Depot riot: Security standards must be improved, says MCA

The shocking riot and escape of over 500 Rohingya detainees from an immigration detention depot in Relau, Bandar Baharu, Kedah serves as a stern reminder for Malaysian authorities to not only improve living conditions in the depot, but also to review and reinforce areas lacking in the security framework.

Moreover, such detention centres should not be situated near housing areas to prevent jeopardising lives and possessions in the event of such riots.

After such an incident, it is not unlikely for the detainees who have escaped to trespass into homes and cause trouble.

Hence, a review of existing depot locations should be done in consideration of the impact of possible breakouts.

Detention depots such as these should employ higher security standards, including a 24-hours surveillance system, more robust containment barriers, and ensuring sufficient enforcement personnel are available.

Most of the time, poor living conditions could drive people to act unreasonably or start riots.

Thus, we urge the authorities to ensure that the living conditions are up to standards.

Regardless, an investigation should be conducted to uncover how the incident happened so that the authorities can plan and act accordingly to a set of improved SOPs in the future in depots nationwide.

We thank the PDRM for their swift action in recapturing 317 of the inmates.

However, it is unfortunate that six casualties occurred when some of the inmates tried to cross the highway.

We urge the authorities to provide medical care for inmates in the depot and process their UNHCR status as soon as possible so that they are free to search for better opportunities elsewhere.

Chua Hock Kuan

MCA Youth vice-chief