High Commission negotiating with Immigration to free Indian tourists in detention
The High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur said it is negotiating with the Immigration Department to repatriate Indian nationals held in detention.
Dozens of Indian tourists are reportedly held in the Bukit Jalil immigration depot since early May for “overstaying” their visa. The depot is a Covid-19 hotspot with more than 600 cases.
The High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur said it is negotiating with the Immigration Department to repatriate Indian nationals held in detention.
Dozens of Indian tourists have been reportedly held in the Bukit Jalil immigration depot since early May for “overstaying” their visa. The depot is a Covid-19 hotspot with more than 600 cases.
“The High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur is in touch with the Malaysian Immigration Department to expeditiously work out modalities for the return of those held in detention camps,” it said.
The High Commission earlier told family members those in immigration detention cannot be released yet due to Covid-19.
Malaysiakini has spoken to several families who said their relatives are tourists now languishing in immigration detention after being stranded in Malaysia since mid-March when all flights to India were cancelled.
They declined to be identified for fear of reprisal against their relatives in immigration detention, but provided documentation proving their relatives had entered the country on valid social visit passes.
Families frantic after news of death in immigration detention
Families of those detained after their social visit visas lapsed during the movement control order (MCO) period have been frantically seeking assistance from the High Commission following news that one Indian citizen died in immigration detention on June 12.
Zeawdeen Kadar Masdan, 67, was found unconscious in his cell at the Bukit Jalil immigration depot on June 11 and rushed to hospital but did not survive. He entered Malaysia on a valid social visit pass on March 17.
The post-mortem report is still pending, but the Health Ministry confirmed he was Covid-19 positive and that there were signs of lung consolidation, which is also a Covid-19 side effect.
Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said tests are still being conducted to confirm the cause of death as he also suffered from heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
On May 4, four days before he was detained, the Health Ministry issued a letter to him to say he was not infected with Covid-19.
However, he was found to be Covid-19 positive while in detention on May 26 and was treated until July 7, after to which he recovered. He was then returned to the Bukit Jalil detention centre.
The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is investigating the matter.
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