Attacking migrants at PPVs: video emerges of Rela officer assaulting worker

KUALA LUMPUR – It is absolutely crucial for migrant workers to receive their Covid-19 shots for their safety and to reduce the risk of infection among Malaysians.

However, evidence has emerged of migrants being treated so inhumanely at vaccination centres that many of them feel reluctant to get vaccinated.

A netizen claimed to have witnessed People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) personnel “kicking and punching” migrants who arrived at the Bukit Jalil vaccination centre here for inoculation.

“I witnessed a Rela officer LITERALLY KICKING AND PUNCHING several foreigners and treating them like dogs in Bukit Jalil PPV today,” said Twitter user @SassyRekha in a post today.

It is so sad that foreigners at treated SO BADLY at #PPV #PPVbukitjalil #vaksincovid @JKJAVMY @501Awani @staronline @bharianmy @NST_Online @DGHisham pic.twitter.com/9St1ZSXHDH

— Sasi Rekha Ravi (@sassyRekha) August 19, 2021

While she did not have a recording of an actual assault, she uploaded a video of an attempted one by a Rela officer trying to kick and push a person understood to be a migrant.

She added that three police personnel were present, but did not do anything to stop the apparent act of physical violence.

“These are foreigners who want to get vaccinated and are willing to wait hours under the scorching hot sun.

“The only walk-in PPV for foreigners is Bukit Jalil and due to this, the queue extends several kilometres. The least they can do is treat them like humans.”

A Rela spokesman has told The Vibes that they are looking into the matter.

Netizens commenting on the incident lashed out at Rela, expressing disgust and disappointment at the conduct of the officials. 

@AidaActually said she was at the same PPV yesterday and confirmed the alleged abuses. She said that she witnessed the harassment of foreigners by the authorities there. 

“Yes I was there yesterday and I can confirm this. ‘You orang apa? Orang B*ngla pergi sana’ (‘What are you? B*nglas go over there’) was just the tip of the iceberg. 

“They were yelled at, berated, and disrespected,” @AidaActually said. 

Yes I was there yesterday and I can confirm this. “You orang apa? Orang Bangla pergi sana” was just tip of the iceberg. They were yelled at, berated and disrespected.

— Al-Aida (@AidaActually) August 19, 2021

Another netizen pointed out the hypocrisy of Malaysia’s treatment of migrants here, saying that Westerners would not be treated in such a manner.

Just imagine if this foreigner was WHITE EUROPEAN with green/blue eyes and blonde hair.. they would roll out the red carpet for them…

— pokets | (@cosmicpokets) August 19, 2021

“Just imagine if this foreigner was WHITE EUROPEAN with green/blue eyes and blonde hair...they would roll out the red carpet for them,” @cosmicpokets said. 

this is not 1st time my mum maid pon ada bg tau dkt axiata arena dorang dilayan teruk with cursing word maki2 i pernh tweet tapi no reply

— o_O (@faris_ffff) August 19, 2021

“This is not the first time. My mom’s maid told us that at the Axiata Arena PPV, they were treated badly, with curses hurled at them,” added @faris_ffff. – The Vibes, August 19, 2021