Aid groups: Refugees ‘languishing in Malaysian camps’

Courtesy: Radio Australia

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As Australia steps up pressure on its Asian neighbours to reduce the number of people seeking to enter this country illegally by boat, the Malaysian government is under pressure to demonstrate its commitment to stemming the human tide. Many refugees from east Asia pass through Malaysia, especially people fleeing Burma, and the United States has listed that country as one of the worst offenders in the region for human trafficking and smuggling.

Presenter: Karen Percy, South East Asia correspondent

Speaker : Temme Lee, Suarem



PERCY: An estimated 100,000 refugees are thought to reside in Malaysia – the vast majority of them are Burmese. But there are also significant numbers of Sri Lankans and Afghanis. While many of them, especially those who are Muslim, would like to stay in Malaysia increasingly they are being forced out. Malaysia does not recognise refugees, even if the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has assessed them and given them supporting documentation. And so the authorities treat them as illegal immigrants, or worse hand them over to trafficking rings.

JOHN: (AFGHAN)

PERCY: This Afghani father of four tells us if he had money he would not spend one more minute in Malaysia. With his son translating, the 41-year old says he would put his family on a boat to Australia, even with the risk of perishing at sea. He’s heard other Afghani families have been allowed to settle in Australia but such a journey would cost him about $5,000 – money he just doesn’t have. John, as he wants us to call him, flew into Kuala Lumpur with his wife and sons two years ago. He’s originally from Afghanistan. His children were born in Iran. The family has converted to Christianity, and fear religious persecution if they were forced to return to Aghanistan.

JOHN: (AFGHAN)

PERCY: John tells us they are also treated poorly in Muslim-dominated Malaysia, scorned for going to church.

LEE: In Malaysia, conditions are really really tough.

PERCY: Temme Lee is with the Malaysian refugee advocacy group, Suarem.

LEE: For those who have lived here maybe from five to 10 years, they start to get really desperate because they get trapped in the same cycle of arrest, detention and often deportation as well. And they are subject to a lot of abuse by local authorities and also locals themselves here in Malaysia.

PERCY: John works illegally, living in constant fear of being found by the authorities, who demand bribes or detain the visitors. The family’s case is currently with the UNHCR. His 15-year son — who we’ll call Martin — talks of a grim life where refugees are even subjected to death threats.

MARTIN: My life is like the darkness. My life in Malaysia doesn’t have any light, you know.

PERCY: And what would you like for your life?

MARTIN: My wish is to be a doctor but now I cannot. I’d like to have, I’d like to study, I’d like to have… I’d like to have a good life, I’d like to be lucky. But in Malaysia we cannot. Also we cannot study.

PERCY: Martin used to have a job in a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur but his boss told him he had to stand during the whole 12-hours of his shift. He left rather than complain and risk being reported to the authorities. Cases like this are prevalent in Malaysia. Employers seem to have few qualms about taking advantage of the poor citizens of neighbouring countries. Rohingyas from Burma are paid a pittance to work on the fishing boats. Domestic workers from the Philippines and Indonesia who routinely abused physically and mentally. Refugees from Malaysia choose to go to Australia in part because of proximity but more importantly, when travelling by boat, there is no need for paperwork — unlike arriving by air. They’re also drawn to Australia because of the immigrant communities there. 15-year-old Afghani boy, Martin, again.

MARTIN: Australia is a country that supports the refugee people and they like the refugee people. And they go to Australia, with a boat to Australia, because of that – because they heard the news that Australia is a good country.

PERCY: If his family is ever able to afford the trip there are plenty of options. According to refugee advocacy groups smugglers and traffickers operate freely in Malaysia, assisted by corrupt immigration officials and police. Earlier this year, the United States put Malaysia back on a blacklist of nations for its failure to address the problems of human trafficking and smuggling. There are also some who believe the government is turning a blind eye to possible terrorists in the country. The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been trying to press the point with his regional colleagues that ayslum seekers are an Asia-wide problem. But until Malaysia and other nations are prepared to do more, the boats will keep coming.