HUMAN rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report stating that Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government has fallen short in its promises to reform immigration policies related to the treatment of migrants and refugee communities.
Anwar, who had previously criticised the hardline approach of previous governments towards refugees during his time as opposition leader, had pledged to ratify the United Nations’ refugee convention, promising recognition of refugees and their right to work under his party PKR.
However, according to HRW, since assuming office as PM in November 2022, Anwar has not fulfilled these commitments and has maintained the hardline stance on immigration enforcement of his predecessors.
“Since becoming PM in November 2022, Anwar has largely failed to uphold his reform pledges in service of maintaining his coalition.
“Little has changed under the new government led by former political prisoner Anwar,” HRW said in the preface to its report titled “We Can’t See the Sun – Malaysia’s Arbitrary Detention of Migrants and Refugees”.
The report titled “We Can’t See the Sun – Malaysia’s Arbitrary Detention of Migrants and Refugees” highlights the government’s use of the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to crackdown on refugees and migrants during the period of political instability from March 2020 to November 2022.
Moreover, HRW noted that despite Anwar’s criticism of anti-migrant rhetoric and widespread raids on immigrants, these practices have persisted under his government. The report cites instances such as Anwar’s condemnation of the home minister’s rhetoric regarding UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) access to immigration detention centres in June 2021.
“He tweeted in June 2021: ‘I am shocked and appalled by the arrogant and isolationist rhetoric used by the home minister (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin) with regards to the request to observe immigration detention depots by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).’
“Raids on migrant and refugee communities and the ban on UNHCR access to immigration detention centres continue to the present,” the group said.
HRW also pointed out raids on migrant and refugee communities, as well as the ban on UNHCR access to immigration detention centres, continue to occur under Anwar’s government.
Furthermore, the report also sheds light on numerous abuses within immigration detention centres across Malaysia including instances of torture endured by refugees and asylum seekers. – March 6, 2024
Main photo credit: PMO
