HOME Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin announced recently that the authorities would launch a crackdown on illegal immigrants during the total lockdown starting today.
Despite objections from various quarters that such threat would force the community to hiding, risking COVID-19 infections further, the Government seems to be unrelenting on the decision.
Immigration director general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud defended the move and explained the decision on Twitter.
“We are going after illegal immigrants who live and work in this beloved country without any documents, not paying tax and levy but reap all the benefits. We are protecting the rights of local people,” he quipped.
However, Khairul’s message received backlash from social media users, who accused the Government of not thinking straight over the matter.
“What benefits are they reaping exactly? They pay full prices for healthcare, no social protection, no workplace protection, no EPF& SOCSO. They work here (create profit) and spend money here (sustain economy). There’s many reports that they become illegal due to employers,” said user Running after Pigeons.
User Usman-Sol delivered a sharp rebuke to the official, adding: “Really they bring more benefit than the ministers.”
While Khairul was targetting undocumented immigrants, other netizens called upon the authorities to detain corrupt politicians and tycoons who brought them in the first place.
“No thanks. I don’t want my rights protected this way during a pandemic. I’d rather the Government go after the big fish not paying tax and levies, this will create a bigger impact. Like in the US, ICE detention centres are just a way for corrupt politicians to make more money,” said user Minah Salleh Melayu.
She also said that cramping up people in detention centres during a pandemic crisis is a recipe for disaster, including locals.
Show compassion
“And then it will spread to the staff in the centres. Much like the prison clusters we’ve had. Don’t get so caught up in nationalistic sentiment, that you don’t think properly. Bukannya Jr Exec. (not a junior executive).”
Other users urged the Government to show some compassion to community, adding they would be left vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis.
User Apalah said that it was cruel for the Government to detain them at this juncture without the ability to deport them to their home countries, on top of being held at taxpayers’ cost.
User Wong Hoong remarked: “Minta tuan membuka hati dan memahami masalah2 dan bukan sekadar menghukum sebab tidak suka.
(Hope you will understand the situation at hand, instead of just punishing people because you do not like them).
Earlier today, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak urged the Government to offer temporary amnesty to undocumented immigrants so that they would come forward for screening and treatment.
“COVID-19 don’t choose its victims, documented or undocumented immigrants. With the authorities announcing a crackdown, none of them will come forward for testing now.
“In the end, COVID-19 will seep into their community and eventually, infect locals as well,” he was reported saying. – June 1, 2021.
