In singling out home minister Hamzah Zainudin, Maria called for an end to such tactics.

“They are neither animals nor criminals. They are human beings,” the Petaling Jaya MP said in a statement.

Maria warned that such a tactic would force millions of undocumented migrants to go deeper into hiding.

“So how can we achieve herd immunity if these people are not vaccinated?”

Maria added the advertisement showed that the current administration, especially Hamzah, did not understand the concept of herd immunity.

She went on to say that the government needs to be more compassionate.

Migrants and refugees, she said, need to be assured that they will be protected and will not be arrested when they come forward to get screened or vaccinated.

“Hamzah’s authoritarian approach has to end.

“Cabinet ministers must now step in immediately to give 100% assurance that vaccination will be provided to all migrants and refugees, regardless of their status, so that in the long run, we save the lives of all,” she said.

According to the advertisement, the public was encouraged to report details, such as the location and number of undocumented migrants at a particular location.

The public was also told to provide pictures.