Arakan News Agency
A lawyers’ group has hit out at Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for “playing politics” when he challenged the Penang government to prove its human rights credentials by sheltering the Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants adrift at sea.
Lawyers For Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen said issues related to migrants and refugees came under the federal government and its agencies.
“Unless, Putrajaya and Zahid want to pass over their authority to the state government.”
The Star Online reported today that Zahid said the DAP-led state government should house the migrants, although several locations outside Penang had been identified as suitable temporary camps for them.
“We want to see the sincerity of the Penang government, led by DAP that are partners with PKR and PAS, which claims to champion human rights and is always asking the government to adopt humanitarian policies.
“They should accept the migrants into Penang,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal.
Paulsen said for a start the Immigration Department, police, Rela and health authorities need to get involved Rohingyas and Bangladeshi migrants.
“Subsequently, Putrajaya has to deal with the issues that involves government-to-government and agencies under the United Nations.”
However, he said the responsibility of providing shelter to the refugees pending a final solution should be shared by the international community.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had insisted that Putrajaya place the refugees on land owned by the federal government, citing lack of space on Penang Island and its mainland.
Lim had told The Star yesterday that there were some 50,000 Rohingyas in Penang since the last six years and that state land could not be used to house them.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had suggested that Penang temporarily host the 7,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled Myanmar and were now still adrift at sea.
He said Penang was a suitable location as it is in the north and would be easier to send the people away after a year.
“Maybe the IGP knows something we don’t. Maybe he is thinking of Pulau Jerejak. We are struggling to figure out where in Penang he has in mind,” said Lim.
Pulau Jerejak is an island located off the southeastern tip of Penang that used to hold detainees under the Internal Security Act.
On Friday, Lim had said the Penang government would cooperate with Putrajaya on matters concerning national security, including the influx of Rohingya refugees.
Source : the Malaysian insider
