CHARLES HECTOR: Ensuring Human Security During the MCO Extension Period(26 Groups)

Monday, April 13, 2020

Ensuring Human Security During the MCO Extension Period(26 Groups)

Joint Civil Society Organization Statement on 11 April 2020 in Petaling Jaya

Ensuring Human Security During the MCO Extension Period

We, the undersigned organisations, would like to express our grave concerns over the announcement of the second extension of the Movement Control Order made by the Prime Minister yesterday (10 April 2020) which is regrettably not followed by a set of comprehensive supplementary measures to address emerging issues in human security caused by the extensive lockdown.

Millions of vulnerable persons have been deeply affected by the MCO, particularly those who come from low-income families, disabled persons, orang asli, migrant workers and refugees. These are the people who have been forced out of works and trapped in a situation of zero incomes and insufficient or zero savings to see themselves through difficult times. Consequently, their survival and livelihoods now solely depend on the various but limited food aid initiatives organised by our state agencies and civil society organisations.

To make things worse, we notice that other problems related to the aids mentioned above have emerged. There is direct information or report on disabled groups not receiving food aid from state agency; failure in distributing foods to Orang Asli communities by the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) due to the lack of manpower; insufficient funding as more are calling out for help.

We therefore call on the government to immediately look into the seriousness of this issue and set up a multi-stakeholders task force to provide adequate security and effective measures in ensuring the survival and livelihoods for these vulnerable persons, and hence protecting the dignity which every single human being deserves.

We therefore specifically urge that the following actions to be taken without delay:

1)    Provide food aid to all vulnerable persons on humanitarian ground, regardless their citizenship status or nationalities;

2)    Make hospitals a safe zone to all who seek medical treatment by not arresting and or discriminate those without legal documents.

3)    Expand the budget of the “assistance to vulnerable groups” from RM25 million to RM60 million to ensure wider coverage to match the country's population.

4)    Set up an efficient, transparent and accountable system which engage multiple stakeholders that includes the welfare officers, JAKOA, charitable bodies, community and religious bodies, private companies, NGOs, for effective coordinations, rapid distributions and release of the funds.

Initiated by : Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy (TBHTD)

Endorsed by (Alphabetical order)

1.    Agora Society

2.    AMMPO-SENTRO

3.    Baramkini

4.    Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)

5.    ENGAGE

6.    Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)

7.    Gerakan Pembebasan Akademik

8.    Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

9.    Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility

10. Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)

11. Migrant care

12. MyPJ

13. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur

14. Persatuan Pekerja Rumah Tangga Indonesia Migran (PERTIM)

15. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

16. Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas (SMSL)

17. Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur

18. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

19. Sungai Buloh Settlement Council

20. Timber Employees Union of Peninsula Malaysia (TEUPM)

21. Women’s Development Organisation (WDO) Petaling Jaya

22. United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong)

23. Citizens' Health Initiative

24. Save Rivers

25. National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW)