If you’ve noticed, the positive cases in Malaysia saw a surge yesterday to 172 cases. Majority of these cases were of illegal immigrants who are currently in a holding depot located in KLIA, Bukit Jalil and Semenyih.
Daily screening is also being done towards these immigrants to check their health status. If found positive, they will be sent to Hospital Sungai Buloh or Hospital Kuala Lumpur which are the two designated places to treat illegal immigrants.
In his press conference today, Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri discussed the statistics of positive cases from illegal immigrants. So far, 207 out of 13,929 illegal immigrants in Malaysia have tested positive and an additional 230 positive cases were detected in MAEPS, Serdang yesterday.
He announced that if the immigrants were tested negative, they will be sent to their original country. The positive ones who will be sent to MAEPS and will also be sent back to their original country after being treated.
He added that the Foreign Ministry and the embassies of the other countries will have a meeting on how their people will be brought back. The minister also reassured that all officers and personnel stationed at the depot will be required to undergo a screening and so far, all of them have tested positive.
What do you think of this decision by the government? Will this move trigger another debate regarding the rights of these immigrants? Let us know in the comments section!
Also read: 207 Out Of 13,929 Illegal Immigrants In Malaysia Test Positive For Covid-19 So Far