Najib: Focus on containing pandemic, not detaining illegal immigrants
THIS is definitely not the time to go rounding up illegal immigrants in the country as we need to pool all resources to contain COVID-19, said former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Echoing sentiments raised by union leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGO), he reminded the Government that new undocumented immigrant could not enter the nation as borders are sealed for now.
“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 said, in a Facebook post.
Two days ago, UNI-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal lashed out at Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin for targetting illegal immigrants during a national Emergency.
Echoing sentiments raised by union leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGO), he reminded the Government that new undocumented immigrant could not enter the nation as borders are sealed for now.
“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 said, in a Facebook post.
Two days ago, UNI-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal lashed out at Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin for targetting illegal immigrants during a national Emergency.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s post
“He is not being matured and totally unprofessional. This is not the time to go raid illegal immigrants as we need their cooperation to contain COVID-19.
“Malaysia is in crisis and the Government should look into a ‘cooling off period’ for illegal immigrants. Hamzah can’t even solve domestic problems but he wants to go after foreigners now,” he told FocusM.
Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy also objected to the move, saying it would be detrimental during a public health crisis.
Offer temporary amnesty
“It is baffling that the Immigration Department would again decide to undertake such an exercise during this public health emergency which is becoming increasingly dire.
“Last year’s enforcement activities resulted in thousands of people from the migrant communities being left vulnerable and becoming infected in detention due to those operations,” its CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib was reported saying.
However, Immigration director general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud refused to budge from his hardline stance and explained himself 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.
Echoing Shafie’s sentiments, Najib said that it was best for the Government to offer illegal immigrants a temporary amnesty until the pandemic comes under control.
Weighing the pros and cons, the ex-premier said the authorities should look into containing COVID-19 spread among undocumented immigrants for the time being.
“Once things get better, then we can look into the illegal immigrants issue. This is about protecting Malaysians from a disaster, not taking the side of the former,” the Pekan MP remarked. – June 1, 2021.
“Malaysia is in crisis and the Government should look into a ‘cooling off period’ for illegal immigrants. Hamzah can’t even solve domestic problems but he wants to go after foreigners now,” he told FocusM.
Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy also objected to the move, saying it would be detrimental during a public health crisis.
Offer temporary amnesty
“It is baffling that the Immigration Department would again decide to undertake such an exercise during this public health emergency which is becoming increasingly dire.
“Last year’s enforcement activities resulted in thousands of people from the migrant communities being left vulnerable and becoming infected in detention due to those operations,” its CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib was reported saying.
However, Immigration director general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud refused to budge from his hardline stance and explained himself 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.
Echoing Shafie’s sentiments, Najib said that it was best for the Government to offer illegal immigrants a temporary amnesty until the pandemic comes under control.
Weighing the pros and cons, the ex-premier said the authorities should look into containing COVID-19 spread among undocumented immigrants for the time being.
“Once things get better, then we can look into the illegal immigrants issue. This is about protecting Malaysians from a disaster, not taking the side of the former,” the Pekan MP remarked. – June 1, 2021.
Najib Administration over 10 years helped made it easy for illegals to come in.
ReplyDeleteMahathir as well, of course.