Covid-19: Rights groups urge gov't to offer amnesty to undocumented migrants

CORONAVIRUS | As the movement control order has been extended until April 14, rights groups have urged the government to offer temporary amnesty for undocumented migrants in a bid to ensure they would come forward for Covid-19 testing.

In a statement, the groups - Tenaganita, Eliminating Death and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict), Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) and Concerned Lawyers for Justice (CLJ) - said they received an anonymous report of arrests and detention of undocumented migrants in the past week since the order was enforced.

"We are concerned that police lockups and immigration detention centres may become clusters of Covid-19 cases if arrestees are not screened...