PERAK, Malaysia
On the evening of 1st February 2024, 131 detainees, mainly Rohingya refugees, fled the Bidor Temporary Immigration Depot in Perak, Malaysia, amidst what authorities described as a riot.
The incident echoes a similar escape in 2022 from a Penang detention centre, which tragically resulted in seven fatalities. The latest escape has already seen at least two deaths and numerous re-arrests, underscoring the perilous circumstances detainees find themselves in, both inside and outside the detention walls.
The response from Malaysia’s Immigration Department, which includes plans to redistribute detainees and possibly arm staff, has sparked further concern among human rights organisations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The latter has been denied access to Malaysia’s immigration detention facilities since August 2019, a situation that critically hampers efforts to provide international protection and advocate for the release of those in need.
Reports from civil society groups and international organisations paint a grim picture of life inside Malaysia’s immigration depots. Overcrowding, inadequate healthcare, poor sanitation, and instances of abuse are cited, with detainees, including children, often spending all day in their cells. The lack of a legal limit on detention duration and the aggressive pursuit of undocumented migrants have exacerbated the situation, leading to an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Rohingya – described by the United Nations as “the most persecuted minority in the world” – are stateless and fleeing genocide in Myanmar. The recent escalation in raids and detentions, alongside Malaysia’s refusal to grant refugee status, has left thousands in fear and uncertainty. IDC’s research documents the ways in which Rohingya families and communities have been impacted by Malaysia’s harsh and indefinite immigration detention policies.
The repeated incidents of escape are a clear indicator of the urgent need for reform. IDC stands alongside civil society organisations and international bodies calling on Malaysia to reform its immigration detention policies. This includes granting UNHCR access to the centres, implementing alternatives to detention and respecting the rights and dignity of all detainees, irrespective of their legal status.