A RIGHTS group today demanded that Selangor government cancel its plan to charge migrants fares for riding on the free Petaling Jaya City Bus service.

LAWYERS for Liberty director Zaid Malek said xenophobia must not factor in a government policy, especially one by the Pakatan Harapan-led administration, which has promised reform.

“It is appalling that (the Petaling Jaya City Council) has decided to impose this abhorrent policy for what is supposed to be a free public transport service. 

“There is no good reason why migrants should not be able to benefit from the free bus service. The imposition of fares upon migrants is irrational and arbitrary,” said Zaid.

Migrant rights group North-South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira recently lambasted the PJ local authority for wishing to impose fees on foreigners using its free buses.

Foreigners who board the bus are to be charged 90 sen for the service.

Jay Jay Denis, who is special officer to Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, said the fare is “not meant to be discriminatory”. 

Zaid today said foreign workers are integral to the development of the country.

“(Denis) stressed that the PJ City Bus is for Malaysians as if the migrants are mooching off the Malaysian taxpayers, a narrative often used to justify discriminatory policies against migrants.

“It is an undeniable fact that migrant workers are the backbone of our country, being an essential part of many of our critical industries. In fact, according to Irene Xavier of Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, the 2022 budget estimated that RM1.7 billion will be collected from migrant workers that year,” said Zaid. – January 5, 2023.