In a statement, Suhakam chairman Rahmat Mohamad said Malaysia was obliged to consider the best interests of children under the Convention of the Rights of the Child, despite its duty to enforce immigration laws.

He urged the authorities to provide immediate counselling support to the affected children and to respond to their short-term needs.

“The vulnerability and sensitivity of children should always be prioritised in any immigration policy decision,” he said. “The early hours of the morning raid may have a profound effect on the children’s mental state.”

Rahmat also recommended that Putrajaya implement the alternative to detention (ATD) programme, saying this had been approved by the Cabinet previously.

Under the ATD programme, he said, the children would be temporarily housed in a place that was safe and conducive for their health and well-being, while waiting for their immigration status to be determined.

Yesterday, an illegal settlement housing undocumented migrants was raided in a joint operation led by the Negeri Sembilan immigration department in the wee hours of the morning.

Among the 67 illegal immigrants detained were 11 men and 20 women, as well as 36 children, comprising 20 boys and 16 girls.