Harrowing Tales of Detained Legal Immigrants in Malaysia: A Call for UN Intervention

Last month, a 56-year-old legal worker with a valid visa faced a harrowing ordeal after being arrested at a market in Malaysia. The initial two days of detention were a living nightmare for around 2000 immigrants, who were crammed into several overcrowded rooms with barely any space to stand. Despite their legal status, they were subjected to inhumane treatment by Malaysian police, who showed no regard for their age or condition.

The detainees, including individuals as old as 60, were denied basic necessities. They received almost no food and had no access to bathroom facilities, enduring extreme discomfort and indignity. They were also denied essential medical treatment, leaving sick individuals to suffer without any relief or care. After these initial days, they were transferred to separate locations, but the conditions were equally appalling. In these small rooms, up to 100 people were forced to sit in cramped quarters, with no semblance of livable conditions.

Communication with the outside world was strictly prohibited, leaving the detainees isolated and helpless. The abuse they endured, both physical and verbal, was beyond comprehension, surpassing even the cruel treatment of prisoners of war. The police exploited their power, extorting bribes from the detainees’ families and friends, demanding amounts ranging from 300 to 1000 ringgit for basic human rights like contacting family members and friends. This bribe system operated without any proof or accountability, further deepening the detainees’ despair.

After 10 to 15 days, those with legal visas were finally released, but their ordeal didn’t end there. The police withheld their passports, only returning them in exchange for bribes of 1000 to 3000 ringgit. This systemic corruption and brutal treatment have left an indelible scar on the victims, highlighting a severe human rights crisis that demands immediate international attention and intervention.

Malaysian Government Violates International Immigration Rules, Tortures Legal Immigrants

A Plea to the United Nations

The harrowing experiences of legal and illegal immigrants in Malaysia’s detention centers call for urgent and decisive action from the United Nations. The Malaysian authorities’ systematic abuse, extortion, and denial of basic human rights to detainees is a gross violation of international human rights standards.

We urge the United Nations to:

1. Conduct an Immediate Investigation: Launch a thorough investigation into the conditions of detention centers in Malaysia, documenting the abuses and identifying those responsible.
2. Demand Accountability: Hold the Malaysian government accountable for the systemic corruption and human rights abuses occurring under their watch.
3. Ensure Protection and Support: Provide immediate support and protection to the victims of these abuses, ensuring they receive the medical treatment, food, and shelter they were denied.
4. Implement Reforms: Work with the Malaysian government to implement necessary reforms to prevent further abuses and ensure the humane treatment of all detainees, regardless of their immigration status.
5. Monitor Compliance: Establish ongoing monitoring mechanisms to ensure Malaysia adheres to international human rights standards in its treatment of immigrants.

The world must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of these innocent people. Immediate steps must be taken to ensure their protection and dignity. The United Nations has a moral and ethical duty to intervene and put an end to these gross human rights violations in Malaysia.