Stop whipping illegal immigrants, Amnesty tells Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Amnesty International on Thursday urged Malaysia to stop whipping illegal immigrants as a form of punishment and criticised attempts by the government to muzzle freedom of expression.

Under Malaysian law, those staying in the country illegally are subject to a mandatory six lashes of a cane, fines and up to five years in jail.

"Degrading methods of punishment such as whipping should be ceased immediately if Malaysia has accepted to uphold the protection of human dignity," said Nora Murat, Amnesty's Malaysia executive director.

The whipping sentence was added to Malaysian immigration laws in 2002 amid concern over the ramifications of having a large migrant workforce.

In the Malaysia chapter of its 2010 human rights annual report, released Thursday, the London-based group said 34,923 whippings were carried out for immigration offences between 2002 and 2008.

Malaysia, Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, has 2.2 million migrant workers in Malaysia, who are the mainstay of the plantation and manufacturing sectors.

Amnesty also criticised the government for attempting to silence bloggers with the threat of jail sentences and breaking up peaceful protests.

"Even a silent candlelight vigil was condemned (by the government), with protesters arrested, thus denying the public the right to peaceful assembly," Nora said.

Demonstrations are routinely banned in Malaysia citing the threat of political instability. Police usually use tear gas and water cannon to disperse illegal gatherings.

Job apportunities for Burmese Refugees in Malaysia

UNHCR held a meeting on Friday in Kuala Lumpur with the Burmese refugee community and related organizations about job opportunities for refugees registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia.

UNHCR’s Community Development Unit (CDU) said that they are in discussion with the Malaysian government to allow refugees the opportunity to work. CDU said that the Malaysian government can issue identification cards to refugees registered with the UNHCR.

Although CDU is trying to ensure job opportunities for refugees, many contentious issues remain between UNHCR (Malaysia) and Burmese refugees, including the procedures and guidelines for granting of refugee status and equal treatment among refugees.

Maug Hla, chairperson of Burma Refugee Organization (BRO) said that,

“It [the job opportunity proposal] is a good plan of UNHCR. But, there are still many challenges and problems for Burmese refugees from discrimination of some UNHCR officers, especially registration officers.”

He said that, “Most Burmese ethnic refugees do not have a chance for registration with UNHCR. So, how can they seize and benefit from these opportunities? Moreover, the gaps between registered refugees and unregistered ones will widen.”

UNHCR (Malaysia) is rather notorious for its unfair and inefficient procedures. Most Burmese people, especially ethnic-Burmese and Buddhists, have no right to register for asylum.

Nearly three hundred Burmese refugees demonstrated in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur on 21 January 2009 demanding recognition of refugee status and equal treatment among refugees.

CDU officers said that they want to get the refugees lists of respective refugee organizations. Refugee organizations have to submit their members’ names, contact numbers, addresses, employment information, and so on.

Maung Hla added, “I appreciate the good works and plans of UNHCR. However, sometimes I worry that some UNHCR registration officers may be trying to get ethnic-Burmese and political activists into trouble and arrested by Malaysian police. They have refused to register ethnic-Burmese and democracy and human rights activists for over 3 years. It is grossly unfair and unkind.”

He continued, “Some UNHCR registration officers said that the ruling Myanmar military junta does not repress ethnic-Burmese people and Buddhists in Myanmar because the military junta is also Burmese and Buddhist. However, I have much evidence that this is a misconception towards refugees from Burma.”

As of January 2010, there were some 79,300 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia, who came from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, according to UNHCR website statistics.

Of those, 62,000 are refugees from Burma, comprising 28,100 Chin, 16,100 Rohingya, 3,700 Burmese Muslims, 2,900 Kachin, and other ethnic minorities.

The UNHCR said a large number of Burmese refugees remain unregistered. The refugee community estimates that unregistered refugees and asylum-seekers could number 30,000 people.

The Malaysian government has cooperated with the UNHCR on humanitarian grounds since 1975 even though Malaysia has not signed the UN Convention Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Malaysia Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and Paul Alan Vernon, representative of UNHCR to Malaysia, met and discussed a range of issues pertaining to refugees and asylum seekers at the international level in February 2010 in Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia.

Maung Hla said that, “Although the Malaysian government may understand the refugees on humanitarian grounds and may allow refugees to work, most Burmese-ethnic refugees and other unregistered asylum-seekers cannot seize the opportunities, and effectively lose all their rights. This has happened because of the unfair misconduct of some UNHCR officers.”

Some UNHCR officers’ misconduct and unfair procedures also work to discredit the UNHCR’s prestigious reputation in the opinion of social organizations such as Burma Refugee Organization (BRO) and some Myanmar organizations that in the past greatly respected the UN and co-operated actively with the UNHCR.

Maung Hla said that, “On March 17, 2010, a UNHCR registration officer told me that he gave BRO’s membership information to the Immigration Department. I was very shocked and disappointed by his totally unreasonable and illogical demand. It showed that he has no kindness or sympathy. Moreover, it breached our confidentiality.”

He added that, “We want to ask UNHCR if the intention of the CDU job opportunity plan is to make Burmese refugees feel happy or unhappy?”

"Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities:Progress for All"

UNHCR Slogan

7 Refugees Died In Car Accident In Thailand

27 May 2010: At least 7 Chin refugees including a 2-year-old boy are confirmed 'dead' in a car accident near the Thai border while the vehicle en route to Malaysia carrying a total of 30 refugees from Burma was reportedly shot by the Thai Police on 24 May 2010.

One of the survivors was quoted as saying that the vehicle driver, a human-trafficking agent, ran away when he saw the Thai police on the way and that the police chased him straight away, adding: "We heard gunshots twice and didn't know what happened to him afterwards."

Khin Mya Win, who with staff members of Raks Thai Foundation went to Phetchabu and Cha Am Provinces to see the victims today, said: "We were told that 7, identified as males including a 5-year-old boy, died at Phetchaburi hospital and that their bodies would be released only when the family members come."

We went on to the Cha Am Police Station and met some of the survivors, Kyin Mya Win continued.

The vehicle driver is said to have been released from the hospital according to the Thai Police and is likely to face human trafficking and smuggling charges.

Meanwhile in Malaysia, Daniel Thawng Tha Ceu, 22, yesterday fell to death from the construction building while he was working and a Chin refugee woman, from Matupi town of Southern Chin State, died at Ipoh hospital. Members of CRC (Chin Refugee Committee) were said to have taken her body for funeral service.

Yesterday, Malaysian RELA Corps conducted a 'severe' raid in Bukit Bintang and Jalan Imbi, cutting the metal bars apart and crushing the doors open where refugees, mostly Chins, live. Dozens of refugees were arrested but those holding UNHCR cards were known to have been released.

Ten of thousands of Chin refugees are currently stranded in Malaysia, Thailand and India after fleeing their native places in Burma away from the brutalities and abuses inflicted upon them by the long-standing military regime.

Refugees worry about post-amnesty attack

A rights group representing Rohingyas in Malaysia has appealed to the government to exclude from an amnesty program undocumented migrants registered with the UNHCR.

“We are worried what will happen to us after the amnesty period as there will be mass crackdown on undocumented migrants and based on past experiences many refugees were arrested, detained, charged and deported to the Thailand border,” Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization of Malaysia president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani was quoted in local media.

Malaysia plans to offer the amnesty program to thousands of illegal foreign workers, with a chance for them to return home without facing legal action.

This is the third such amnesty program in Malaysia.

A May 20 announcement by the government on the program did not make clear if those with refugee status and caught working would be considered illegal workers.

The same worry was echoed by some Catholic Church people in the Kuala Lumpur area who serve Myanmar refugees, mostly ethnic Chin.

“For migrant workers whom have been here in the country without documentation, it’s a good chance for them to return home. But for the refugees whom are seeking protection in our country, it is going to be a nightmare for them as soon as the crackdown begins after the amnesty period,” said Sudhagaran Stanley, who works in the migrants ministry of Penang diocese.

Most refugees work in plantations, vegetable farms and construction sites. They are at the mercy of employers who pay them little and who often withhold salaries for long periods of time.

A Church development worker said he hopes Church ministries serving migrants would be able to meet with the relevant authorities on the matter.

“We are talking about refugees here as a whole” regardless of country of origin. “We are not making any distinction, be they Christians or Muslims,” said the Church worker who requested anonymity.

Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Sri Lankan asylum seekers threaten hunger strike in Malaysia

By IANSMay 25th, 2010 KUALA LUMPUR - A group of Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers has threatened to go on hunger strike if they are sent back home.

They have been detained here by Malaysian authorities.

Sri Lanka Tamil Refugees Humanitarian Programme coordinator Eashvara Lingam said the group would go on strike unless the Malaysian government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) fulfil their demand to be sent to a third country without further delay.

“They also demand for them not to be forcibly sent back to Sri Lanka where they will face persecution by its army and for authorities to permit human rights activists and other NGO leaders to visit them in the camps,” he said in a statement here Tuesday.

Eashvara said he had received reports from the detainees that they were not getting clean water, and were supplied with only low quality and stale food, The Star online reported.

“However, they appreciate the Malaysian authorities for saving them from the sea,” he said.

Malaysia is home to Tamils, both from India and Sri Lanka. Tamils form a bulk of the ethnic Indian population of 1.7 million.

Resettled Chin Refugees Welcomed To Community In Australia

22 May 2010: More than 50 Chin refugees newly resettled in Australia have received warm reception from the community of Goulburn, a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales.

Carol James, Mayor of Goulburn, said in the Stateline Canberra news: "When they first arrived they came to the council and presented us with a flag and let us know who they were. So after the Africans the Chin came and we are delighted, absolutely delighted to have them in the town."

The Chin refugees coming from India under the UNHCR Resettlement Programme are said to be learning English, learning to drive and striving to become part of Australian society while preserving and passing on their own traditions, according to the news presenter, Catherine Garret.

After escaping persecution in Burma as one of many persecuted ethnic groups, the Chin group has now arrived in Australia after a long wait under UNHCR protection in India, making the Australian city their home, according to the news.

A young Chin refugee, Zamveli, said in the interview that she left Burma at the age of 12, adding: "As we know, Burma is under the military rule. I was a little young when I was in Burma but my parents got many difficulties like my father was forced to be a VCP, village council president. As he denied to work, he had to run away and was arrested by the military and tortured. After my father ran away, we were always disturbed by the military. My mother finally got a decision to move out, to run away so we ran to India to save our life."

On their arrival in India, Zamveli and her family were reunited with her father who had escaped from prison in Burma but the family had to wait for 12 long years before finally securing visas for Australia.

The Chins are said to be actively involved in a community that helps to maintain their religious traditions, language and cuisine. Kate Evans reported in the news that the Chin brings their gardens with them wherever they go as some Australian locals were seen tasting Chin traditional condiments such as chillies and garlics sauce, and soup.

The community gets together often to hold church services in their homes and celebrate milestones like the birth of a child or a new car, the reporter added.

There are an estimated 4,000 Chin refugees living in Australia under the UNHCR resettlement programme from Malaysia and India after fleeing their homeland in Burma away from various measures of repression and human rights abuses by the military regime

Burma Refugees provides shelter, education and more for groups

FAR away from their politically unstable motherland, Myanmars are seeking refuge on our shores.

The records of the United Nations High Commissioner (UNHCR) show that there are 82,400 refugee and asylum seekers in Malaysia as of February this year.

About 76,200 of them are from Myanmar, comprising some 37,600 Chins, 18,200 Rohingyas, 5,100 Myanmar Muslims, 3,500 Mon, 3,200 Kachins and other ethnic minorities including Burmese.

Bearing the scars of oppression, they have settled down in different parts of the country.

A group of Myanmar nationals are calling a township 30 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur their home, until it is safe to return to the homeland.

Most of them rent units above shoplots and work in factories, shops and restaurants nearby to feed themselves.

Guidance: Moe Moe Khing (middle) helping two Myanmar children with their homework.

We climbed two flights of stairs in a commercial lot and arrived at a unit with three letters — BRO — attached to the door.

Behind the door, a few men were gathered in front of a small television while two teenagers surfed the Internet in an unlit room.

On the wall was a collage of photos showing Myanmar refugees attending talks, cultural and religious activities, and also, startlingly, photos of the deceased lying in coffins.

BRO, which stands for Burma Refugee Organisation, was started on Jan 1, 2006, by U Maung Hla.

The 58-year-old fled his country and arrived in Malaysia in 1997.

After being jailed three times for taking part in a demonstration in front of the Myanmar embassy, he established the organisation to help his fellow countrymen.

“There were many groups for the other ethnics, like Chin, Kachin and Shan, but there was none for the Burmese (also one of the ethnics). I had no one to turn to for help.

“When I set up BRO, I made sure that I did not discriminate based on ethnic groups and religion. My door is open to all who need help,” he said.

Skilled: Nang Khan Seng earns extra income by putting her sewing skills to good use.

Now in its fifth year of operation, BRO has some 17,000 members in Peninsular Malaysia.

Maung Hla said he worked closely with the UNHCR to help the Myanmar refugees in Malaysia.

“I respond to calls from police stations and hospitals, when Myanmar nationals are being detained or sent to hospitals for treatment.

“I will then work with UNHCR to have the detainees released and sometimes, I have to make funeral arrangements for those who have died,” he said.

Maung Hla travels twice a month to meet BRO members in other states. When he hits the road, he brings along small containers of fried beef pickle, fried prawns pickle, fried dried fish with him to sell to those who yearn for a taste of home.

These products are made by the women members in another unit, which also doubled as their home.

Maung Hla’s wife, Moe Moe Khing, 39, who is in charge of the women’s and children’s section, said BRO obtained funds from UNHCR to start this small project.

“The women have something to do to occupy their time while the profits earned are channelled back to the health and education fund,” she said.

In this unit adorned with posters and calendars bearing the portraits of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the residents prepare meals for some 50 students studying in the opposite unit on the same floor.

The children, aged between five and 17, do not have an open field to play or a canteen to buy titbits and fried chicken.

This small unit, equipped with basic furniture, is where they learn English, Mathematics, Science and Computer skills for a monthly fee of RM40.

After four years in the township, Maung Hla said BRO had established amicable ties with the locals.

“I explained our situation to them and they understand. Some of them even asked us to keep an eye on their shops when they are away,” he said.

At the same time, BRO members are told to respect the local customs and abstain from vices.

Moe Moe added: “I told them we are in a foreign land together so don’t fight each other.”

The Myanmar nationals only hold BRO member cards temporarily until they register with UNHCR and obtain refugee identity cards.

Maung Hla said he had stopped harping on political issues and focused strictly on social welfare.

“Every day when I open my eyes, I think of how to help the people,” he said.

Living in exile and despair

ORIGINATING from Yangon, Arkarmoe fled from the military junta and sought shelter in Mae Sot, Thailand, for nine months before he made his way to Malaysia.

The 27-year-old social activist and journalist said he was denied a chance to pursue a doctorate because he criticised the education system in Myanmar.

Armed with a strong desire to let the world know what is happening in Myanmar, Arkarmoe turned to the social media to disseminate news and information. Since arriving in Malaysia, he has been helping Burma Refugee Organisation (BRO) to set up its bilingual website http://www.bromalaysia.com/

“I don’t know how long I have to wait for the refugee identity card. We are living in exile and we cannot do anything,” he said.

Fellow refugee Kamikaze, 28, stayed in the forest in Thailand for 20 days before he contacted BRO and arrived in Malaysia.

“I have lost my way and have no one to depend on. I shudder to think of my fate if I had not found BRO,” he said.

As the junta harass his family members about his whereabouts, he has not been keeping in touch with his parents and younger brother for two years.

“I want to see my country achieving democracy. So far, my life is rough and full of struggles. I do not wish to see the younger generation suffer like me,” he said.

When asked about what lies ahead, Arkarmoe said with a tinge of despair in his voice: “I cannot see my future. I feel like a dying old man, a prisoner.

Refugees forced to flee homeland

STARTING from the Vietnamese boat people, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) has been assisting the refugees arriving in Malaysia since 1975.

It conducts activities related to the reception, registration, documentation and status determination of the refugees.

As Malaysia is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, there are currently no legis­lative or administrative provisions in place for dealing with asylum seekers or refugees in the country.

The refugees cannot get formal employment and the children are not able to attend government schools.

The first step to help refugees, according to UNHCR spokesman Yante Ismail, is to understand who a refugee is and why they have left their country.

“Unlike migrants, refugees do not choose to leave their countries. They are compelled to do so because of serious discrimination in their home countries, armed conflict, serious public disorder and other complex human rights issues,” she said.

In contrast to economic mig­rants, who leave their countries to seek material improvements in their lives, refugees cannot return home and do not enjoy the protection of their home countries.

Refugees need a temporary safe haven in the host country, at least until such time that they are able to return home, or find a new home in a third country.

“What refugees need the most is compassion and understanding from Malaysians about the circumstances of their plight,” Yante said.

The public can also volunteer with the UNHCR and the many refugee community groups in our country.

“They can teach English and Bahasa Malaysia to refugee children and adults, help with health-related education initiatives, conduct non-school activities for refugee children such as art and craft or singing,” Yante said. Those interested in being a volunteer can email infomalaysia@unhcr.org or call UNHCR’s Volunteer Coordinator at 03-2141 1322.

For details, visit http://www.unhcr.org.my/.

Using children to do it

ELAN PERUMAL provides a first-hand account of his close encounters with vagabonds over a two-month observation period.

I WAS surprised to find beggars and their children all over the place when I first entered their “territory”.

They were in the thick of action and I realised that they were well known among the petty traders and shopkeepers in the area.

Things were so intense that I was almost immediately approached by the young beggars.

Working partners: Sofinah and Salim taking a break after a long day of begging.

But they soon began to sniff something amiss – it was as if they knew that they were being followed and photographed.

Several traders even asked me why I had been photographing the beggars. They were worried that the beggars’ “livelihood” would be affected, and that enforcement action would follow.

From my observations, I learnt that the beggars operated under various modus operandi, depending on the age of their children.

The ones with babies would normally use a more “direct approach” by moving around in crowded areas to attract sympathy.

One of the mother beggars whom I thought was the most “hardworking” was identified as Sofinah.

She does not only operate along the terminal at Jalan Pos Baru but often gets onto buses to plead for money.

But after she kept seeing me, she disappeared.

Sofinah was afraid of me after I started taking her photographs.

She seemed to be the only one who was accompanied by her husband, Salim, who was physically handicapped. This guy only begged on the buses.

After several hours, Salim would go and enjoy teh tarik at a nearby restaurant while his wife continued to beg. The couple often sat next to each other at the bus stop.

Other beggars with very small children would wait at strategic spots such as the back lane near Plaza MPK. They would make their children sit in front of them, holding a bowl.

On weekends and public holidays when human traffic was heavy, the mothers would leave their children at a strategic point before moving to another location to beg. But they would often return to watch over the young ones.

Beggars with children who were independent sat along the pavement in front of shops or under trees near the terminal area.

I noticed that many of these mothers had more than three children.

There were those with five or six children “working” alongside them.

I witnessed how the children would run to their mothers with their collection. The mothers would quickly insert the coins into a pouch which they kept in a sling bag.

For the children, the area is not only a place for them to help their families eke out a living but is also their “playground”. They take time-off to rest and play with their friends.

Begging runs in the family

KLANG: Their grandmothers were beggars, so were their mothers. Now it is their turn to take to the streets.

This seems to be the way a Myanmar community here has taken to make a living.

Their grandparents were among thousands who entered the country as refugees from Myanmar in the 1970s.

For many Klang residents, the sight of groups of female beggars holding babies in their arms in the North Klang bus terminal area used to be a common sight for decades.

During the early years, the beggars and their babies would sit on a pedestrian bridge that connected Jalan Pos to the former Great Wall shopping complex.

Starting young: A child begging for money in Klang.

Their older children would be roaming around and begging in the vicinity of the busy terminal area and a former food court which has now become Plaza MPK.

Forty years have passed and Starprobe has discovered that successive generations have taken over the “trade.”

Checks revealed that the offspring including children and grandchildren – some as young as five – are now plying the streets.

A mother of five, when approached, admitted she used to beg with her mother as a young girl. Now her own children are following in her footsteps.

The 28-year-old woman, who declined to be named, said her mother stopped begging when she (the daughter) was in her teens and old enough to hit the streets on her own.

“My mother now stays at home and does the house work,” she said.

Confirming that subsequent generations were taking over from their parents, Klang Consumer Association president A. Devadass said he recognised at least one of the beggars who had inherited the “trade” from her mother.

He said the woman used to accompany her mother when she was small. Now she was begging with her own children.

“I knew her since she was a child. She recognised me as I used to talk to her those days,” Devadass, who helps the refugees, added.

The beggars, whose numbers could go up to 50 during weekends and public holidays, have become part and parcel of the hustle and bustle life in this part of the town.

While the children move freely around these areas, their mothers often place themselves on the pavement in front of a row of shops at Jalan Pos.

Some of these beggars will also occupy the open space around the bus terminal area.

Most of them will arrive at the area with their children at about lunchtime and stay on till 9pm. They start in the mornings during weekends and public holidays.

They can take home a substantial amount during the weekends and public holidays due to the heavy flow of people and long hours.

Starprobe discovered that some of the women deliberately got pregnant so that they could have babies to cuddle in their arms, an effective strategy to get the public to donate.

“I’m sure you will feel pity for the baby and offer me some cash. Otherwise, you may chase me away,” said one of them when casually asked why many of these beggars had babies.

She added that they were the real mothers and the babies were not hired as some people suspected.

What is not established is who the fathers of the children are. It is learnt that most of the mothers are without husbands.

Devadass said the men supposedly leave their “wives” and get engaged with new partners frequently.

A child beggar, when asked about her father’s whereabouts, said: “My father is dead.”

Devadass said some of the men would stay at home as they felt they did not need to do the hard and dirty work of begging.

“The men apparently rely on the labour of their wives and children,” he said.

Myanmar refugees forced to make a living by seeking alms

KLANG: They were babies in the arms of their mothers begging in the streets here. Now 40 years on they are on the very same streets themselves plying the trade.

And it looks like this “generational handover” of the trade will continue, as they themselves have their own children either in their arms or running around nearby begging from pedestrians.

A girl in scarf with another on the far left approach commuters for money.

Some of the women reportedly get pregnant often, as beggars carrying babies are usually more successful in getting the sympathy of passers-by.

The beggars are from a community of Myanmar refugees who first came here in the 1970s.

Social workers have said three generations are now living here, all of whom have had to resort to begging to make a living.

Formation for Myanmarese/ Chin Refugees

A team of 3 Myanmarese pastoral workers from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur came down to Seremban today to give a talk to 38 Myanmarese/Chin refugees to create awareness of and provide ways to cope with the problems related to displacement, physical and mental health issues.

Refugees are no different than any other person in that they are equally vulnerable to the diseases that affect local communities. But where they differ is that refugees often find local healthcare facilities difficult to access due to costs, fear of travelling to reach those facilities and language barriers.

Refugees know that their safety and wellbeing depend on their accurate reading and careful negotiation of different spaces and landscapes in urban areas.

There are over 28 million people living in Malaysia. Among the three to four million non-citizens are around 100,000 asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons.

Malaysia is signatory neither to the 1951 Refugee Convention, nor to its 1967 Protocol. It has not enacted domestic legislation recognising the legal status of asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons. However, it permits UNHCR to register, determine status and provide assistance to these populations. There are no refugee camps in Malaysia. Most reside in urban areas – the largest numbers in Kuala Lumpur, the Klang Valley and Penang.

Unreliable income, exploitation at work (in particular, in the form of unpaid wages), extortion by law enforcement officers, robbery by local gangsters, the high cost of rent, health services and education, as well as the need to support those unable to find work make poverty endemic amongst refugees in Malaysia.

Raid; co-operation of RELA and Immigration Geared up

It can be said that nearly every week there's always a big operation led by RELA (People Volunteer Corp) combined with Immigration and Police around Kota Raya, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Pudu where most of refugees and illegal migrants dwelling and making home.

Precisely, a series of weekly raids occurring and more than dozens of people have nearly always been arrested on weekends at a time by RELA in Kota Raya where the centre, junction and destination of buses are and that is where most of commuters pass by. Often times, for those brought out to the police station used to informing CRC and ACR and the rescuer hurries to the station and help them released back from the police hands. But there's a price for making them get out of the station in spite of holding UNHCR Card which is sealed under the total protection of UNHCR.

Unfortunately, for those sent directly to the detention camps are in need to inform UNHCR office. But so sad that it takes very long, maybe after two months or more than that. “The breakout of raid is unpredictable that means it’s hard to avoid as refugee” said an interpreter in UNHCR.

This photo was taken during the raid took place on Sunday. The raid was carried out shortly after the refugees finished Sunday worship service and having lunch in Jalan Imbi. The authority round up four full trucks loaded of refugees.

A raid taken place in Jlan Imbi on 16/5/2010 resulted hundreds of people swept-over in four full trucks loaded. Needless to say, many were left unharmed for those of hiding at home but strolling on the streets.

“Apparently, a lady of Chin refugee got shocked and bringing about her heart disease in sight of many volunteers at CRC office. It was because of the scene of raid she saw”, reported to VOCR an anonymous.

The protection of UNHCR and the security of thousands of refugees appear highly in need to be highlighted among thousands of issues. The recognition of the Malay government in light of the refugees’ condition is more than what is important so that all of refugees’ problems such as; rate of death toll, a set of depression, anxiety, psychosis, employment and arresting will surely be significantly decreasing down.

Until present, normally around 60 to 100 persons of recognised refugee have been into counseling monthly in the UNHCR clinic and few of them, who have been victims of psychosomatic, are only referred to psychiatric Hospital by the appointed doctor. Obviously, here you can best simply find out what is the cause root problem for those refugees if interested.

And imagine what is most troubling them and threatening a daily life of refugee. Would the issues of refugee be remained unsolved or be unsolvable? Will refugee be kept victim of this nation or is what they are suffering the choice they make?

Govt to offer amnesty for illegal immigrants in Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: The Government will soon offer amnesty again to hundreds of thousands of illegal foreign workers, with the chance to return home without facing action.

To control the entry of foreign workers, the levy will also be increased from next year based on their number in each sector and the workers' skills.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who announced this yesterday, said the integrated biometric identification system would have to be in place before the programme could be implemented.

He said foreigners who entered the country illegally or overstayed after their work permits expired would be offered amnesty once the Home Ministry updated the system.

“The biometric identification system is necessary to ensure that we record the entry of all visitors and workers into the country. It will include work to update and coordinate all hardware, software and data managed by different agencies and ministries.

“We will leave it to the Home Ministry, namely the Immigration Department, to implement it as soon as possible,” Muhyiddin told a news conference after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Illegal Workers meeting here yesterday.

The amnesty programme was among 50 recommendations made to the Cabinet committee by the Life Laboratory on Issues of Foreign and Illegal Foreign Workers on ways to resolve various related issues.

Yesterday's meeting, which discussed the recommendations, was attended by representatives from 17 ministries and agencies, including Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

This will be the third amnesty programme for foreigners illegally working mainly in plantations, construction sites, factories, restaurants and the domestic maid sector.

Two previous such exercises, conducted in 2002 and 2004, saw hundreds of thousands of such workers heading home.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress recently urged the Government to make another amnesty offer, saying that the last one resulted in 230,000 taking up the offer.

Muhyiddin said the Government would also be looking into existing legislation and the possibility of introducing new regulations to curb the problem of illegal foreign workers, as it was important to ensure full enforcement once the amnesty period expired.

“After the amnesty offer expires, we will act against all those who harbour foreign workers without permits,” he said.

Asked if the Government would bear the cost of sending the workers home, he said it would not bear the full cost as employers were also to be held responsible.

Hishammuddin said each agency or ministry which had work related to foreign workers had their own systems to monitor different aspects of foreigners in the country.

Chin Refugees: Death Toll Surging in Waves

Nearly a week ago from last funeral, the Chin committee facing a critical challenge on the issue of death toll surging up. Amidst the ban on refugees burying confirmed by the authority, the unpredictable and unavoidable fate of death is practically eyed highly increasing among Chin refugees along with all races of refugee in Malaysia.

On reaching the third week of May, we confronted two death cases and they'd been reported to have buried in the same day on 20 May, 2010.

The Chin refugee, Khen Lal, also called Maung Tan in his would be UNHCR registration name, aged 45 from Sai Kah village. "Most of my life here (Malaysia) so many times, I was unable to run after where the UNHCR registration was set because of my physical conditions and lack of information from my friends", said to VOCR while being able to see doctor, adding that my longsuffering of TB tempted me from doing all I wanted to do, stopped me to work and go to the Clinic although I know I should do that.

He went to search for a refuge from the same villagers in Kuala Lumpur, having his condition being extremely serious and at the end of hope to stand by himself. His meantime guardian informed CRC and asking of help in ways they could get medical treatment. By the help of CRC, he was brought to the refugee clinic and suspected of TB and HIV. He was tested HIV negative in the clinic and advising him to be x-rayed at the next day. Unluckily, no one was not able to afford for him at that time though it was so small case. Later on, the family whom he hanged on helped him taking x-ray and the result came out TB serious positive. On 17 May, 2010 he was admitted in UKM Hospital and his death was confirmed on 19 May, 2010. According to the clinic, he was referred to UNHCR on the basis of his medical needs by the appointed doctor and his would be UNHCR ref: 354-10C02801. He was buried in Sungai Buloh cemetery while his UNHCR appointment was in process.

On 18 May, 2010, the Chin female refugee named Tial Tum aged 44 from Than Tlang, wife of Eng Mawi from Falam, member of Lai Christian Fellowship which was separately different from CCF, was reported died of uterus cancer in UKM Hospital after being hospitalized in the hospital since 6 May, 2010. It was a long suffering and a very hard time for the related family. She was Chin recognised refugee and just finished her OPE (Oversea Processing Entity) interview that means they are in steps of UNHCR procedures in order to be resettled in third countries. Absence of the medicines for this certain disease in the Hospital must be dire news for the family and all of Chin refugees.

The detailed information is unreachable due to the failure of contact with the spouse

The Christian style, according to one of the participants in the burying, worship service was strictly prohibited and only very few of them who came up to funeral service could join to the Seremban cemetery which is extremely expensive and beyond the effort for refugees in Malaysia.

The increase of the variety of diseases, the psychologically, mentally disorders among refugee communities in Malaysia would be peculiarly strange to the third countries. Indeed, those who (refugees) experiencing this bunch of disease is very common to refugees by reason of fear of raids, extortion of police, robbed by gangsters and other functions of malnutrition and totally disqualified for health service.

THAILAND - IOM Asian Refugee Resettlement Close to 11,000 in First Four Months of 2010

THAILAND - IOM Asian Refugee Resettlement Close to 11,000 in First Four Months of 2010 - IOM's major Asian refugee resettlement operations in Thailand, Malaysia and Nepal resettled nearly 11,000 refugees in the first four months of 2010 - over 80% of them to new homes in the United States.

Of the total, some 4,550 were Bhutanese from camps in eastern Nepal, 3,900 were Karen and Karenni refugees from Myanmar from camps in northwestern Thailand, and the remaining 2,400 were refugees from Myanmar living in Malaysia.

Over the period, IOM Nepal moved 3,830 Bhutanese refugees accepted for resettlement to the US, 374 to Australia, 239 to Canada, 108 to New Zealand, 7 to the Netherlands and 2 to Denmark.

Almost all them were Bhutanese of Nepali origin, known as Lhotsampas, who have lived in camps in the Jhapa and Morang regions of Nepal for nearly two decades, following Bhutan's decision to revoke their citizenship and expel them in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The latest resettlement movements bring the total number of Lhotsampas resettled to third countries by IOM to over 30,000, since the beginning of the resettlement operation at the end of 2007. Over 70,000 remain in the Nepali camps.

IOM Thailand resettled some 3,900 refugees from Myanmar during the first four months of 2010. Almost all were Karen and Karenni ethnic minorities who had fled to refugee camps across the border in northwestern Thailand to escape conflict.

Of the total, some 3,105 went to the US, 414 to Australia, 234 to Canada, 70 to the Netherlands, 36 to Sweden, 30 to Norway, 10 to Finland, 5 to New Zealand and one each to Finland and the UK.

The movements brought the total number of refugees resettled by IOM Thailand to over 78,000 since the beginning of the Thai resettlement programme in 2004. Of these, over 61,000 came from Myanmar. A further 15,000 were Lao Hmong.

IOM Malaysia resettled some 2,400 refugees in the first four months of 2010. The vast majority were from Myanmar and, of the total, 2,066 went to the US. A further 140 went to Denmark, 128 to Australia, 22 to Canada, 17 to New Zealand, and 3 to Sweden.

The movements brought the total number of refugees resettled from Malaysia by IOM since to beginning of the programme in 2005 to nearly 23,000.

While IOM plays no part in selecting which refugees are accepted for resettlement, its global responsibilities in refugee resettlement include medical screening, pre-departure cultural orientation and travel arrangements.

IOM's 34-year history of refugee resettlement in Asia began in 1975 in the aftermath of the Vietnam war, when it helped nearly half a million Indochinese refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to leave Thailand and start new lives abroad. It works closely with host governments, UNHCR and the governments of resettlement countries.

Chin Faces Water Shortage After Soldiers Use Up

19 May 2010:

People in Mindat Town of Southern Chin State ( K'ChoLand  )  are left in desperate need of water after Burma's soldiers have reportedly used up for looking after a huge garden by their military camps, sources disclosed.

There is no enough water left for the people after water stored for the town has been lavishly used first by Burma's army Light Infantry Battalion 274 stationed in Mindat Town and then by government-sponsored Buddhist temple, according to a local theological student.

"The soldiers and the SPDC-run monastery use water extravagantly just for gardening while the people do not have enough drinking water since the start of summer. The condition is getting worse," continued the local student, whose name is not revealed.

Water from community-shared supply is made available to the people only twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday. "We just have to survive with whatever amount we have got for the week. As the weather is getting really hot, we want to take a shower every day but even once a week seems almost impossible since there is no enough water," said one local.

Seated on 4860 feet (1480 m) above sea level, Mindat town has got about 4,000 households with more than 15,000 people. Mindat is one of the four towns of Mindat District, which consists of a total of 4 towns and 840 villages in Mindat, Matupi, Kanpetlet, and Paletwa Townships of Burma's Chin State.

Jolie asks Thailand to help Burmese refugees

The Associated Press

GENEVA: Angelina Jolie has called on Thailand's government to give more freedom to tens of thousands of Burmese refugees it has kept locked inside camps for up to 20 years.

The Academy Award-winning actress and goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Refugee Agency visited Thailand's Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee center Wednesday.

"I was saddened to meet a 21-year-old woman who was born in a refugee camp, who has never even been out of the camp and is now raising her own child in a camp," Jolie was quoted as saying by UNHCR in a statement released Thursday.

She asked Thai authorities to give around 110,000 refugees in northern Thailand greater freedom to move around and seek higher education, because they are unlikely to be welcomed back anytime soon to Myanmar, also known as Burma.

Myanmar's military junta has been accused of gross atrocities against ethnic minorities, forcing thousands to flee to neighboring countries.

Jolie, 33, sat down in a two-room house on stilts and talked with a female refugee. She then met orphans at a boarding school and heard from teenage girls worried that they might be sent back to Myanmar.

"I hope we can work with the Thai authorities to speed up the government admissions process and that you will not be forced to go back to Burma if danger remains," Jolie said.

UNHCR says Thailand has yet to give refugee status to 5,000 Burmese that fled to Thailand in 2006-2007, when there was significant fighting across the border in Myanmar's Kayah state.

Her visit comes amid an uptick in the arrival of migrants from Myanmar, who often travel on rickety vessels to escape violence or harm.

'KL needs State's ok when approving citizenship, PR in Sabah'

Kota Kinabalu: The issuance of MyKads (citizenship) to 96,000 refugees holding IMM13 certificates in Sabah has raised a question as to whether it has been approved by the State Government.

Parti Keadilaan Rakyat (PKR) National Integration Bureau Chief, Dr Chong Eng Leong, said any citizenship and Sabah permanent resident (PR) status to be issued must get the approval of the State Government.

"This is irrespective of whether the status is being given to refugees or Sarawakians or West Malaysians who are living in Sabah.

"When Sabah joined Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya to form Malaysia, Sabah was given certain immigration powers.

"To issue Sabah PR for Sarawakians and those from the peninsula the Sabah Government's approval must be obtained first what more to issue this status to refugees," he said, Monday.

Dr Chong was commenting on Saturday's report that the Government would issue MyKads to eligible applicants who are qualified under the National Registration Act 1959 (Article 78) and the Constitution.

The report stated that the Immigration Department has issued IMM13 documents to refugees from the Philippines in Sabah, allowing them to stay in the country based on humanitarian grounds.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Hishammudin Tun Hussein said the IMM13 is a special permanent pass issued to allow foreign refugees enter and stay in the country on a yearly basis.

"Malaysia has never signed the United Nations protocol for refugees so this means that Malaysia does not accept and recognise refugees (Achenese from Sumatra, Rohingas from Burma, and Patani from Thailand)," said Dr Chong.

"But how come Sabah is accepting refugees? In previous years, Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) had mentioned about issuing PR status to IMM13 holders here.

"But when there were complaints from the people, the State Government said PR status cannot be given to them.

"If the State Government has control over granting Sabah PR status to Malaysians from Sarawak or the peninsula, then they should have the right to decide who should be the Malaysian citizens who are going to stay in Sabah," he said.

The same process also applies to foreigners holding IMM13 certificates who were granted citizenship or Sabah PR status, he said.

"I ask the Home Minister whether they had sought approval from the Sabah government before granting the PR status to IMM13 holders."

Towards the end, Dr Chong questioned why most of the MyKads granted to IMM13 holders bear the code "12" denoting that they were born in Sabah when they are actually born in the Philippines.

"If they are refugees with IMM13 documents and were granted citizenship, why is their data showing they are born in Sabah? Did the police even investigate their background?

"This mean that the central government is taking Sabah for a ride.

Don't forget that Sabah took part in the formation of Malaysia primarily because of the security and sovereignty of Sabah within Malaysia.

"What was done is exactly opposite to our former nation leaders' action É and what we ask for."

Two Chin Refugee Guys Kidnapped and Beaten up in Malaysia

Two Chin young men, Biak Van Peng 24 years and Zam Peng 28 years of age were kidnapped, put hostage and badly beaten up by the drug addicted local gangsters at the suburban area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on last Saturday.

"The incident started while the two guys hailing a cab at Bukit Jalil bus station at around 6:30 pm , a man with proton car approached them and asked them to give a ride at the same charge with other taxi. The two guys with overloaded three bags decided without hesitation to onboard because of unable to carry their heavy bags and could not take other cabs.

"After driving for five minutes, the car was suddenly stopped and a person standing on the pavement came into the car and sat beside us .On the way, they began to threaten us and asked us to give them all the money we got .They took RM-180 from us but still weren't satisfy with the money and took us to a house believed to be the driver's house which is at outskirt of Kuala Lumpur and arrived there at around 11:30 at night. As soon as we got there, we were punched, kicked, beaten up and stroke with a pipe and threatened us to be beaten till death unless we made calls to our relatives and friends to send them RM 2000 for the redemption," the two victims said.

The two hostages made calls to their relatives several times but no one could send the demanded money to save them as it was already midnight and the banks had already been closed so that it was unavailable to transfer the money.

Biak Van Peng showing his scars of toture by the thugs at Chin refugee community office in Kuala Lumpur

"Soon after we called our relatives, they stopped beating us for a while as they had got words of promises to be given the amount of money they demanded through the phone. Even thought they were having some drugs, we were guarded strictly throughout the night. At early in the morning around 5:30, we were once again forced to make calls to our relatives, friends and the entire contact's name listed in our phonebook both in abroad and domestic to remind them of our situation," Biak Van Peng said.

"We did calls as we were badly beaten and intolerable of their assaults. Soon after they stopped beating us as our relatives transferred RM 2000 in their credit card but they broke their promise of letting us go instead they asked another RM 2000 to our relatives. As they no longer had been assured of the money to be sent for our ransom, they continued beating us with the pipe till we were nearly fainted. At around 3pm, we were forced to take a shower as we were about to be released by their hired taxi only after our relatives transferred another RM 1000, saying that both of you would be sent home because we had already done our job," Zam Peng cited.

"A Chin Disciplinary Action Committee chairman, Lal Siam Mawi had already lodged a report to the police since the gangs told him both hostages would be released after they received the money. As soon as the hostages were brought home alive by the taxi, the Chin refugee committee immediately took them to the hospital for their medication.

The police are investigating the case and hunting the perpetrators after the doctor confirmed that Mr. Zam Peng was severely wounded and one of his ribs is nearly broken.

This breaking news has become as an alert to the chin refugee living in KL for it has once again strengthened the fact that we, the vulnerable chin refugee are the most targeted people of the local gangster as their prey.

"This is a shocking and sporadically incident among the Chin refugees in Malaysia and we all need to be vigilant when we hired a taxi and hanging out with our friend all the time" CCF chairman warned the church members on Sunday.

This incident happened to these vulnerable people is really an embarrassing and aggressive matters. Any operation to swipe-out this heartless people is necessary to carry out and the government should more concenterate to probibit this criminal movements in the country for it could also happen to the local people.

Taking cheap shots at defenceless refugees

Angeline Loh takes issue with The Star for an article which she feels promotes xenophobia towards Myanmar refugees, many of whom are forced to beg because they are unable to work here.

It was as if The Star had run out of news on 7 April 2010, it had to take a cheap shot at defenceless Myanmar refugees in Klang. Star Probe appears to have nothing better to do than to choose refugee communities to vent their suppressed frustrations in a politically xenophobic way.

In this terribly one-sided article, it was alleged that “the Myanmar community in Klang who have made begging their livelihood claim that the lack of job opportunities had forced them to resort to it”. (The Star, 7 April 2010, p N4 “They’re begging to stay alive”)

The opening sentence already reflects an arbitrary pre-judgment of refugees who are struggling to survive being denied the basic human right to work and right to education by authorities in this country.

Although the interview with the refugees brought out the reasons why they had been forced to resort to such humiliating means to survive, the one-sidedness of the article remained un-remedied as there was misinformation interspersed with accurate information.

Some of the most misleading statements made were by Selangor Welfare Department Director Adnan Abu Bakar. The article made out that the refugees were merely soliciting public sympathy to “get-rich-quick” and that begging was a lucrative means of doing this. The Welfare Department Director said “the sight of women begging with their children was just too much for Malaysians to bear”. And that “with Malaysians being a generous lot", there was “good money to be made from begging”.

He continued, “Malaysians are kind and highly sympathetic, especially towards women and children. So many (refugees) take advantage of the situation to earn easy money.”

The reader should keep in mind that the refugees had explained that they were legally not permitted to seek permanent employment or to trade: “We are not allowed to work or to do business,” said Sofinah, 34, a Myanmar refugee (The Star, 7 April 2010)
Moreover, the general public is in no way forced to be generous to beggars. They always have the choice to ignore or avoid them. To drop in a few coins for any beggar comes from an individual’s kind-hearted choice to be generous.

These statements by the Welfare Department Director expose the authorities' ignorance of the plight of refugees as well as a lack of sympathy and understanding of their fight for survival. The continuing criminalisation of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers gives rise to the prevalence of xenophobia in government circles.

More misleading and wrong information regarding refugees registered with UNHCR: “However, the solution for refugees is tough as they hold passports,” noted Adnan Abu Bakar, the Welfare Department director. The truth is, refugees and asylum seekers do not hold passports.

Registered refugees hold UHCR documentation which categorises them as persons under the protection of the United Nations i.e. internationally protected persons or are “Persons of Concern” to UNHCR. This status is internationally recognised except in Malaysia. Our immigration legislation, although amended, has not been brought up-to-date to recognise asylum seekers and refugees.

What this supposedly investigative article neglected to highlight is, why refugees flee their homelands, particularly those from Myanmar. Since neither the government nor the mainstream media show a willingness to see the connection between the political upheaval and turmoil in the countries where refugees come from, the general public has again to use its own common sense to understand the situation and plight of these persecuted people.

This issue is not a new one; many Malaysians are aware of the on-going issues of police, immigration, and Rela raids, and the human rights violations taking place almost on a daily basis involving alleged ‘undocumented’ migrants, including refugees, asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking. The public has also become aware of conditions in immigration detention centres/camps (IDCs) where several migrant detainees have died from disease and brutality.

Despite the wide availability of information and training that is accessible by government departments, security enforcers and the public, only a minority of Malaysians (including the mainstream media) care to make use of these facilities. It just takes a call to various NGOs working with migrants and refugees or to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in KL to gain access to these facilities.

Therefore, mainstream news providers like The Star have no excuse to disseminate lop-sided half-truths that mislead the public, play up to their political masters and incite xenophobia in the country. Remember, the furore over words like “pendatang” being used by particular ruling party minions to label certain sections of Malaysian society? The Star should “do unto others as they want others to do unto them”. They should also stop victimising the poor and defenceless in this racist manner.

Angeline Loh is an Aliran exco member

MyKad for refugees: Jeffrey cries foul

By Joe Fernandez
KOTA KINABALU: Opposition strongman Jeffrey Kitingan has accused Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein of fudging the issue of Filipino refugees in Sabah.
He said Hishammuddin gave a “non answer” in Parliament last week in his response to Kota Kinabalu MP Hiew King Cheu, who asked why the government was issuing the MyKad to the refugees.
Hishammuddin’s curt response to Hiew was to give the stock government reply — that only those qualified under the Federal Constitution are provided with Malaysian personal documents. He cited Article 78 of the National Registration Act 1959.
“He did not really address the issue,” said Jeffrey. “Locals know these people. They go around flashing their MyKads. This is like rubbing it in our faces.”
He pointed out that possession of a MyKad denoted Malaysian citizenship status and that not everyone, even if born in Malaysia, was eligible for it.
The bottom line is that when a Filipino refugee gets a MyKad without the need to go through the citizenship process like other foreigners, according to Jeffrey, “he or she automatically also enters the category of instant natives.” It would then be easier for these refugees to acquire native land and political power at the expense of locals.
Jeffrey said he was putting the home ministry and federal government on notice that the law prohibited the issuing of Malaysian personal documents to any foreigner in Sabah without the express consent of the state government.
“The question is whether foreigners in Sabah are becoming Malaysians with the consent of the state government,” he said. “If not, the state government has the right under the special provisions for East Malaysia in the Immigration Act to effect the removal of such persons to Peninsular Malaysia.”
Jeffrey, who is a PKR vice-president and chairman of CigMA (Common Interest Group Malaysia), suspects that the state government is being kept in the dark about the issuing of MyKads to foreigners. He said this could be because Umno was spearheading the state administration “or it could also be a case of local leaders not speaking up when it comes to state rights for fear of losing out personally.”
Why dumped in Sabah?
He added: “We would like to urge the federal government to stop the continued issuance of the IMM 13 document to refugees and their children. Instead, efforts should be made to repatriate these people back to the southern Philippines.”
Those sheltering under the IMM 13 category were in fact illegal immigrants given Malaysia’s non-recognition of the refugee category, he said.
Malaysia has ratified neither the 1952 Geneva Convention on Refugees nor the 1967 Protocol.Bestowing Malaysian citizenship status on refugees would be the height of irony, Jeffrey said, given that about 30,000 Sabahans are not Malaysians. Furthermore there are several thousand stateless people in the interior among the natives and an even bigger number wrestling with late birth registrations.
Jeffrey asked Hishammuddin to reveal whether any refugee on the peninsula had been granted the MyKad. He saw no reason why the Filipino refugees should be dumped on Sabah when those in a similar plight in Peninsular Malaysia, from Myanmar and elsewhere, were languishing in a legal twilight zone, “where they are not even allowed to work, unlike in Sabah.”
He suspects the Filipino refugees are being used to play an important role in “the re-colonisation of the state by the federal government,” which he said started in 1963. CigMA is pledged to reverse “the re-colonisation”.
He welcomed Hishammuddin’s statement that the granting of citizenship will be speeded up in a process that is not expected to exceed two years. “However, it must be stressed that Filipino refugees are not qualified for citizenship,” reiterated Jeffrey. “Perhaps this is why they are simply being issued with MyKads without going through the normal process for foreigners.”
Estimates vary, but one official figure places the number of Filipino refugees in Sabah at between 57,500 and 70,500.