KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has welcomed the government’s decision to place children in immigration depots under the care of non-governmental organisations (NGO) specialising in child welfare.

In a statement today, Suhakam chairman Datuk Rahmat Mohamad said the decision is in line with Suhakam’s recommendation to the government to implement Alternatives to Detention (ATD) for the children concerned.

"Suhakam hopes that the enforcement authorities will ensure that children will not be placed at the immigration depots anymore.

"As a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Malaysia is obliged to ensure that the detention of a child shall be used as a measure of last resort, in particular when they were detained together with their parents or guardians due to immigration offences,” he said.

He added Suhakam will continue to monitor the implementation of ATD and advocate for the rights and well-being of all children in the country.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who announced the matter yesterday reportedly said he had already identified the profile of the children, their numbers and where they were detained. — Bernama