ONE of most vital criteria of good governance is to seek truth objectively without the baggage of ideology or personal views.

Truth cannot emerge from partial information. The whole spectrum of information is vital to address a particular institutionalise behaviour and action.  

It is sad that in Malaysia the quest for justice is limited or coloured in ethnic rhetoric, or the poor ability to perceive reality or truth broadly and accurately especially among the ethno-religious mainstream political parties and some ethnic centric leaders in so-called multi-ethnic parties.

Furthermore, how a country treats its most vulnerable population says a lot about moral principles of governance.

The latest news that 156 undocumented migrants were detained by Immigration authorities at an illegal settlement in Cyberjaya where they were sprayed with a Dettol disinfectant speaks volumes of Perikatan Nasional governing principles.

The undocumented migrant workers are human beings with dignity and families. Treating them in these manner reveals a serious ethical issue facing our enforcement agencies.

Good governance would get to the root of why there are undocumented workers in the country.

What was the process that brought these undocumented workers to this country?

Was there a powerful hidden hand in the Home Ministry that approved these workers?

What about employers who were responsible in bringing these migrant workers to this country?

Have ministry officials, employers and corporations been made accountable for their illegal actions?

Have there been any landmark court cases and judgments on these issues?

While Covid 19 and the vaccination process could be the reason for rounding up undocumented migrant workers, the fact that they are treated in an inhuman manner should be a wake-up call for Malaysians to demand the real truth behind the millions of undocumented workers nationwide.

For a start, I would urge the Perikatan National government to hold public the inquiry and report by the independent committee on management of foreign workers (JKBPPA) initiated during the time of former human resources minister Kulasegaran.

These would help to a certain extent to get to bottom of corruption and abuse power that has dented Malaysia’s governing integrity and human rights record.

The rounding up of illegal immigrants and using a Dettol disinfectant spray on them is a symptom of a grand moral failure in governance that requires getting to the root of migrant repression. – June 8, 2021.

* Ronald Benjamin is secretary for the Association for Community and Dialogue.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.