers, caning and Malaysia's record of razing entire settlements during crackdowns is a potent mix," she said when contacted.

"They have already been arrests of undocumented workers who have spent months in prison already. Some have also been whipped. With the crackdown and deportation, this will only intensify," Santiago added.

Once arrested, charged and found guilty, illegal immigrants in Malaysia can be jailed for up to five years or fined up to RM10,000 or both. There is also a provision for mandatory whipping up to six strokes of the 'rotan' (cane).

Greater disaster

Santiago recounted the 2002 mass expulsion of about 10,000 Filipino illegal immigrants from Sabah during which four children died from dehydration and other hardships with reports of alleged sexual abuse.

In the upcoming exercise, which will affect more than 270,000 Filipinos from Malaysia, Santiago expressed fears that a greater disaster was about to occur. "We fear this may be even worse that what we witnessed in 2002".

Santiago also slammed the Philippine authorities for failing to convince the republic that it was indeed prepared for the expulsion exercise and the arrival of Filipinos from Malaysia onto the shores of Mindanao.

"Television footage has only seen piles of food supplies such as sardine cans, noodle packets and rice sacks. There have also been assurances that there are shelters for the deportees and that doctors will be employed," she said.

"However, all of this is very vague and doesn't sound good at all. Furthermore, these shelters are very similar to the (Malaysian) deportation centers that the evacuees are coming from.

"Just like the evacuation centers (for those fleeing from the Mindanao conflict), there will be overcrowded conditions and minimal food which will lead to illnesses especially among children," said Santiago.

The Philippines three days ago warned illegal Filipino workers in Malaysia to take advantage of an amnesty for them to return home without punishment.

"Once again I call upon the undocumented Filipinos in Malaysia to avail of the Malaysian immigration amnesty and cooperate with our embassy officials who are ready to provide assistance and arrange for the repatriation of Filipino amnesty seekers," said its Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo.