LETTER | Why do we continue to penalise the most vulnerable in our society?

LETTER | "After so long, we feel like we are living in our home country. We face the same fear, same harassment and hunger just because we are different than other humans, we are refugees “ - Nina, Taman Sri Murni, 10.30am

"We were not given food, when we ask Rela for some food, they said we will get a lot of food in detention camp soon," - Jani , Taman Sri Murni, 10.30am

"If Ramadhan means struggles, tesst, challenges,etc [...] We (Rohingyas) are great examples of those. But I also remember at the end of it, Ramadhan and Syawal mean 'victory' [...] We hope none of us give up even if we die eventually," Munir, Taman Wilayah, 11am

"I guess we are not human enough for anyone to care or empathise with us [...] thank you Malaysia for making us realise that again that our life and family has no value," - Bibi, Taman Wilayah 11am

The above are some of the quotes from the members of the refugee communities while being arrested during the raids this morning at the different areas of Selayang.

Once again this is so heart-breaking and painful for many of us. Why do we continue to penalise and criminalise these communities who have the least in our society?

Yes, the blowout of the coronavirus Covid-19 is pushing the Malaysian government to act with urgency and firmness while defining strategies to control the movement of people. In actual fact, some of the policies issued by the government and its ministries are no doubt well-intended, but using arrest and detention or even jail time to punish these vulnerable communities for an administrative offence simply violates the basic human rights of a person, in fact it is more likely to lead to greater harm than good.

We have heard from the affected communities that some are being released after showing their documents but many are taken into detention and holding centres. But then again, in these detention holding centres, how can the instructions on social distancing be implemented in a forced confinement? Who will be monitoring this?

Will the Malaysian government and its Immigration Department even care to implement the directives accordingly in the centres? Would they be concerned or not care at all because they are undocumented, for they are deemed as illegal to be treated as criminals?

We are well aware that public health measures and social distancing rules intended to fight the Covid-19 pandemic are absolutely irreconcilable with the reality of detention and imprisonment, as evidenced in Italy and other countries, during which several inmates/detainees died. These sad events must draw close attention of the Malaysian government and public attention on the application of anti-contagion regulations in overcrowded prisons, where a possible bigger outburst of the virus would be catastrophic.

In the eyes of millions of citizens and non-citizens in Malaysia trying to cope with the enormous pressure, strain and anxiety of movement control with isolation, any sort of defilement to the anti-contagion policies is seen as unacceptable, but it is now aimed at the communities of migrants and refugees, for different reasons, one being very obvious with the running away of the few migrants/refugees upon testing positive fearing arrest and detention.

The risks becoming more present than ever with the ongoing raids, arrests and detention of refugees and migrant workers.

Detention/holding centres are confined quarters and the constant cycle of people entering and leaving a centre creates a perfect hotbed for spreading the virus to and from communities. Making matters worse, it is well-documented that our detention centres struggle to provide adequate healthcare to detainees. Their healthcare systems are not equipped to confront or control a coronavirus pandemic.

Hasnah Hussin , one of Tenaganita’s community mobiliser says, "The whole community is fighting against Covid-19, they are going through a very challenging time in life, my request to the government is to stop the mass arrests and detention because this will really affect the community in the long run both physically and mentally”.

During these times , when we should be working towards sustainable solutions for fighting this pandemic together while providing health services but the Malaysian government with the Home Ministry and immigration seem to be instilling fear in the communities who are already marginalised and are in the most vulnerable situation. Is this not clearly the making of an imperialist state?

The writer is executive director, Tenaganita Women's Force.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.