Amnesty: Govt must stop ignoring immigration depot abuses

Amnesty International Malaysia has called on the government to take human rights abuses happening at immigration depots and detention centres seriously.

This is after the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) concluded that 131 Rohingya detainees had fled a depot in Bidor in February to escape incidents of extreme violence and physical and mental abuse.

The EAIC also noted that such abuses had begun for some of the Rohingya detainees from 2020 to 2021 when they were held at Kem Wawasan Langkawi.

“Amnesty International Malaysia is appalled by the findings of the EAIC, which reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse and excessive force against detainees at the Bidor Temporary Immigration Depot,” said the group’s research and advocacy officer Nicole Fong.

“This well-documented recurring pattern of abuse, neglect, and inhumane conditions underscores the urgent need for the government to stop turning a blind eye to the severe human rights violations occurring within immigration detention centres.

“As the next in line to chair Asean, Malaysia must urgently provide meaningful protection to refugees and migrants in line with international human rights standards, end the cruel practice of indefinite immigration detention, and ensure full accountability for all those responsible for abuses,” she added.

Fong also urged the government to allow the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to do their jobs and be granted access to detainees at immigration depots.

The EAIC said it had lodged a police report over the abuses it documented in the Rohingya detainees’ case.

It also made recommendations to the Immigration Department to take disciplinary action against the errant officers.

Rohingya broke out of Bidor depot to escape violence, abuse - EAIC report

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