ABOUT 2,000 Rohingya men who attended a tabligh event linked to a sharp spike in Covid-19 infections in Malaysia are being sought by authorities, Reuters reports.

Citing a source who works with the refugee community, the report said many of them have gone back to their families across Malaysia and fear getting into trouble with the authorities.

“The government is concerned that if they don’t come forward, the infection might spread further,” the source said.

The report said the police criminal investigation department has been tasked with looking for the missing participants, a security source said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia said it was working with the Health Ministry to ensure that refugee and asylum-seeking communities were included in government measures.

“Refugees and asylum-seekers are advised to seek medical attention if they present symptoms of Covid-19 infection, regardless of whether they were present at events like the mentioned religious gathering,” UNHCR Malaysia.

There are more than 100,000 Rohingya who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar to seek refuge in Malaysia. 

Malaysia does not legally recognise refugees but authorities have tolerated the existence of the community and some leniency is granted to those registered with UNHCR.

The gathering of at least 16,000 tabligh participants at the Sri Petaling Mosque from February 27 to March 1 has been linked to more than 500 of Malaysia’s 790 Covid-19 cases to date.

One man who attended the event has died.

Infections traced to the event have been reported in Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Ealier today, the Health Ministry said it was tracking down 4,000 attendees who have yet to be tested for Covid-19. – March 19, 2020.