YOURSAY | ‘We expect other countries to care for our citizens but we are not able to do the same for foreigners here?’

Lockdown in Masjid India: Foreign missions told to provide for their citizens

Anonymous_38ed0780: Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is wrong: If Malaysia provides a visa allowing a foreigner to live and work here, then the government has a number of legal and humanitarian duties to perform toward this person.

If the Malaysian government ‘locks down’ that person, effectively preventing them from finding food and says “we won’t provide food for them because they are foreigners”, then I think there is a huge ethical issue.

Is that really what Islam preaches?

Aegis: What nonsense is that? If you have accepted them as workers or asylum seekers, then you must at least take care of them because you are the host and you implemented the enhanced movement control order (MCO).

Even if there are undocumented migrants among them, they must be given basic food and water if they do not have the means to buy them, and when all of this is over, you can charge them in court and send them back.

How can you leave them to suffer this way? If you can't take care of the migrants, then don't allow them to come in the first place.

Look at how Singapore helped Malaysians working there when we started the MCO. What kind of minister is this? It’s totally inhumane.

Anonymous 7702: While we come to the conclusion as to who will be the one responsible to feed them, these people need to have food.

In the meantime, the authorities can verify of which nation they belong to and inform their embassies to source out a solution of who is responsible for the upkeep of each one of them.

It is only natural they be given treatment like any human being and not to be used as a political football.

The minister can easily make the statement of passing the buck to their embassies. But the real problem of having these foreigners is one due to their nation's leaders who do not seriously pay attention to what is happening to their citizens.

The second is due to the massive corruption practices on both sides of those in positions of power (to trade them as labour/human power).

Anonymous_15443: Is that right under international law that foreign missions are responsible for their citizens in Malaysia? I am not sure it is. The responsibility, legally and morally, is on the nation that they are in to attend to their needs in a humane way.

Just as when they are here, they are responsible for complying with our laws and we enforce them against these foreigners. We do not ask their embassies to deal with it.

In any case, assuming I am wrong and we need not help them and can let them starve and be without medical assistance, then pray tell why is our High Commission not assisting the Malaysians trapped in India with food and lodging?

Why is our High Commission in Singapore asking for the Singapore government to provide food and lodging to Malaysians in Singapore? Shouldn’t our High Commission attend to this?

At least, if you want to take a stand as a sovereign state, please be consistent. It is one thing in Malaysia to say one thing and do the opposite regarding our citizens.

By the way, should we ask the Myanmar government to pay for the Rohingya refugees here? They are, after all, originally came from Myanmar.

Homosapien: In one report it stated: "Ismail said Putrajaya wants Singapore to continue to provide temporary accommodation for Malaysians in the republic, and given food as well, as was brokered last month."

And then in another report the same minister said: "I have said it clearly before, migrants in our country are the responsibility of their respective embassies (and high commissions).”

There are 300,000 Malaysians in Singapore and they want Singapore to handle it, yet they cannot even manage 6,000 foreigners here. Great work, Malaysia.

Mamadias: For humanitarian purposes, we should help them on a short-term basis. Even the Singapore government paid for Malaysian employees’ accommodation and food for two weeks, after that they told the employers to sort it out.

So we should do the same and let’s see whether the employers who were so hungry for foreign workers before will do their part to help their workers.

Kepala Tak Centre: I agree with the Malaysian government's decision on this matter. Let their own embassy provide meals for them. It is not our problem to provide them with food. And send back all these foreigners too.

How did the government let all these areas become a colony for foreigners and illegals? Any immigration raid done in these areas before?

Pakcik Kiah: The two buildings that were locked down comprise almost 100 percent foreigners - Bangladeshis, Indians, Pakistanis, Indonesians, Burmese and so on. It is also one of the filthiest places in that area.

In the first place, why has the government - mainly BN and Umno - allowed so many of them to stay there and create a filthy, unhygienic colony in a high-rise slum? If the Immigration did a check in the two blocks, at least 50 percent would be illegals.

MS: Malaysia's idea of national development and human resource planning was, for the last 40 years or so, predicated on the unfettered influx of migrants largely from Muslim-majority countries, ostensibly in the name of Muslim brotherhood but more so as a means of appeasing the warlords lining up for contracts and permits before and after elections.

Politicians of all stripes knew of the lucrative labour import business, the appalling conditions of work and the unrelenting invasion by undocumented migrants while the border guards "ikut SOP" (follow standard operating procedure) as they always like to say.

The situation was allowed to get out of hand because many people in the food chain profited by their entry while others in the enforcement business are reported to have made "pocket money" by simply taking it from the poor sods who knowing their illegal status, meekly handed over the cash.

So what we have here is a problem, custom-made and tailored to fit the greed of many. What will enabling politicians do now that excrement has hit the fans in these decrepit "mansions"? Buat tak tau (pretend to not know).

Morning Guy: It’s a time to make sacrifices. We brought these workers here. Normally they can find money and take care of themselves. Now you’re putting them under lockdown. They have no means to get money or even go out and buy their essentials.

How many can afford to call Foodpanda? By the time you’re done haggling with the embassy, it will be Day 10.

Please Mr Minister, have some sense of empathy. I’m sure Malaysians are in general kind-hearted and will help out anyone in need regardless of religion or ethnicity. Similarly, Malaysians abroad will receive the same treatment.

Anonymous_15476: Woah, imagine if Australia or the UK did this to Malaysians abroad.

It has been a couple of days since the enhanced MCO has been in place. And now you make such an announcement on such short notice. I hope the embassies can get it together quick.

Solo: Australia is telling Chinese students to go home. Singapore wants the Malaysians out. Now, Malaysia turning its back on workers it recruited.

Everyone is looking after themselves.

Malaysian 1: We expect other countries to care for our citizens but we are not able to do the same for foreigners here? They are not asking for cash handouts, just food and basic needs.

Let’s show the others that we are a caring country. We should be humanitarians and help out. I am sure NGOs will do it if the government cannot.

I don't understand why the government can give bantuan khas (special aid) for civil servants who get their full salary and many don't have to go to the office, but it can't help these foreign workers in time of need.

Mortality: Let's see how Ismail will eat his words. A complete lockdown is enforced - is he going to starve the residents there if their own missions do not provide them food and other daily needs?

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