COMPEL EMPLOYERS TO PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

A coalition of 58 NGOs slam the government’s move to make migrant workers pay for health scheme.

PETALING JAYA: Employers of migrant workers should be the ones contributing to the foreign workers’ hospitalisation and surgical insurance scheme instead of the workers.

“It is appalling that the Malaysian government is asking the 1.5 million migrant workers, and not their employers, to pay for insurance,” a coalition of 58 NGOs said in a press statement.

On Jan 7, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that migrant workers would be made to subscribe to the newly-launched insurance scheme as coverage for work-related injuries or death.

Read more here. Article by G Vinod

Nine arrested under ISA

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 13, 2010): Seven immigration officers and two Indonesian men were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for allegedly being involved with human trafficking syndicates and activities.

In a press conference at Bukit Aman today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the nine men, seven of whom are officers from the Immigration Department, were detained on Monday and Tuesday.

He said the men, who are suspected of aiding the trafficking of foreigners into Malaysia, were held for further investigations into their alleged involvement in the syndicates and for investigators to gather information to penetrate the international network of the human traffickers.

“We view this issue very seriously as it has raised questions to the security of the country. Such illegal activities can also be a regional threat if these syndicates use such means of seeking entry for criminal, terrorist activities, drugs and firearms smuggling.” he said.

He said the latest operation by police was in line of the government’s goal to prove that Malaysia is committed in fighting human trafficking and to thwart any attempt by such syndicates in using the country as a transit point for their activities.

Get the full story from Sun2Surf, here.

Malaysia NOT to grant Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants

The Malaysian government has no plans to grant amnesty for illegal foreign workers in near future to prevent more foreign labor from swarming into the country, a senior official said Monday.

Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein made this remark here on Monday after launching an integrated system that links the 999 emergency number, closed-circuit television, geographical information system and digital map together.

Hishammuddin said that the Malaysian government did not want to attract illegal foreign workers to the country as this would pose threat to national security.

The Malaysian government once grant amnesty to illegal foreign workers to allow them to return to their home countries during a specific period with no actions taken against them.

Source: Xinhua, Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Posters Spotted Around The Country. Call 999.

Stop Child Sex Trafficking Campaign

Dearest friends,

We at The Body Shop need your help and continuous support for our upcoming project to Stop Child Sex Trafficking. This global campaign kick-starts here in Malaysia on the 7th of August 2010 by a launch by The Body Shop and The Home Ministry followed by a march down Jalan Bukit Bintang where we will distribute leaflets and car stickers to bring about an awareness to this global issue which has plagued our shores for many years.

As such, we will need all the manpower necessary especially from you who appeal to the Malaysian crowd and can bring about the attention needed to march down the streets and create a ruckus in order to draw attention to the issue.

We have already received our police permit and approval from the ministry and as such will not jeopardise your involvement in any way. Please, please come and lend us your hands and be part of this change. Your support is greatly appreciated and we trust that together, we can make a difference. Please see the attachment for the official invite. My colleague Joanne or me will be calling you soon to find out if you will be part of this global change. Thanking you in advance.

Warmest,

Loshini Catherine John

Values & Communications Manager

The Body Shop (West Malaysia)

T: +603-5632 4313

F: +603-5632 4317

***********Please feel free to email this flyer out to all your contacts************

Video: Why no action over abuse of detainees?

Puchong parliamentarian Gobind Singh Deo has demanded immediate government attention to “alleged widespread abuse of detainees”, based on claims in a UN Human Rights Working Group report.

Cautious Welcome for Malaysian Refugee Card Scheme

Jakarta Post, February 2, 2010

Burmese refugee groups in Malaysia have given a cautious welcome to the announcement of a plan by the Kuala Lumpur government to issue identity cards to refugees recognized by the UN.

Malaysian Home Affairs Ministry Secretary-General Mahmood Adam said on Monday that the plan was in its “final stage,” according to an Associated Press (AP) report. Adam said his government would work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to issue the cards but he gave no time frame, AP said.

The proposed identity cards will allow refugees to live temporarily in Malaysia.

According to the UNHCR, 69,700 of the 75,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the agency are from Burma.

An estimated further 100,000 Burmese refugees lack UNHCR recognition and face official harassment, arrest and detention, according to Burmese refugee groups in Malaysia.

UNHCR spokeswoman Yante Ismail told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday: “We have been discussing with the Malaysian government how to improve the the protection of refugees in the country, and I believe this [plan] is what the government is proposing to do in that direction.”

Under the plan, possession of the identity cards will protect refugees from arrest, although it still falls short of official recognition of their refugee status.

Naung Naung, of the Burmese Refugee Organization in Malaysia, said he welcomed the news of the identity card plan—“if it is confirmed.”

Henry Tin Maung Shwe, a member of the executive committee of the  Chin Refugee Committee (CRC) said it remained “questionable,” however, whether card-holders would be able to work.

The CRC estimates that about 40,000 Chin refugees live in Malaysia, about half of them recognized as refugees by the UNHCR.

A spokesman for the Arakan Refugee Relief Committee (ARRC) said the Malaysian authorities would cease arresting illegal refugees from Feb. 15. “It means they accept Burmese refugees in some way. We don’t know the details yet.”

The ARRC spokesman said 15,000 ethnic Arakanese are living in  Malaysia, only 1,500 of whom are recognized by the UNHCR as refugees.

Malaysia: Disband Abusive Volunteer Corps

MAY 9, 2007

(New York) – The Malaysian government should immediately take steps to dissolve the People’s Volunteer Corps (Ikatan Relawan Rakyat or RELA), responsible for numerous cases of illegal detentions, unlawful use of force, and extortion, Human Rights Watch said today.

Read more…