COMMENT | The frequent and harsh immigration raids on migrant communities during the lockdown are becoming a defining feature of the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia. The raids continue to elicit mixed responses from the public and are dominated by disturbing anti-migrant and xenophobic sentiments.

Who is to blame for Pati (pendatang asing tanpa izin)? The immigration department and louder segments of our population seem to put the blame entirely on the migrants themselves.

There are said to be more than four million Pati or undocumented migrants in Malaysia. They are not a homogenous group, and it appears all categories of "illegal" foreigners are classed together under a common label. Pati includes once documented migrant workers who have become undocumented while here, refugees fleeing persecution in their homelands, tourists who have overstayed, and foreigners who have purportedly entered the country with sinister...