KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today urged the Immigration Department to ensure the wellbeing of 36 children detained during an enforcement raid on undocumented Indonesian migrants on Wednesday.

Suhakam chairman Datuk Rahmat Mohamad acknowledged the need to enforce the country’s law, but asked the department to also meet Malaysia’s obligations under the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

"In this respect, Suhakam calls for immediate counselling support to be provided to these children by the authorities concerned.

"It is also hoped that the authority will respond to the short-term needs of the affected children,” he said.

The children were detained during a raid on a migrant settlement in Nilai Spring, Seremban on Wednesday, and are being held at the Lenggeng Immigration Depot.

"The early hours of the morning raid may have a profound effect on the children’s mental state,” said Rahmat.

Suhakam also recommended the children be placed under the Alternative to Detention (ATD) programme to temporarily house them in a safe and conducive environment, while their immigration status is determined.

The ATD scheme, a pilot of which was conducted last year, provided temporary foster care for unaccompanied and separated children under detention.

However, the current status of the ATD was unclear.