Can’t see, can’t hear’ policy on refugees must stop

Media Statement by Yeo Bee Yin, State Assemblyperson of Damansara Utama on Wednesday 13 May 2015 in Petaling Jaya.

The number of refugees in Malaysia will continue to increase and the government can no longer practice “can’t see, can’t hear” policy on refugee.

It was reported that more than a thousand of Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees have just arrived at Malaysian shore. According to UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) report entitled “Irregular Maritime Movement”, about 25,000 people are estimated to have departed from the Bay of Bengal in the first quarter of 2015 in the hope to reach Malaysia by sea[1]. Therefore, we believe that this is just the beginning of more refugees to arrive in days to come.

Protect the Kids not Paedophiles

Below is my full statement responding to the intention of Shafie Apdal and MARA of giving Nur Fitri the Paedophiles an easy second chance. 

Media Statement of Yeo Bee Yin, State Assemblywoman of Damansara Utama on Wednesday 6 May 2015 in Petaling Jaya. 

No Unconditional Second Chance for Nur Fitri the Paedophile

We are disgusted by the statement made by the Minister of Rural and Regional Development Mohd Shafie Apdal on the government intention to appeal to the court of London to lessen the Nur Fitri's sentence in London. Shafie Apdal must explain to the public why the government should spend tax payers money (our government resources in London) to lessen the punishment for a paedophile? Such government action will send a terribly wrong signal to Malaysian that paedophile is alright.  Nur Fitri is a disgrace to our country and the fact that Shafie Apdal intend to appeal for him is even more disgraceful. 

Our children's right to protection is far more important than the freedom of paedophile. If we want to protect the most vulnerable, we must be stern to the convict. Where is Datuk Rohani Abdul Rohani on this issue? She should speak up against her colleague for the right of the children to be protected. 

In addition, we strongly disagree with MARA and the student group which are calling to give Nur Fitri a second chance by allowing him to study in the local institutions in Malaysia upon his return. In fact, MARA should now review its scholarship selection policy on why was he given scholarship? Tax payers monies wasted on a paedophile!