THE role of civil society groups is to advocate and that does not extend to paying to accommodate undocumented workers, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Mah Weng Kwai reminded Hamzah Zainuddin. 

The home minister yesterday asked if these groups were willing to foot the bill for undocumented migrants if they cared so much.

Responding to this, Mah said one must understand the role of civil society groups. 

“Their role is to advocate, bring issues to the notice of the government, and create awareness and so on,” he told reporters after Suhakam’s Stakeholder Consultation on Forced Labour Issues in the Construction Industry today. 

“They have done their job and it doesn’t extend to providing money to accommodate undocumented workers,” he added. 

However, Mah said Hamzah could have made the remarks in jest and he may not have been serious about it. 

Meanwhile, another Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said it was the obligation of the state to manage everyone in its jurisdiction. 

Hamzah yesterday said the government was committed to repatriating undocumented migrants and foreigners, who have completed sentencing for crimes, to their country of origin. 

He rejected criticism of the policy by civil society groups, adding that the groups should pay for migrants to stay in Malaysia, if they cared so much. 

“When it’s time to send them home, we do so. What do we want to detain them here for? I don’t understand the groups that say we should not send them back. 

“If they care so much, they should foot the bill,” Hamzah told a press conference after an event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – April 9, 2021.