|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
13 December 2022
KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has been urged to personally visit the Kimanis detention centre in Sabah to investigate claims of alleged mistreatment of inmates there.
Beyond Borders Malaysia founder Mahi Ramakrishnan told the New Straits Times that this is the best way for the minister to assess the situation.
“The onus is on the home minister to visit the detention centre so that he can investigate these claims and find a durable solution.”
She said Saifuddin, after the visit, should also make the findings public and explain the initiatives taken to address the issues raised by the inmates.
“This is a new government that has promised us transparency and accountability. So Saifuddin’s visit and findings plus initiatives taken to mitigate the issues raised by the inmates must be made public.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made numerous proclamations, which were a huge positive shift from the former government. His cabinet members should do the same as well,” she said.
Mahi also proposed that Saifuddin invite civil social organisations (CSOs) and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) during his visit to the detention centre.
“We as CSOs don’t have access to the immigration detention centres. So, we don’t know any updates about the inmates who have cried out for help.
“I would also suggest he invites CSOs and Suhakam to go with him. It’s about time that things are done differently,” she added.
A video clip and several pictures have emerged of emaciated men, allegedly detainees at the Kimanis Immigration depot, appealing for help as they were being mistreated.
The 90-second clip and photos have gone viral since their release on Facebook.
In the clip, a man identifying himself as Salomon, on behalf of others, appealed to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and state Immigration director Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yusoff to release them.
Sitti had denied the accusation, saying that the viral video implying the poor treatment at the centre was being exploited.
Saifuddin had said it was unfair to “overplay” the issue before the full facts behind the video have been established.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said no police reports have been received over the issue so far.
“Police will investigate if any report is made,” he said. #
