Malaysia to deport Rayhan on August 31
Malaysian authorities will deport youth Mohamad Rayhan Kabir, the Bangladeshi migrant worker in Malaysia who gave an interview critical of the government in the Al Jazeera documentary "Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown", on August 31.
Country's Director-General of Immigration Datuk Indera Khairul Dzaimee Daud said, "The earliest flight to Bangladesh would be on August 31 and Rayhan could be boarding that plane."
He said, the police had completed investigation on Rayhan and sent the report to the Attorney-General's Chamber for further action.
"Rayhan's visitor pass has also been terminated. We will send him back to Bangladesh after the investigation is complete," he said in a news conference today.
Rayhan Kabir was arrested on 24 July following a two-week manhunt, after the Immigration Department issued a wanted notice against him. In addition to having his work permit revoked and the impending deportation, he has been blacklisted from ever entering Malaysia again.
On 3 July 2020, Al Jazeera released the documentary, "Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown" that documented the mistreatment of migrant workers by Malaysian authorities under the movement control order implemented to respond to Covid-19.
It detailed how Malaysian authorities, namely the Immigration Department and police, conducted raids in areas that were heavily occupied by migrant and refugee communities. Following these raids, those arrested were taken to immigration detention centres that are well known to be cramped, unsanitary, and poorly maintained. Some detention centres saw spikes in cases of infection of Covid-19.
Mohamad Rayhan Kabir, a migrant worker himself, featured in the documentary, expressing concern about the government's actions. Apart from his arrest, Al-Jazeera staff involved in the making of the documentary have been questioned by police authorities for possible defamation, sedition, and violation of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).
