KUALA LUMPUR - The expansion of the Baitul Mahabbah programme under the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) can boost the country’s image on the world stage in efforts to safeguard the rights of foreign children.
Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said that the establishment of three more Baitul Mahabbah shelters reflected the government’s concern for the commitment of the Home Ministry (KDN) and JIM to ensuring the welfare of foreign children in immigration depots is always protected.
"This initiative is a manifestation of KDN and JIM’s 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, announced that the government would expand the programme to three more temporary settlement centres, namely Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula, with an allocation of RM10 million.
Baitul Mahabbah is an initiative by KDN 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 Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Meanwhile, senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research Assoc. Prof. Azmi Hassan said the move could improve the country’s position in the United States 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