Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh. – ZHAFARAN NASIB / The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The expansion of the Baitul Mahabbah programme under the Malaysian Immigration Department can boost the country’s image on the world stage in efforts to safeguard the rights of foreign children, says Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.
The Immigration director-general said that the establishment of three more Baitul Mahabbah shelters reflected the government’s concern for the commitment of the Home Ministry and Immigration in ensuring the welfare of foreign children at depots was always protected.
"This initiative is a manifestation of the commitment in line with the Malaysia Madani concept, which emphasises compassion for all groups,” he told Bernama.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling the Budget 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat last Friday (Oct 13), announced that the government would expand the programme to three more temporary settlement centres, in Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula, with an allocation of RM10mil.
Baitul Mahabbah is an initiative by the Home Ministry to ensure the safety and well-being of children in Immigration depots, and it is temporary until the documentation process by their respective embassies is completed.
The first Baitul Mahabbah shelter for children aged 10 and below was established at the civil servants housing complex near the KL International Airport (KLIA).
Meanwhile, senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research Assoc Professor Azmi Hassan said the move could improve the country’s position in the US State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report (US TIP Report).
"It serves as a transit (temporary shelter) to ensure these children are fully protected. This demonstrates the government’s concern for migrant issues, especially in reducing human trafficking,” he said.
Malaysia was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List in the US TIP Report for 2023 after two consecutive years of being at Tier 3.
The country was ranked on Tier 2 in 2017 and Tier 2 Watch List from 2018 to 2020. - Bernama
