Thread by @MSolidariti

These past few weeks we saw many xenophobic remarks towards migrants in Malaysia, more so after the Al-Jazeera documentary on their mistreatment during the lockdown was released; but why do many still deny this?This thread explains the issue and the #MigranJugaManusia movement 1/

Throughout the MCO, areas that were heavily populated by refugees and undocumented migrants were raided by police and immigration. The raids saw hundreds of people including children carted off, without masks provided or enforcing social distancing. 2/

The UN has even alerted Malaysian authorities on how the raids are counter productive.
UN Alert:
ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/…
bbc.com/news/world-asi… 3/

Living in filthy, overcrowded cells where social distancing is impossible, inmates are so severely deprived of basic necessities such as sanitary food, water, hygiene, and medical care that the Malaysian National Human Rights Commission described conditions as “torture-like”. 4/

Read on the depot conditions here: 5/

1) theguardian.com/world/2017/may…
2) reuters.com/article/us-mal…
3) suhakam.org.my/press-statemen…
4) amnesty.org/download/Docum…

Al Jazeera has aired a documentary exposing the inhumane treatment of undocumented migrants, most notably through detention camps we’ve outlined above. In response to the documentary, the government has arrested and is set to deport a Bangladeshi man for starring in it. 6/

While hateful attitudes do drive these recent instances of targeted vitriol, they also operate within a larger capitalistic system that predates COVID-19. This system qualifies workers — both migrant and local — based on their ability to generate profit for their employers. 7/

Migrant workers leaving comparatively poorer countries like Bangladesh and Nepal are easier to exploit because they’re more dependent on employers than vice versa. Given the alternative is abject poverty, they settle for low wages and terrible working conditions. 8/

For example, Top Glove, a leading manufacturer of disposable rubber gloves, were found to be engaging in slave-like exploitation. Migrant workers are bound to work through debt-bondage, confiscated passports, and threats of deportation should they resist, and possibly worse. 9/

Despite the unique issues faced by migrant workers, their struggle is inextricably tied to that of the local Malaysian working class. Local wage workers — much like foreign workers — are incredibly dependent on employment in trying to escape poverty and homelessness. 10/

Call for action:

This thread from @miasarash includes several NGOs and petitions where you can donate and/or contribute to the movement. It is not a complete list, and there are many other organizations out there, but this is a great place to start. 11/ t.co/y8ABrkXoOR