Govt allocates RM90 a day for immigration depot detainees
The government allocates up to RM90 a day for undocumented migrants housed at immigration detention depots, including refugees.
Among others, Deputy Home Minister Ismail Mohamed Said explained that the sum covered food, clothing and health-related costs...
PARLIAMENT | The government allocates up to RM90 a day for undocumented migrants housed at immigration detention depots, including refugees.
Among others, Deputy Home Minister Ismail Mohamed Said explained that the sum covered food, clothing and health-related costs.
He claimed this was also done on humanitarian grounds to help refugees, even though Malaysia is not a signatory of the Refugee Convention 1951 or the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.
“Even though we are not signatories to the Protocol, but on humanitarian grounds, when they land on our soil, we place them at detention depots and provide them with food at a generous expense of RM90 a day.
“(The money) covers clothes, food and basic necessities (for each detainee),” he said.
The Kuala Krau MP was responding to a question by RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) on whether the government wanted to take a different approach in the issue of Rohingya refugees following a recent incident where several of them tried to swim to shore in Langkawi, sparking drowning fears.
Up to 26 Rohingya refugees went missing during the incident but were later found hiding in the bushes on a nearby islet.
Ismail added that even though Malaysia now prevents the entry of undocumented migrants into the country, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency would still provide food and medical aid before asking the vessel to leave its territorial waters.
Malaysia does not recognise the status of refugees and under the Immigration Act 1959/63, all refugees are considered undocumented migrants, who are at risk of being caught and deported by authorities.
Despite this, the country is a destination of choice by many Rohingya escaping alleged persecution in Myanmar.
Defence Minister and Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that the Perikatan Nasional government would remain firm in stopping the entry of Rohingya refugees.
He maintained that the best solution is to send them back, including deporting those being held at detention depots here.
Meanwhile, the deputy home minister added that the government had been carrying out "Ops Benteng", aimed at tightening security at the country's borders, and had arrested 1,622 people up to June, as well as seized goods worth up to RM31.5 million.
This was in response to a question by Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz (PAS-Bachok) on strategies being used to trace back roads in the country.
“Back roads are a big problem (as they are being used) for the entry of undocumented migrants into the country... to date 546 lanes have been identified across the country, including 169 in Kelantan, with five in Bachok," he said.
“These lanes keep changing and is a problem for enforcement, especially at the borders of Sabah and Sarawak.
“That is why we have a strategic plan between enforcement agencies under the ministry and armed forces... in fact, with Covid-19, the government is also cautious, approving the allocation of RM45.1 million to purchase new assets, that includes 200 four-wheel-drive vehicles and 300 scramblers (motorcycle) units,” Ismail Mohamed said.
He added that the government was negotiating with neighbouring countries in its efforts to deport undocumented migrants back to their home countries and claims to have received good cooperation from the other nations.
Meanwhile, Chan Ming Kai (Harapan-Alor Setar) cited Immigration Department figures that as of July 1, there were as many 15,163 detainees being held in immigration depots which only had a capacity of 12,530.
"If the cost is RM90 per day per person, that means we are absorbing a cost of RM1.3 million every day to continue holding them in detention."
He said the matter was in urgent need of a comprehensive solution.
Chan added that almost 1,300 of those being held were from the Rohingya community.
Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PAS-Sik) interjected saying that since the movement control order (MCO) began in March, the Immigration Department had not allowed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to enter depots to carry out investigations and registrations for new refugees.
He claimed that this has led to an increase in the number of refugees, and asked Chan if he supported the idea of an immediate consultation with the UNHCR on the matter.
Chan replied that it would be time-consuming and the best move would be for immigration to restore UNHCR access to the detainees and consult with the body prior to sending detainees to the depot.
He said this move would reduce the strain currently being felt by the system.
