Refugee protection essential in Malaysia's combat against COVID-19 - Advisory Group on Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR: Refugee and undocumented migrant protection is essential in Malaysia's combat against COVID-19, otherwise it will impede Malaysia's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and endanger Malaysians as well.

The Malaysian Advisory Group on Myanmar said any hardline approach adopted by the authorities would simply push refugees and undocumented migrants further into hiding and discourage them from coming forward to be tested and vaccinated, essential steps in curbing community infections.

"We urge the government and the people of Malaysia to lead by example, protect the refugees among us to ensure that their basic rights and needs are met, especially during this hard time of COVID-19," the group said in a statement issued here today.

The group said this referring to the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's hardline stance against illegal immigrants in the country. The group was also concerned over Hamzah's suggestion that refugee camps set up in Malaysia to manage their population in the country.

"Building camps would not only perpetuate trauma and dependency, but would also be an enormous drain on public resources and cut the refugees off from the rest of society," the group said.

The Malaysian Advisory Group on Myanmar is an independent council, consisting of distinguished, knowledgeable and concerned persons from Malaysia's public and private sectors, established in March 2021 to provide sound and credible analysis to the Malaysian government and public on issues relating to the situation in Myanmar and its impact on Malaysia and the wider ASEAN and Asian region.

-- BERNAMA