The Malaysian Insight

HUMAN rights groups working with refugees are hoping that the government will keep its promise of not rounding up undocumented migrants, including refugees, when they come to get the Covid-19 vaccination.

They told The Malaysian Insight that they are wary of reassurances after the actions of the government during the first movement control order last year.

Ten months ago, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob publicly encouraged undocumented migrants to come forward for Covid-19 testing, promising them they would not be detained.

However, the authorities later descended on several areas in Kuala Lumpur, rounding up thousands of people, in a move that sparked widespread condemnation.

Meanwhile, these groups are also requesting their volunteers working directly with refugees be considered front-liners, thus eligible for early vaccination.

Women for Refugees (WFR) founder Arissa Jemaima, 24, said the volunteer groups would be more cautious this time around.

“Realistically, I think the government will capitalise on this opportunity. They might give the vaccine but also find a way to capture these refugees in the end,” she said, adding that the group was supervising 35 refugee families, with on average five people in each family.

She added that priority should be given to vulnerable people, regardless of whether he or she was a migrant or a citizen.

“I’m not saying everyone in the civil society groups should be vaccinated but at least those who are constantly on the ground distributing aid,” she said.

Last week, Minister or Science, Technology and innovation, Khairy Jamaluddin said undocumented migrants would not be detained when they come forward to get their Covid-19 vaccinations.

He said the government would be reaching out to foreign embassies, international organisations and civil societies to assist in encouraging undocumented migrants to be vaccinated.

Migrant workers have been hit particularly hard by Covid-19 infections, with clusters springing up across the factory and construction sectors.

Khairy also said the government must also build trust with refugee communities so they, too, will come forward willingly for vaccination.

The first batch of 312,390 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine arrived in Malaysia yesterday.

Refugees living in fear

Meanwhile, another social activist, Chow Shenn Kuan, said the government must explain who it categorised as undocumented migrants.

The co-founder of Kakak said it was important to state if it also included refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless people and undocumented migrant workers.

She added that an undertaking must also be given that action will be taken against government officials who go on to detain these illegal immigrants when they come for vaccinations.

“The government should declare some form of repercussions for officers who do not complying with the regulations set out with the aim of providing vaccination to undocumented migrants,” she said.

Chow added that education and awareness was the key to encourage people to take the vaccine.

Abdul, a 38-year-old refugee, said he was ready to get the vaccination if the government stuck to its promise of not arresting him.

“I go out to work on a daily basis, which is why I would want to take the vaccine. I want to be protected so that I won’t infect my family,” he said.

Other refugees like Shahida Selamatullah, 36, and Kuswati, 41, said they too feared arrest.

“I believe it is the government’s duty to provide the vaccine for us but then at the end of the day it is up to them to act against us because we are undocumented.

“I hope that God will be on our side and help us to protect me and my family,” said Kuswati. – February 22, 2021.