Undocumented Children in Malaysia are Detained in Baitul Mahabbah

In a news report by Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the activist group, the End Detention Network which claims to speak for foreign children in detention facilities considers the new Baitul Mahabbah shelter a de facto detention center. The group urged the government to keep its promise to permanently remove children from detention facilities, claiming that by keeping these children in such facilities would continue to deprive them of their rights. According to the organization, many nations are now concentrating their efforts on providing community-based, non-institutional care and safety to refugee and migrant children as well as completely halting the detention of foreign children.

What is the Baitul Mahabbah?

Baitul Mahabbah in Negri Sembilan

The Home Ministry established Baitul Mahabbah as a transitional housing facility for immigrant children who had previously been housed at immigration depots. Baitul Mahabbah's mission is to house these children temporarily until their paperwork for deportation to their individual countries of origin is being finalized. According to the Home Minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the Immigration Department transferred 23 kids at the center who were 10 years old or younger together with 10 babysitters who were moms of the kids in question. They came from the Bukit Jalil, Semenyih, KLIA, and Eco Millennium Beranang Immigration depots.

Why are these children detained?

These children are considered undocumented children and are viewed as violators of the country's immigration laws and are frequently in danger of being detained for an extended period of time or being deported with serious consequences. In order to prevent migration or refugee movement, the Malaysian government has detention regulations in place, however these policies are intricately linked to the domestic movement, safety, and livelihoods of sojourning children and refugees. The Home Ministry is closely examining the preparations for the removal of children held at temporary immigration depots across the country.

Considering that these children are undocumented and are in Malaysia illegally, it makes sense that they should be placed somewhere secure so that their movements can be monitored. They cannot be placed in a non-institutional facility like a house with no security because they may be taken advantage of by some unscrupulous people.

The Baitul Mahabbah seems like the best alternative for the safety of these children as well as the nation at large. Since they are undocumented, they may get lost in the population and the authorities may not be able to guarantee their safety.