LETTER | The statement by Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that undocumented migrants who attended the tabligh gathering in Sri Petaling will not be penalised if they come forward to be screened for Covid-19 was reassuring, although we wish it could have come much earlier.

However, there is a huge trust deficit between the government and these workers because of how rather shoddily and uncaringly they have been treated in the past by the authorities.

To gain their confidence, the minister must come out with a clear written public declaration which must also be addressed to all the relevant agencies such as the immigration and the police.

We must understand that all this while we, the Malaysian public, have enjoyed their services in restaurants, petrol stations, retail stores, markets, offices and the like. They are at the bottom of the ladder, with scant protection and get by on dismal wages. Living in poor conditions and away from their distant families and friends. A kind of isolation that we are only now beginning to understand and sometimes even complain about.

According to NGO Tenaganita, many have lost their income and are borrowing from friends and employers who would probably deduct their future wages to repay the debt.

The National Human Rights Society (Hakam) asks the government to treat not just these workers with compassion and humanity but extend it to all migrant workers - undocumented and documented, and include as well asylum seekers and refugees. First, make sure they are treated as we would our own, tested and looked after, without any harassment or adverse consequences. Second, to provide some financial assistance to help them tide over this unforeseen dire situation.

We cannot simply uncaringly discard those who have served us ungrudgingly at a time of our need.

GURDIAL SINGH NIJAR is the president of the National Human Rights Society (Hakam).

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