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MSF: Circular contradicts govt reassurance that asylum seekers and refugees won't be arrested

KUALA LUMPUR: Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, has expressed concern over contradictory statements by the government that asylum seekers and refugees will not be arrested during Covid-19 vaccinations.

Its head of mission Dirk van der Tak said, while the organisation welcomes the reassurance given, it however was not reflected in Malaysia's Covid-19 response plan.

"The government's announcement not to detain and deport people who come forward for the Covid-19 vaccine is a step in the right direction towards an effective, inclusive public health response in battling the Covid-19 pandemic.

"However, the Health Ministry's circular issued on Jan 21, has excluded migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from equal treatment.

"This has limited their access to public healthcare and stands in contradiction with the government's efforts to ensure documented and undocumented foreigners feel safe when accessing Covid-19 treatment," he said in a statement.

He added that the new Fee Payments Circular also overrides a circular issued last year, which exempted documented foreign workers from charges for Covid-19 screening and testing.

"It makes migrants and their employers responsible for screening and medical fees. (And) the existing Health Ministry Circular 10/2001 requires healthcare providers to report undocumented migrants and refugees to the police and Immigration."

Van der Tak said, in the interest of public health, and for a more coherent response, the government should repeal the Health Minister Circular 10/2001 to send clear confirmation to refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrant populations that they will not be arrested or detained when seeking healthcare, including for Covid-19 treatment or the vaccine.

"We fear that unless the laws, including the official response plan, aren't updated then the contradiction between the official policies and government rhetoric will mean people are deterred from getting the vaccine, and any efforts to control the spread of the virus will be in vain."

Van der Tak said MSF stands ready to work with the government to support asylum seekers and refugees in getting vaccinated.

"However, the authorities must ensure that their public reassurances are reflected in official policies to avoid any confusion or fear," he added.

Recently, Science, Innovation, and Technology Khairy Jamaluddin stated that undocumented foreigners would not be apprehended or detained during Covid-19 vaccinations.

Malaysia received its first batch of 19 Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 yesterday, with vaccinations set to begin on Wednesday.

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