Human Rights Group Calls for Royal Commission of Inquiry into Immigration Reforms
PETALING JAYA: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has joined the chorus of voices demanding a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate the country’s immigration reforms, following a recent report by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
Violence and Abuse Led to Migrant Escape
A total of 131 undocumented migrants escaped from the Bidor immigration detention centre in February, and a report by the EAIC has revealed that violence and abuse were responsible for the escape. The EAIC found that a few immigration officers at the Bidor depot, including two who were previously stationed at the Langkawi camp, engaged in acts of extreme violence, physical and mental abuse towards the Rohingya detainees, causing harm to them.
Systemic Issues Exacerbate Abuses
Sevan Doraisamy, Suaram’s executive director, said that the series of escapes and reports of violence, squalid detention conditions, limited healthcare access, and extortion are a result of systemic issues that need to be addressed. He added that the immigration department’s reliance on procedural justifications continues to undermine any effort towards real accountability.
Chronic Under-Prioritisation of Resources
Doraisamy highlighted that the under-prioritisation of resources to improve detention conditions, deeply entrenched xenophobia, and the state’s refusal to recognise the status of refugees and asylum seekers via accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention are also contributing factors to the abuses.
Activists Face Harassment and Intimidation
Doraisamy also pointed out that activists such as Heidy Quah and the late Irene Fernandez who spoke out against these abuses have faced judicial harassment and intimidation, exemplifying the lengths to which the system goes to silence criticism while perpetrators of abuse continue to act with impunity.
Minister’s Rejection of Findings Sufficient
Minister of Home Affairs Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s rejection of independent reports, such as those by Human Rights Watch on abuses in immigration detention centres, has only perpetuated the cycle of denial and inaction, stifling much-needed reform.
Call for Immediate Action
Sevan called for Saifuddin to ensure that the immigration department immediately implements the EAIC’s recommendations on disciplinary action against the officers involved in the Bidor abuses, with these efforts publicly disclosed for transparency and accountability.
EAIC’s Recommendations
The EAIC’s report also cited negligence by immigration staff, inadequate monitoring, and the poor infrastructure at the Bidor depot as contributing factors to the escape.
Conclusion
The issues surrounding the Bidor detention centre and the escape of 131 migrants highlight the urgent need for a royal commission of inquiry into the country’s immigration policies and practices. It is crucial that the government takes concrete steps to address the systemic issues that contribute to the ongoing abuses and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI)?
A: An RCI is a major inquiry into a specific issue or issues, with a focus on identifying the root causes of a problem and recommending solutions.
Q: Why is a RCI necessary in this case?
A: The RCI is necessary to address the systemic issues that contribute to the abuse and violence in immigration detention centres, and to recommend reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Q: What are the next steps?
A: The EAIC’s report should be made public, and the government should act on the recommendations to ensure that those responsible for the abuses are held accountable. A RCI would provide a thorough and independent review of the issue and recommend reforms to prevent similar situations in the future.