Offer amnesty for undocumented migrants, Kit Siang urges PM

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should announce an amnesty for undocumented migrants to ensure the smooth rollout of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, says DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

“Confusion and uncertainty seem to have become the hallmark of the Muhyiddin government with the right hand contradicting what the left hand is doing,” said Lim in a statement today.

“I call on Muhyddin to announce an amnesty for undocumented migrants, fully backed by all political parties and Parliament, to give priority to the war against the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Lim’s call came after 156 undocumented migrants were detained by immigration authorities at an illegal settlement in Cyberjaya last Saturday – where they were sprayed with disinfectant in a move which drew the ire of health experts and human rights activists alike.

In February, National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that undocumented foreign nationals would not be arrested when coming forward for Covid-19 vaccinations, adding that this was crucial in ensuring herd immunity was achieved.

However, home minister Hamzah Zainudin said last month that the immigration department would be conducting operations to detain undocumented migrants during the two-week lockdown.

He said the prisons authorities were ready to allocate additional detention centres for those who might get arrested.

Last Thursday, Hamzah said undocumented migrants would not be eligible for Covid-19 vaccines as they were considered illegals. — Free Malaysia Today