Following an Al Jazeera documentary on undocumented migrants in Malaysia, a diplomatic spat has arisen between Malaysia and Qatar. The documentary depicted how undocumented migrant workers were being oppressed by a military crackdown, provoking a strong response from the Malaysian government.

The 26-minute documentary “Locked up in Malaysia’s Lockdown” detailed how undocumented migrant workers were being detained in camps that were apparently “implementing a coronavirus-induced lockdown.”

Mohamed Rayhan Kabir, the Bangladeshi migrant worker who spoke out about the awful treatment of migrant workers in the country is now facing threatening consequences at the hands of the Malaysian government.

After the Qatari-produced documentary aired, authorities in Malaysia stated that they wanted to bring Kabir in for questioning, spreading his name, photo and address all around the country, a move that put him in danger in an environment that is becoming increasingly hostile towards migrants.

Just a few days later, the inspector-general of police announced that Kabir’s work permit had been removed by the Immigration Department. This action has been described as a “chilling message to the country’s migrant workers” by Human Rights Watch.

According to Lawyers for Liberty coordinator Zaid Malek, Kabir has been rendered undocumented by authorities, meaning he would be deported if found. He described the revocation of Kabir’s permit as a “blatant abuse of power” on Malaysia’s part. Malek cites Section 9 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which states that only the Director General of Immigration Order has the power to cancel a permit, and only if it is prejudicial to public order, public security, public health, or morality in Malaysia.

“It is inconceivable that the mere action of highlighting his plight to the media would fall under any of the categories listed under section 9 (1) (c). The extent that the authorities are willing to go in order to hunt down one man for merely speaking up his experience of injustice to the media is alarming.

Zaid Malek

Adding to the controversy, Immigration Director-General Khairul Dzaimee Daud warned that foreigners on permits should “be careful” when speaking out on the conditions they work or live in, saying that doing such things would put their work permits at risk. Daud continued to say that permit holders “will be required to leave the country immediately if the statement is inaccurate and aimed at damaging Malaysia’s image.”

Although his plight has been highlighted, Kabir is not alone in facing these consequences. On July 10, authorities also questioned six members of Al Jazeera staff while investigating whether or not the documentary violated any laws, such as sedition and criminal defamation laws, and the Communications and Multimedia Act. These laws have all — on numerous occasions —served as loopholes used to limit free speech.

Heidy Quah, Director of NGO Refuge for the Refugees, is also being investigated by police for criminal defamation. The investigation stems from a social media post Quah made that showcased the mistreatment of refugees at immigration detention centers.

The Malaysian government presented a very strong reaction to all allegations, calling them baseless and even asking for an apology from Al Jazeera. Although Al Jazeera hasn’t presented any statements yet, the Malaysian media has launched a downright war against it through several different outlets, both print and social.

On Facebook, a group that calls itself ‘bawang army’ — or ‘onion army’ in English — accused Al Jazeera of disgracing Malaysia’s image. The group consistently cites and refers to online comments that support Malaysia and has created a dangerous campaign against the Qatari network, specifically its journalists.

Bernama, a media outlet controlled by the Malaysian government, also took part after one of its talk show hosts publicly called Al Jazeera “Al Jahiliyah”, which is a derogatory Arabic term for ignorance. The host was suspended, however the network has not apologized in any way.

The entire conflict comes at an already rough time for migrant communities within Malaysia. Due to the pandemic, many have lost their jobs, are going hungry, and have lost their housing. These events on top of the military-style crackdown currently taking place come to show how precarious the situation in Malaysia truly is for migrants.

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