KUALA LUMPUR: The move by the authorities to revoke the work permit of a Bangladeshi migrant worker who appeared on an Al-Jazeera documentary titled "Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown" has been described as a blatant abuse of power.
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) coordinator, Zaid Malek said through no fault of his own, the 25-year old migrant worker has now been rendered undocumented by the authorities.
"The extent that the authorities are willing to go in order to hunt down one man for merely speaking up his experience of injustice to the media is alarming.
"The revocation of the Bangladeshi's permit is a blatant abuse of power and amounts to flouting of the law by the Immigration Department.
"It has been clearly stated on the Section 9(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 that it only allows the Director General of Immigration to cancel a permit if it is prejudicial to public order, public security, public health or morality in Malaysia.
"It is inconceivable that the mere action of highlighting his plight to the media would fall under any of the categories listed under section 9(1)(c)," he said in a statement, today.
Zaid claimed that it was as though the Immigration Department was trying to legitimise a witch hunt on the said man.
"This act only serves to strengthen the allegation that migrants are being unfairly treated and targeted by the authorities.
"The illegitimate manhunt and persecution of this innocent man must not be allowed to continue.
"We demand the authorities to immediately halt its unjustified and unlawful pursuit of this man and strongly urge the government to immediately step in and stop this clear abuse of power by the authorities," he urged.
On Sunday, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador revealed that the Immigration Department had revoked the Bangladeshi's work permit.
He is now an undocumented migrant and as such would be deported home if found.