The unspoken truths about Myanmar Refugees in Malaysia
So many people here know about the refugess that seek solace and a new life in Malaysia. One time I walked past a house near Jalan Inai (a bit old bungalow) and saw it was bursting with refugees, I even spoke to one or two lovely chaps by the gatepost (what is it about the Burmese here in KL? They always seem to be smiling) who were very happy and had some very decent things to say about the government agency that allowed them to stay there. I asked how they escaped, and suddenly their smiles went, they looked scared and didn’t want to talk to me about that. This was a long while back, and I was a bit confused.
Since then I took an interest, and have discovered a few books and websites that explain a lot. Namely the SUARAM reports and human rights bloggers. Now I understand why people are calling for the disbanding of RELA, especially after the nasty events when they were paid a bounty for each refugee they dragged in. I know a lot of people here are aware of the conditions in the detention centres at Sungai Buloh etc, and a few have even told me about some sort of camp in the far north – where the refuges not only have to contend with scratching out a living in the jungle, but are constantly under threat from dysentery, malaria, jungle sores and cholera, but also get regular visits from the authorities and are dragged back over the border – where they have to start the long walk, or run the gauntlet of human traffickers all over again.
Then a few weeks ago I caught an article in the NST, which basically said “Thai governement denies mistreating Myanmar refuges – again!” in a very high handed and disparaging tone. I read on, and it was the story about the poor boat people being cut loose in the open sea. It nearly made me weep to think of such human suffering – but then I thought, Hey Malaysia denies mistreating these people too.
Ah, but the difference? These particular boat people were Muslims, weren’t they. So apparently that explains it.
But hey, Malaysia, the people of Myanmar are your brothers and sisters, they were also a colony of the British, they also got independence at the same time. You should thank your lucky stars that Malaysia avoided the allied invasion front, and thus a full blown civil war that resulted in widespread ethnic genocide. You should give praise to whatever God you worship that this fair nation was spared such disasters, as well as Tsunamis and Typhoons, and give thanks for being blessed in such a bountiful land. But wouldn’t it be nice to help the poor souls that are facing such hideous conditions in their homeland? Doesn’t God smile and heap rewards on those that are good at heart? Doesn’t this self same God also heap vengance upon those that would do harm and exploit his peoples?
Instead of punishing these helpless, and blameless people – wouldn’t Malaysia do better to raise its image (on a global scale) by properly addressing these problems? By finding proper solutions to a situation that isn’t going to go away any time soon? Do people really believe that God will reward you for punishing people simply because they are from a different faith?
It’s such a shame to see, when I know that the people here in Malaysia are good, kind and decent people, that they would close one eye to such sickening mistreatment of their fellow humans. Now isn’t the time to point fingers at other nations, or blame people for this and that, but perhaps now should be the time to say “we’re a grown up nation, and we can be compassionate”. Don’t you think?
Dear Author,
My opinion is one I think many would agree with! In view of the rise in run-away cases of Indonesian maids and of the cost Malaysian have to bear in hiring and paying penalties as well as the rise in abuse cases by maids, I do believe many of us would be able to give those Mynmmar refugees a better place to live and a decent wage in return for the cleaning and baby siting that they would do. However, the cost charged by agencies for Mynmmar maids are far too high and unaffordable.
By LavannyaMahendran, 21-May-2009
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