For refugee family, first Christmas in Portland is its own gift

A swarm of teens in Santa hats clapped and bounced inside a packed apartment, half-shouting lyrics they knew by heart. They were singing carols, but only a handful of words in most songs were recognizable in English: Emmanuel, Messiah, Christmas.

At the edge of the room, a middle-aged man sang and bopped along, a wide smile on his face and elf hat on his head. He was one of only a few parents to join the young carolers from Zomi Community Mission Church last week as they serenaded families of fellow refugees.

But Khual Dai, a refugee from Myanmar, wouldn't have missed this. It had been 10 years and more than 8,000 miles since he last caroled with his children.

Zomi people are predominantly Christian, pastor Muana Khuptong said, because western missionaries came to the mountain tribe a century ago.

Christmas was the biggest day of the year in Dai's mountain village, so special that locals asked, "How many Christmases have you celebrated?" instead of, "How old are you?"

Villagers marked the coming of the holiday by going from hut to hut, singing carols missionaries had translated for them. They attended a lengthy church service Christmas morning, followed by an all-village pot luck.

Those with enough resources to continue the feasting celebrated for up to a week, said Khuptong, who started a Portland church for Zomi people in 2013. He was raised in a Zomi village on the India side of the Chin Hills.

"The main purpose is to be rejoicing," he said. "In our language we didn't call it 'Christmas.' We say 'lungdambawl,' which means 'thanksgiving.'"

Christmas was the only day of the year Dai's family ate meat. Here, beef patties come sandwiched between bread for $1.29. And here, Americans as a whole are expected to spend more than $2 billion on Christmas cards alone.

Dai left his village in 2006, after the military confiscated his farm. He followed a path other Zomis had taken, sneaking into Malaysia to earn money and register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

His wife and then-nine children trickled to Malaysia in the four years that followed, the family said through Khuptong, their bilingual pastor. Wife Huai Sawn Cing said she was imprisoned for two weeks in Thailand with five of the children during one attempt to reach Dai.

Dai and his oldest sons found enough work to keep the family alive in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country where the family had to keep Christmas celebrations to a minimum, he said. At one point, Dai was imprisoned for three months. The family of 12 collected and sold bottles from the street to buy food.

Admission to the United States through the United Nations' relocation program is a long, rigorous process. Members of the family underwent background checks, fingerprinting and multiple interviews. It took years. Dai's two oldest sons finally came to Portland in 2012.

The rest of the family arrived three months ago, on Sept. 2.

Gin Pian Sang, the 23-year-old second son, who speaks a bit of English, recalls meeting them at the airport:

"They grew up. I was surprised, you know," he said. "I was very happy and cried. Very, very happy."

The family lives in a townhouse in outer east Portland. The younger children attend public schools, and the older ones look for jobs through the nonprofit Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization.

"In our language we didn't call it 'Christmas.' We say 'lungdambawl,' which means 'thanksgiving.'" -Muana Khuptong

"Freedom here is so precious. Nothing compares to it," son Hung Sian Tuan, 18, said through the pastor.

The little conveniences of life in the United States delight them: hot water that comes out of a faucet, electricity that works any time, the magic of stovetops.

Language is the biggest challenge – a mountainous barrier that stands between the family and employment, health care, assimilation and education. Dai hopes to work at Fred Meyer someday, but based on others' experiences will likely put in years of janitorial work before his English is good enough to serve customers. He hasn't found a job yet.

The family is largely isolated from commercial Christmas hubbub. They don't have a car and haven't seen Santa Claus at a local mall. Most don't yet understand ads on the radio or television.

Yet already they are distinctly aware of cultural differences regarding the holiday.

Khuptong said he was "shocked" by how commercial Christmas is in the U.S. when he came for college in 2005.

"To see this is kind of heartbreaking. People are making money off of it," he said. "The true celebration is missing."

To describe his feelings on Americanized Christmas, Dai grabbed a Zomi Bible and turned to the New Testament. He found a story about Jesus flipping merchant tables in the temple after finding that businessmen had turned the ritual of sacrifice into a commercial opportunity.

"I think Jesus feels like this," he said through Khuptong, pointing to the page.

And so Dai's family and the refugee church they're part of hold on to the holiday traditions of the Zomi hill country. They singing carols in the living rooms of Zomi friends. They worship and feast together on Dec. 25.

The father is open to adopting aspects of American tradition. Lights on the townhouse might be nice someday, he said, because the display tells passersby that the residents are joyful at Christmas. A tree and presents might enhance the celebration, as long as the Christian value behind them is explained.

"I want to press hard the teaching of Christmas to my children," Dai said through the pastor. "When I do a present, I will teach the true meaning. That way, we will pass it on to the next generation."

The kids know presents are unlikely this year, but that doesn't matter to them. "Santa Claus is not in the Bible," Sang said.

"Christ humbled himself to walk the earth," Dai said through the pastor. "Because of Christ's birth, we are saved. God is with me. That is the meaning of Christmas to me."

And so they gather in the homes of Zomi families to sing, clap, jump and cheer: "Aw etlawm lua e, hih lungdamna ni hun tom no."

"Oh! How beautiful this short, joyful day."

-- Melissa Binder

Born in Malaysia, yet Rohingya have no right to schooling, work

Rohingya refugee Banu Hassan and her granddaughter Zahida Ismail have been living in Selangor for 10 years and are keen to contribute to the Malaysian economy. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, December 25, 2015.At a time when Malaysia is giving special treatment to Syrian refugees, a Rohingya family tell of how they have been here for three generations yet are still denied the right to earn a living.

All six of Banu Hassan’s children were born in Malaysia and the 60-year-old has four grandchildren. But none has permanent residency, much less citizenship.

All they want is the right to finish schooling, to earn a living, freedom from harassment and a chance to contribute to the Malaysian economy.

“If the Malaysian government does not give us citizenship, at least give us the opportunity to go to school like other children,” pleaded 17-year-old Zahida Ismail, one of Banu’s granddaughters.

“When we do not have (education) certificates, we cannot work safely. When we work, our employers take advantage of us and they do not even pay us our wages,” told The Malaysian Insider recently.

“We were born in Malaysia but we are denied the right to live like everyone else.

“We know we are refugees but we can also contribute to the Malaysian economy if given the chance,” said Zahida, who was denied the chance to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) with her other Malaysian friends.

According to Rohingya community researcher Azlinariah Abdullah, there are about 40,000 individuals who fled to Malaysia from Rakhine state in western Myanmar, starting in the early 1980s.

The United Nations considers the Rohingya as one of the most persecuted in the world.

The Myanmar government does not recognise them as citizens and they are forced to live in squalid camps along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

In May, Malaysia accepted about 7,000 more Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants found adrift at sea.

Though they are still vulnerable to harassment, the Rohingya’s welfare has improved since the UN office in Kuala Lumpur was allowed to open its High Commission for Refugees.

The Rohingya have been working informally, said Azlinariah, who wrote a book on the community titled “Air Mata Kesengsaraan Rohingya”.

About 15% were children, said Azlinariah, and they collected scrap metal while some youths were able to find work in factories.

She said UNHCR refugees were not allowed to work but there were companies willing to use their discretion and employ them.

Some local authorities, too, were willing to allow them to operate their own businesses, resulting in some being able to open food stalls and sundry shops, Azlinariah said.

She said in Klang, many furniture stores employed her compatriots as carpenters.

But the majority still struggled to find decent work.

“In Malaysia, I raised my kids on money I made selling Quranic verses and collecting tins and bottles to recycle,” said Banu, who has lived here for the past 30 years.

She and her husband first fled from their village to Thailand in the early 1980s and worked there for six months to save up money for the trip to Malaysia.

“We did everything we could to escape our village. I walked, took a boat, trekked through the jungle to reach Thailand,” said Banu, who has been living as a refugee for two-thirds of her life.

In Malaysia, the couple found that Banu’s features made it easier for her to blend among locals compared with her late husband.

“My husband really looked like a foreigner so he stayed out of sight at home to take care of the children. I lived two years in Kelantan, two years in Pahang and 20 years in Banting, Selangor. I have lived in Klang for the past 10 years.”

Before the UN opened its refugees division, Banu said she and her husband were detained many times and sent to the Thai border because they did not have identification papers.

She said each time they returned after they were freed by the Thai authorities. They crossed the poorly guarded borders in the north of the country with little difficulty.

“When we were registered with the UNHCR we felt that we could breathe easier,” said Banu, who speaks Bahasa Malaysia, Rohingya, Tamil and Thai.

Banu’s daughter, Rokiah Mohd Ali told how her dreams of becoming a doctor were dashed after she could not continue schooling.

“My last class was in Primary Six. After that I could not continue to Form One because I was not accepted,” said Rokiah, who is now 26.

“It was then that I realised that I am the child of refugee without citizenship and without a chance to further my studies.

“My father always told me to study hard so that I could succeed in life. But I cried in front of him when I realised I could not continue going to school.”

Rokiah is now a teacher at the El-Shaddai refugee learning centre in the Klang Valley.

Zahida, Banu’s granddaughter, also experienced a similar fate as she, too, only finished primary school. She is now a preschool teacher at the El-Shaddai school.

Zahid is fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Rohinya and is paid RM500.

“We are grateful that our lives are better than our grandparents who had to suffer through so much.

“I hope that one day, I can continue my studies. If we are accepted in a third country, I want to better myself and become a good human being.” – December 25, 2015. 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

UNHCR needs more 'practical cooperation' to tackle refugee woes

When Malaysia turned away boatloads of Rohingya refugees from its shores earlier this year, it was criticised by international aid agencies.

They also questioned Malaysia's decision not to sign the United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and updating the Protocol adopted in 1967.

Nevertheless, by no means has Malaysia been inhumane to refugees who land in this country as they are generally treated well and given temporary shelter by the government.

As of end-October 2015, some 154,220 refugees and asylum-seekers were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. The majority (142,550) were from Myanmar, with the rest coming from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Palestine and other nations.

Males made up 57 percent of the refugees and asylum-seekers, while 33,870 were children below the age of 18.

UNHCR itself, which is mandated with safeguarding the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers around the world, set foot in Malaysia a good 40 years ago.

Practical cooperation

In view of the rising refugee numbers in Malaysia, what can the government do to resolve the various issues and alleviate the problems faced by the refugees?

UNHCR representative in Malaysia Richard Towle said athough Malaysia was not a state party to the 1951 convention, the government and its various agencies, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have been cooperating with the UNHCR in addressing refugee issues on humanitarian grounds .

He said the UNHCR believed that a high degree of practical cooperation between the UN agency and the Malaysian government was required in order to find solutions to the problems faced by the refugees.

On its part, he added, the UNHCR was committed to continue establishing constructive working relationships with the Malaysian authorities and various civil society groups to address the challenging issues faced by the refugees and asylum-seekers in the country.

One of the pressing issues is the illegal status of the refugees who, as such, are not allowed to seek employment to support themselves.

"This drives many into exploitative and sometimes dangerous, unlawful work," said Towle, adding that the UNHCR "strongly believes" that implementing a better system for registering refugees and giving them the right to work in the country would remove them from the clutches of exploitation and criminality and provide humanitarian protection to those most in need.

"It will also satisfy the legitimate concerns of the government about security, law and order. This is a win-win situation for the government, the people of Malaysia and the refugees.

"Malaysia can put into place policies and regulations to manage the unique situation of refugees in this country without signing the 1951 Refugee Convention," he told Bernama in an interview recently.

Return to country of origin

On Malaysia's reluctance to be burdened with the refugee problem, Towle said until long-term solutions could be found for them, refugees needed the compassion and understanding of Malaysians to help them while they were in the country.

"Of course, the best solution for the vast majority of them is to be able to return home when it's safe for them to do so. Often, a refugee's most fervent desire is to return home again. But this is not always possible," he said.

Towle said while resettlement was available for some refugees who could not return home or stay in the host country, it was not a right or an automatic solution for all refugees.

"It's an option available only to less than one per cent of the total refugee population worldwide, based on the availability of places offered by third countries and for those with the highest level of vulnerability," he explained.

On the security threats posed by refugees who possess fake UNHCR documents, Towle said all UNHCR document-holders would have their biodata and contact particulars recorded with the agency.

The agency also regularly reviewed and strengthened the safety features of its documents in order to minimise the production of fraudulent cards, and also to ensure that law enforcement agencies could verify the cards more efficiently.

"It's important that only those requiring genuine protection get our assistance," he added.

Malaysians compassionate by nature

Towle (photo), meanwhile, heaped praises on Malaysians who, he said, were mostly generous and compassionate.

"We encounter so many groups and individuals who volunteer their time to help improve refugees' lives in the country. Malaysians can understand that refugees are ordinary people who have faced extraordinary circumstances, like armed conflict and human rights abuses, which have forced them to flee their countries.

"What they need is a temporary safe space where they can rebuild their lives in dignity until such time that they can return home safely," he said.

Towle added that the UNHCR ran a vounteer programme where people could assist refugees in areas such as teaching, skills-building and organising sports or recreational activities.

- Bernama

Informal education prepares Rohingya chidren for resettlement

Rohingya children in class at Pima. They are taught basic subjects in hopes of improving their lives in Malaysia. – Pima pic, December 29, 2015.Nur Kaidah Nur Alam's ambition is to open a bakery and when asked why, the 13-year-old replied in all innocence, "Because I love to eat chocolate cake."

Nur Kaidah, whose parents are Rohingya refugees who had fled Myanmar with their family to escape the persecution and strife they faced in their homeland, said she has been dreaming of having her own bakery ever since she tasted a piece of chocolate cake given to her by a friend.

"I know I have to do well in school first, then learn to make cakes and open a shop. Then, I can eat all the cake I want and earn some money for my family," said the bright-eyed teen, who was born in Malaysia.

Nur Kaidah is a student at the Muslim Aid Knowledge Centre (Pima), a school specially set up for Rohingya children in Kampung Ampang Tambahan in Ampang, and run by the Muslim Aid Malaysia Humanitarian Foundation.

Nur Kaidah, who has nine other siblings aged between three and 24, used to live in Terengganu before her family moved to Kuala Lumpur in search of a better life and education for the children.

Her classmate Amin Sharif Hasan Sharif, 12, is a big fan of Malaysian astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and intends to follow in his footsteps.

"I will study hard so that I too can become a national astronaut," said the youngster, who considers himself a Malaysian.

Amin Sharif, who has been a student at Pima for the past two years, is aware that his family may eventually be placed in a third country but said if he had his way, he would prefer to remain in Malaysia.

Relating how he ended up in Malaysia, the boy said four years ago, his mother took him and his two younger siblings on an arduous long journey across Myanmar, Bangladesh, India and Thailand to Malaysia so that they could join his father, who had been working in this country for some years.

Amin Sharif said his father was helping a relative with his electrical wiring business while his mother was jobless.

An estimated 33,710 refugee children aged below 18 are currently registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia.

Considering that education is the key to equipping these children, who include Rohingyas, with the knowledge and skills they would need to free themselves from poverty, do they have access to educational opportunities in Malaysia?

Since children of refugees in Malaysia do not have access to formal education, they can still get a decent informal education at special "schools" set up for them by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations and other interested parties.

According to UNHCR spokesman Yante Ismail, there are 126 community learning centres for refugee children, including 31 specifically for young Rohingyas.

She said 29% of refugee children in Malaysia have access to these learning centres, which provide pre-school, primary and secondary education.

Eleven of the learning centres are run by NGOs while the rest are operated by religious and other groups.

Besides extending financial grants to the community learning centres, UNHCR

also helps to train volunteers and teachers and foot the children's transportation and food bills, as well as provide stationery and teaching aids.

Yante said the students, aged between four and 17, were taught four main subjects – English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mathematics and Science.

However, as she said, there was limited scope for them to learn and accomplish more due to the shortage of resources, including qualified teachers.

The classes are conducted at rented premises in flats or shophouses, which are usually overcrowded and lack basic learning facilities.

Despite the limited resources, the children still get a chance to learn to read, write and count at the various learning centres, said Yante.

To enable them to function normally in any society they are thrust into, they are also taught social skills and to embrace values like cooperation, tolerance and acceptance.

"However, opportunities for the refugee children to further their education remain challenging. UNHCR and the various NGOs are always seeking opportunities for youths to learn vocational skills to enable them to face a brighter future."

She said the UNHCR has signed memoranda of understanding with the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and International University Malaya-Wales to enable 42 refugee youths to take up undergraduate programmes at the institutions concerned.

Nuruljannah Oyong, 24, one of the teachers attached to Pima, meanwhile, said all her students were diligent, hardworking and disciplined.

The Universiti Malaysia Sabah graduate said the Rohingya kids she taught were well aware of the importance of education and their parents too took a keen interest in their progress.

She said Pima conducted two classes from 8am to noon and another two classes from noon to 3pm.

The children, aged between six and 13, are taught Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics, Science, Pengajian Tempatan and other subjects relevant to the Malaysian education syllabus.

"We try to keep them in the 'school' environment for as long as we can. Maybe what we are doing is nothing to shout about but it's very meaningful for the Rohingya community," Muslim Aid Malaysia chairman Habsah Marjuni said.

Although Malaysia only offered the refugees temporary shelter, Habsah was confident that the informal education the children receive would, to a certain extent, enable them to be more prepared for resettlement in a third country.

She said while most of the refugee children came to Malaysia with their families, some of them had ended up in this country as unaccompanied minors after nearly becoming victims of human traffickers.

Aside from a registration fee RM5, Pima did not charge any other fees, Habsah said, adding that its classes were held in a hall rented by Muslim Aid.

The organisation also took care of the teachers' salaries and purchase of stationery, books and apparatus for art and other activities.

When Pima was opened two years ago, it had 95 students. Twenty-five of them have since been placed in third countries with their families. The centre currently has 85 students, including some who had arrived in the country just a few months ago. – Bernama, December 29, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The two Myanmar Death Sentence Case : Koh Tao Murder Case fundraiser Reports

MWRN Justice: Koh Tao Murder Case fundraiser today supported an important visit by three Thai defense lawyers and one Thai/Myanmar translator to meet and check the wellbeing or Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, the Koh Tao murder case convicted men, in Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison. The convicted men moved to the high security prison suddenly on Saturday 26 December early in the morning at 4am in a high security and unannounced confidential operation.

Defense lawyers and a translator met both guys for one hour in a specialist visiting room for lawyers today at 12pm and spoke to them through a telephone separated by a panel (n.b. the only other visitors allowed are embassy staff and relatives, with relatives having to speak via video conference only - we will work on trying to get additional visitors recognized by the prison soon). Visits by relatives to the guys in Zone 6/2 of the prison can take place only on Tuesdays and Thursday of each week.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo reported today being held together under tight security and in a very challenging situation. They are shackled and detained in a room, both restraint measures applied 24 hours a day. We understand the shackles will remain in place for four months and the 24/7 in room detention for one month. The guys even have to eat food in the detention room and cannot join other prisoners. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are detained alongside 61 other high security prisoners in the evening time but they said the room is very spacious, much more spacious than in Koh Samui Prison.

Although both of the guys were scared and stressed on departure from Koh Samui Prison to Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison because of rumors of potential poor treatment, now on arrival the boys have become much more relaxed and said both the staff in the prison and all the prisoners are very nice to them and provided them a lot of encouragement and support. Both prisoners seemed very happy and in good health with their spirits high.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were absolutely delighted to see the 3 lawyers and translator Sar today and thanked them so much for taking the time to visit. They also thanked everybody who is still supporting them including lawyers, MWRN and our fund, embassy staff, former Samui prison visited and people looking after their mothers (n.b. both mothers arrived to visit the guys in the afternoon today too).

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo have access to a television so they have been given so much encouragement and are excited by seeing the protests underway in support of overturning their conviction on the TV all the day. After a stressful arrival they are now more relaxed and feeling more comfortable also.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were able to bring all their property with them from Koh Samui Prison but are a little sad that their books, articles and letters had to be left behind in the quick rush to move (n.b. MWRN are following up this issue with Koh Samui Prison authorities). Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo said they really missed their friends at Koh Samui Prison and were sad they didn't have a chance to say proper goodbyes.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo asked our team to give the following message to the general public: 'Thank you to everyone who has supported us. We are innocent and we were not involved in this horrific crime, we didn't kill. We want freedom. We are both confident the truth of this case will come out during the appeal process and we are confident we will eventually be released on appeal to finally get our freedom. With everyone's encouragement we will stay strong until the end.'

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo said they will meditate every day and pray to the Buddha for

freedom but also for the peace and happiness of all those in the world, including the victims in the Koh Tao murder case.

Today our team deposited 2000 baht of our fund money into each of the guys prison accounts (see photo of reciept) which is the maximum amount that can be deposited in one day.

South Korea welcomes 22 Karen refugees from Myanmar

Kutu’s family members pose for a photo with UNHCR officials and Korean Justice Ministry officials in the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand. [MINISTRY OF JUSTICE]

South Korea will permit 22 Karen refugees from Myanmar to enter the country today, the first time it has accepted refugees seeking resettlement in a third country, the Ministry of Justice announced on Tuesday. 

The government said that the group, which comprises four families - 11 adults and 11 children - fled Myanmar and had been living in the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand. They will arrive at Incheon International Airport this morning. 

“I heard the education environment in Korea is superb,” said Kh Too, 43, one of the men in the group, who lost his right foot in an accident in 2006 while cutting down trees. “I hope for nothing but good teachers for my children.” 

Kh Too fled Myanmar in 1993 to escape oppression from the country’s military junta, which persecuted Karen people and other ethnic minority groups.

He sought political asylum in Thailand with his wife and now lives with five children and a relative. The camp has about 40,000 refugees, and 93 percent of them are Karen. 

A Justice Ministry official in charge of the resettlement said that electricity, toilets and water in the camp were limited. 

Their entry marks the first time Korea has accepted refugees through the resettlement program under the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which supports the transfer of refugees from asylum states to a third country. 

South Korea was the first country in Asia in 2013 to enforce the Refugee Act, which stipulates that the government will accept refugees through the UN-led program. 

The Justice Ministry said in April that it would accommodate 30 refugees annually in the next three years as part of a pilot program.

The 22 refugees from Myanmar have already gone through several steps of a thorough screening process. 

In August, the ministry reviewed a list of refugees recommended for resettlement in Korea, whose identities and backgrounds were checked by the National Intelligence Service. 

Selected refugees were questioned and underwent medical examinations in October, and travel permits were granted in December by the Korean Embassy in Thailand. 

The 22 Karen refugees will be granted refugee status and F-2 visas under the care of the Korea Immigration Service, and receive job training and Korean-language courses.

As of the end of October, South Korea had approved 531 applications for refugee status. 

According to data by the immigration service, the number of applicants seeking refugee status here has surged over the past two years since the introduction of the Refugee Act. 

In 2014, the number of people who applied for refugee status increased by 80 percent to 2,896 from a year earlier. 

In 2014, the Justice Ministry granted refugee status to 94 asylum-seekers, or 5.3 percent of the 1,778 people it reviewed. 

BY JANG HYEOK-JIN, KIM SO-HEE [kim.sohee0905@joongang.co.kr]

Putrajaya says over 2,000 human-trafficking victims now able to work locally

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 21 — Putrajaya today announced that 2,217 human trafficking victims will be eligible to work here, following Malaysia’s upgrade to Tier 2 in the United States’ Trafficking in Persons report.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the US embassy has identified 30 job openings in the JW Marriott hotel, with four victims already employed.

“The number of victims offered protection is 2,217 individuals and we found that several protection measures have been offered to them and they are eligible for employment.

“I believe the number is more than that but because the definition is too wide, we will narrow it down,” he told reporters after a multi-ministry meeting with the US Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Yun at the Home Ministry headquarters here.

He said the government will also collaborate with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the US embassy.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said the US State Department will evaluate Malaysia’s performance in combating human trafficking next March.

He also said Malaysia aims to reach Tier 1 by 2020, but admitted the process “will take time”.

According to a recent World Bank report, there are 2.1 million registered immigrants and likely over 1 million undocumented immigrants in Malaysia.

Zahid said the Home Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry will come up with a definition of what makes a “human trafficking victim” as the current definition given by the US was “too wide”.

Malaysia is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and treats refugees as any other illegal immigrant.

The US upgraded Malaysia from Tier 3 — the lowest tier — to Tier 2 in its TIP report this year.

Malaysia’s Tier 3 status would have prevented the US from entering into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with the Southeast Asian country. 

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com

Obama welcomes Refugees in the US

Obama: 'As long as I'm president, U.S. will be a welcoming place for millions fleeing violence around the world'

Reuters

U.S. President Barack Obama chats with students on a tour of the Dignity for Children Foundation, an education programme for refugee and low-income children, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Nov. 21, 2015.

President Barack Obama said Saturday America cannot turn its sight away from the plight of refugees as long as he is president, dismissing calls for a halt to Syrian and Iraqi refugees entering the United States in light of the Paris terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group.

The US president reiterated his stance while at a school for poor migrant children in Malaysia, where he described those children as the opposite of terrorists wreaking havoc from Paris to Mali. He compared them to Syrian refugee children whose entry to the U.S. is meeting steep resistance from some Americans.

"They're just like our kids. They were indistinguishable from any child in America," Obama said, Newsmax reported. "The notion that somehow we would be fearful of them — that our politics would somehow lead us to turn our sights away from their plight — is not representative of the best of who we are."

Obama also met the older refugees who will soon relocate to the U.S. and declared that "they represent the opposite of terror, the opposite of the type of despicable violence we saw in Mali and Paris.''

"As long as I'm president,'' he said, America "will be a welcoming place for millions fleeing violence around the world.''

Obama's position to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees for the next fiscal year has been widely opposed by many Americans and even some Democrats, who reportedly have abandoned Obama on the issue. At least 47 House Democrats voted against the president, joining the majority Republicans in approving a bill that suspends the programme on accepting Syrian refugees on Thursday, reports said.

What drives the debate about accepting Syrian refugees in the U.S., as in Europe, are the concerns that terrorists could exploit the system to enter the country and carry out attacks. The concerns were enhanced by the Paris attacks that killed at least 130 people and injured more than 300 others, as well as reports about terrorists posing as refugees and the violence perpetrated by Muslim radicals inside refugee camps.

"Our nation has always been welcoming but we cannot let terrorists take advantage of our compassion,'' House Speaker Paul Ryan earlier told reporters on Capitol Hill, according to the Guardian.

"This is a moment where it is better to be safe than sorry, so we think the prudent, the responsible thing is to take a pause in this particular aspect of this refugee programme in order to verify that terrorists are not looking to infiltrate the refugee programme."

Unlike in Europe, refugees don't set foot in the U.S. until they undergo a vetting process that typically takes 18 to 24 months under existing refugee laws. But Congress wants the refugee laws "to be better guarded against any possible infiltration'' in the light of growing terror threats.

''We've assembled a taskforce starting Saturday to consider legislation as quickly as possible,'' said Ryan. "We're meeting every day and we will bring legislation forward.''

Each year, the U.S. accepts about 70,000 refugees for resettlement. To date, it has resettled 2,200 Syrian refugees, according to the State department.

The Syrian war that broke out in 2011 displaced an estimated 11.6 million people.

http://www.christiantoday.com/

Suhakam: M’sia needs proper refugee system in place

Khaw Lake Tee says a proper state-governed system is needed to manage inbound refugees and prevent human rights abuses.

KUALA LUMPUR: The country needs a proper system to govern the registration of inbound refugees and to prevent human rights abuses from occurring, said Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) vice-chairman Khaw Lake Tee.

“The non-recognition of refugees by Malaysia has made the community more marginalised,” noted Khaw in her speech at a roundtable by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) here today.

She said that Suhakam had received complaints about cases where UNHCR cardholders were detained by immigration authorities because of the lack of documentation.

“Related to detention were allegations of abuse of power by police and immigration officers, as well as the unsatisfactory conditions of immigration deportation centres where refugees are held,” she said.

“In such instances, only UNHCR can verify the UNHCR cards and make requests for their release,” she pointed out, adding that Suhakam had also received reports from complainants that they did not receive any feedback after they had made their applications to the UNHCR.

Khaw noted that the lack of a proper system to govern the arrest, detention and deportation of refugees had given rise to the question of whether refugees yet to be deported should still be detained by the immigration authorities.

She commented that the UNHCR itself had proposed that the Malaysian government consider registering refugees under its own state machinery.

Khaw nevertheless commended the Malaysian government for agreeing to consider implementing alternatives to detention (ATD) for children in immigration detention, citing a working group comprising relevant government agencies, NGOs and Suhakam that was established in 2014 to implement this project.

“(This) would certainly accord protection to children, especially unaccompanied children and children seeking asylum. Although it is slow in its implementation, such a commitment from the government should be applauded. The Commission hopes that ATD will be expanded to all refugees and asylum seekers in the future.”

Khaw said that Suhakam was informed last year by the immigration department that refugees were arrested on the grounds of law enforcement, a “responsibility towards the Malaysian community”, and that most of the illegal migrants had already been infected with communicable diseases before entering the country.

United States must stand with Burma

We must support Burma as it transitions from authoritarianism to liberal democracy.

(Photo: Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images)

Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been a steadfast voice for freedom in Burma. Like others, she suffered for this cause, enduring personal loss and long isolation during 15 years under house arrest. In spite of the oppression, she never gave up, and on Nov. 8, her National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in a nationwide vote. This election is an important step for a country still emerging from decades of military rule, but the journey to secure liberty is far from over.

Burma's military and government have recognized the NLD victory and promised a peaceful transition of power. The United States and other free societies must sustain support for the new government in the critical times ahead. 

As first lady, I worked to raise awareness of the plight of the Burmese people and the courageous leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi. Three years ago, I finally met Daw Suu in Washington, D.C. I was part of the ceremony to present her with the Congressional Gold Medal for her courage and defense of democracy and human rights. I was struck by her resolve and — despite all her country has been through — her unyielding optimism that one day Burma would be free.

Since that day, I have met many of Burma's rising young leaders as part of the Bush Institute's work to advance human freedom around the world. When Zin Mar Aungvisited us in Dallas, she recounted her 11 years as a political prisoner — many in solitary confinement. She is neither bitter nor defeated. Like dozens of political prisoners, she was elected to parliament on Nov. 8.

There are still political prisoners in Burma. Two Bush Institute young leaders, Phyoe Phyoe Aung and Lin Htet Naing, remain detained with other student leaders who peacefully protested for education reform. All of Burma's political prisoners must be released.

Through the Bush Institute's Liberty and Leadership Forum, young leaders, like Htoot May, who was also elected to parliament, are working to expand their knowledge and hone their leadership skills so that they can be part of building Burma's future. They are journalists, educators, doctors, activists and now, elected officials. They are Buddhists, Christians and Muslims. Despite their many differences, they share a common vision of democracy in Burma.

With more than 135 ethnic groups, Burma's diversity should become an asset, rather than a wedge in society. Pluralism and tolerance can triumph over hatred. Discrimination against Burma's minorities, particularly Rohingya Muslims, is alarming and deserves our concern.

Burma's refugees cannot be forgotten. An estimated 150,000 refugees remain in camps on the Thai-Burma border. I visited the camps with my daughter, Barbara, in 2008. We saw the harsh conditions in which the refugees were living after fleeing civil war. We met doctors, parents and teachers. We saw children who were born in the camps and did not know a different life.

Days before the historic vote on Nov. 8, 2015, thousands of NLD supporters rallied on the edge of Rangoon. The scene was reminiscent of the 1988 gathering nearShwedagon Pagoda, when Aung San Suu Kyi first spoke of her hope for a multi-party democracy. When the former military junta denied the NLD's victory in 1990, Burma's courageous freedom advocates remained resolute.

Today, as in 1990, the people of Burma have made the choice for freedom. This time the will of the people seems poised to prevail. As a defender of freedom, the United States has an obligation to stand with the people of Burma. Support for the country's transition must remain a priority now and for the next administration. Democracies make better neighbors, and it is in our nation's interest to see Burma's freedom advocates succeed.

Laura Bush was the first lady of the United States from 2001-2009. She is the author of Laura Bush: Spoken from the Heart.

In addition to its own editorials, USA TODAY publishes diverse opinions from outside writers, including our Board of Contributors. To read more columns like this, go to the Opinion front page.

Market helps refugees on road to financial independence

Refugees learning crafting skills can sell handmade wares at market

By Vincent T. Davis, Staff Writer

Stitch by stitch, Hauvung Ciin Ngaihte is sewing her way into the world of free enterprise.

She’s one of several refugees enrolled in a sewing class at the Center for Refugee Services near the South Texas Medical Center on the Northwest Side. When she was growing up, Ngaihte sewed simple things, but now she’s learning to make a variety of items that she offers for sale at the World Mosaic Market adjacent to the center.

And the good part for Ngaihte is that she’ll receive 70 percent of the profit from each sale of her handmade items.

The sale of items made by Ngaihte, 40, and her fellow students gives them a chance to supplement their incomes as they rebuild their lives in San Antonio. In 2006, Ngaihte fled her homeland of Myanmar with her husband to a refugee camp in Malaysia. She left behind a career as a nurse and days when the Army and the government discriminated against her and thousands of others because of their religion and tribe.

Now, almost five years later, she’s working to the hum of sewing machines, creating handmade wares and exploring paths to a profitable future.

“I love it. This is the first one to sell,” she said. “I love sewing class and our teacher. We learn a lot.”

The center sponsors the market stocked with wares created by impoverished women and men around the world as well as refugees living in the resettlement community. Volunteer Jean Sherrill founded the all-volunteer market that’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The market, located at 8703 Wurzbach Road, will be closed from Dec. 21 until Jan. 3.

Sherrill, who manages the store, said refugees can make even more than 70 percent from each sale of items made in sewing and jewelry classes if they use their own materials. The store’s share of the profits from the international crafts goes back to the center for its programs, including English as a Second Language classes, a food pantry, health and wellness classes, and job assistance.

Refugees who volunteer at the market are also learning business skills such as how to make change, work the cash register and price items.

“They’re very pleased to have the extra income because they can’t work,” Sherrill said, referring to the refugees who aren’t yet naturalized or don’t yet have a work permit. “It’s very rewarding. They are very appreciative that CRS has helped to make their transition to the states easier and successful. They have more personal confidence to have skills that are valued.”

Ngaihte just had a baby boy and became a U.S. citizen. Though busy caring for her newborn, she plans to continue honing her skills as a seamstress to gain earnings for her family.

“It’s not a little bit,” she said of her profits, smiling. “It’s a lot.”

vtdavis@express-news.net

Burmese Food will be serving lunch at Milkfish in Mid-City

One of the partners behind Lahpet, a Burmese food pop-up that will be serving lunch at Milkfish in Mid-City

ByWillCoviello

Mark LaMaire, Eva Sohl and Blake Smithson run the Burmese food pop-up Lahpet (www.facebook.com/lahpet), which will take over weekday lunch service at Mid-City Filipino restaurant Milkfish in January. LaMaire and girlfriend Sohl learned about the cuisine while working for their nonprofit, One World Family International Peace Organization, which supports refugees from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) in Thailand. LaMaire spoke to Gambit about Burmese food.

How did you learn about Burmese food?

LaMaire: The cuisine we're serving grew out of nonprofit work Eva and I have been involved in for about six years. We currently support 45 children who go to school in Thailand ... many of (their families) had to flee Myanmar because of the civil war. A lot of these recipes are things we picked up from people we worked with or street vendors over there. We learned about it in Mae Sot in Thailand; it's a border town. There are lots of refugees there. We got hip to Burmese food doing that.

  There are only a handful of (Burmese restaurants) in the U.S., but it's blowing up in San Francisco. There's a Burmese population in Houston and a couple of Burmese food markets. We've been doing it for a year now. We started in January (2015) and have done about 20 (pop-up events).

  This started with us cooking it in our home and we realized we could bring it out. My partner Blake Smithson has a lot of restaurant experience. He's opened four or five restaurants, so he's been responsible for making it work in larger batches, restaurant style. We bring the authentic recipes and cuisine knowledge.

What is the cuisine like?

Myanmar is bordered by Thailand to the east, China to the north and India to the west. There are elements of all those cuisines, but there are a lot of unique elements. They're really into fried nuts. Pickled tea leaves are one of the unique ingredients; you don't find that anywhere else. They're the only culture that eats tea leaves. They have a sourness to them — very complex flavors. It's a vegetarian-friendly cuisine because they're so into nuts and vegetables. The cuisine is not as spicy as Thai cuisine, but it's often spicy.

  One of the dishes we do is Shan tofu. It's a homemade tofu made out of chickpeas instead of tofu. They eat that a lot in the Shan state in the north. We do a lot of salads. The style we do is called a thoke, which means "by hand." They say that to bring out the flavors, you have to mix it by hand.

  Salads and handmade curries are our main push. A lot of the curries we do are influenced by Thai and Cambodian styles. We mash up the paste with a mortar and pestle. They say that's how you have to do it to get the flavor out.

  A lot of the Burmese curries are oily. As far as I am concerned, that's not my favorite part of their cuisine. We try to do things that are a little more healthy and accessible to people who like Thai curries, and we try to do things that aren't done elsewhere. I also like northern Thai food. We've picked up recipes there too.

How diverse is Burmese cuisine?

There are over 100 different ethnic groups in the country, and they all do things a little differently and have unique things. We do a dish called Shan noodles, from the Shan region. We do it with wide rice noodles. There, the person selling it would make their own noodles. It's got a Bolognese-like sauce, with either ground chicken or pork in tomato sauce.

  The national dish of Burma is a soup called mohinga. It's a fish chowder served over noodles. There are an unlimited number of varieties. The one we serve is Irrawaddy Delta style. We use chickpeas to thicken it. For us, it's almost like a gravy. But in some areas, it would be a clear broth with fish chunks.

Suhakam urges Malaysia to recognise rights of refugees

KUALA LUMPUR: The lack of a proper system to govern refugees has allowed human rights abuses against refugees to take place, said the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). 

The non-recognition of refugees by Malaysia has made the community more marginalised, added Suhakam vice-chair Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee (pix). 

“We urge for the establishment of a Government-led system which engages with various other organisations such as the UNHCR and non-governmental bodies which deal with refugees to ensure a better mechanism to deal with the issues and challenges faced by refugees in Malaysia. 

“And we will continue to urge the Government to accede to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 and its 1967 Optional Protocol in order to accord adequate protection to, and to respect the rights of, refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia.” 

Dr Khaw said this in her keynote address Thursday on the commission’s role at the Roundtable on Challenges and Opportunities for Refugees in an Urban Environment organised by the UNHCR. 

Since Suhakam’s inception, she said it has been inquiring into complaints of alleged violations of their human rights and by recommending to the Government to accede to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 and its 1967 Optional Protocol. 

“Over the last four years, from 2012-2015, we have received a total of 129 complaints from refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.”

The breakdown is as follows: 50 in 2012, 25 in 2013, 38 in 2014 and 16 as at Nov 17 this year. 

The complaints related mainly to health, education, employment, vulnerability to arrests and detention, and delays in registration and resettlement. 

“In relation to health, the complaints were about their inability to pay medical bills, especially for those who were admitted to hospital for chronic illnesses,” said Dr Khaw, adding that Suhakam has received several requests for medical and financial assistance from members of the refugee community. 

While refugees get a 50% discount at government hospitals, she noted this was available “only to UNHCR card holders, and not to asylum seekers, or those who may be persons of concern but who do not possess valid UNHCR documents”. 

She reminded the Government of its obligation under Article 24(1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which states that every child shall have access to adequate healthcare. 

And as Malaysia is a signatory to the CRC, it must strive to protect the rights of all children including refugee children to obtain access to education, said Dr Khaw. 

However, there is no access to formal education for refugee children in Malaysia. 

Instead, Dr Khaw said there was alternative or informal education from projects run by UNHCR in partnership with non-governmental organisations, or community-based education classes organised by the refugee communities themselves with the support of non-refugee groups such as faith-based organisations. 

“The Commission asserts, however, that there is no substitute for formal education with necessary resources to meet the educational needs of refugee children. 

“Education is an important element in everyone’s life, with the ability to change a person’s life, especially when education is one of the main assessment criteria for resettlement.” 

Dr Khaw commended the Government for its proposal to allow Rohingya refugees to seek employment through a pilot project, which will focus on certain market sectors. 

“The Commission welcomed a similar decision to issue work permits to refugees in July 2013. However, that did not materialise,” she added. 

On Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s announcement at the UN General Assembly in New York on Oct 2 that Malaysia would accept 3,000 Syrian refugees and provide them with shelter and jobs temporarily, as well as access to education for their children while in Malaysia, she said Suhakam hoped such rights would be extended to all refugees in Malaysia. 

In relation to allegations of abuse of power by enforcement authorities as well as the unsatisfactory conditions of immigration deportation centres, she said there was no proper system to govern the arrest, detention and deportation of refugees. 

Dr Khaw added that lack of recognition of their status as refugees rendered them vulnerable to arrests and detention, as well as abuses at the hands of the authorities.

Thai summit to spotlight Myanmar, Bangladesh over migrant crisis

Myanmar and Bangladesh face renewed pressure to tackle "the root causes" of an annual migration crisis after Thailand on Thursday announced a regional summit ahead of the new sailing season.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled western Myanmar in recent years, joined increasingly by Bangladeshis escaping poverty, on dangerous and often fatal sea journeys through the Bay of Bengal towards Malaysia.

Boats crammed with migrants traditionally depart following the end of the monsoon season expected in November.

It is not clear whether migrants will take to the seas in the same numbers this year after Thailand launched a crackdown on major human trafficking rings in May.

That resulted in thousands of migrants being abandoned in fetid jungle camps and at sea and the arrest of scores of people, including a Thai general and other officials for orchestrating the multi-million dollar trade.

Stories of kidnap, coercion and hunger emerged from the hundreds who staggered ashore or were belatedly rescued by Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian authorities after weeks at sea.

In a statement announcing the December 4 summit in Bangkok, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the crackdown had resulted in a "substantive" reduction of the trade.

But it added that "more needs to be done to solve this problem effectively and permanently".

"Affected countries in the region and relevant partners must work together to address the root causes as well as all the contributing factors along the way," the statement said.

Thailand has invited Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia to participate in the summit as well as representatives from the United Nations, the United States, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, the European Union and NGOs. 

Bangkok's use of the phrase "root causes" is a nod to Myanmar's ongoing persecution of the Rohingya, many of whom live in apartheid-like conditions in western Rakhine state following deadly clashes with local Buddhists in 2012.

The government does not recognise the term Rohingya, arguing that the Muslim minority are in fact illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite many families tracing generations-long ancestry.

Myanmar has so far refused to acknowledge that the Rohingya are fleeing persecution.

Bangladesh has also been accused of not doing enough to stop its impoverished citizens leaving its southeastern shores. 

Thailand held a similar summit at the end of May during the height the migrant crisis.

But human rights groups criticised the May summit for being little more than a talking shop in a region known for favouring consensus diplomacy ahead of direct confrontation. 

With the sailing season nearing, rights groups are now closely watching for signs the smuggling gangs are still active. 

- See more at: http://mizzima.com/news-regional/thai-summit-spotlight-myanmar-bangladesh-over-migrant-crisis#sthash.cRPJg04A.dpuf

Malaysia welcomes first group of Syrian asylum seekers

Malaysia has pledged to take in 3,000 Syrian asylum seekers over the next three years, but refugee groups hope the invitation will also be extended to the more than 1,000 Syrian refugees already on Malaysian soil.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia welcomed two families from Syria on Tuesday (Dec 8), the first group of 3,000 Syrians whom it hopes to eventually provide temporary shelter to over the next three years.

"It's very bad and every day is war and bombings in the area," said Mohamed Ebrahim, who belongs to one of the families. Syria has been ravaged by civil war for nearly five years, forcing millions out of the country in search of safer shores.

Malaysia has offered to be one of these havens, until things improve back home. It has pledged to take in 3,000 Syrian asylum seekers over the next three years - starting with these two families.

"The overriding action that we're doing here today is we're doing it for humanitarian reasons, to bring people from a bad situation to rebuild their lives," said Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

The two families were brought over after their Syrian relatives working in Malaysia appealed to the Malaysian government for help.

A newly-formed special taskforce is working out details for future Syrian arrivals. The government wants to help Syrians coming through this programme to get work permits, enabling them to be self-sufficient.

But refugee groups hope these benefits will also be extended to the more than 1,000 Syrian refugees already on Malaysian soil.

Malaysia is not a signatory to the United Nations’ refugee convention and refugees under the UNHCR often work here illegally or survive on NGO support until they can either return home or resettle elsewhere.

"I ask the government of Malaysia to accept us and to give us permission to work here and live until Syria gets the same like before and we can go back there," said Feras S, a Syrian refugee in Malaysia.

“I really, really hope that the Malaysian government opening its doors to the 3,000 means it will open its ears and hearts to the ones who are here," said Lia Syed, executive director or the Malaysian Social Research Institute.

Malaysia has not shut the door on this idea. It says it will engage multiple parties, including the UN’s refugee agency, to decide how to honour the commitment it has made to Syrian asylum seekers.

"We have always welcomed people who are also termed as refugees,” said Nur Jazlan. “The problem is how do we tackle the bureaucracy when it comes to giving them a status to stay in Malaysia … and how to allow them to work in Malaysia and how about their accommodation, needs and the rest. This issue is not easy to solve but we're looking at it."

Whatever happens, Malaysia says national security will be prioritised. There will be a strict vetting process for any refugees accepted from Syria, where militant group Islamic State controls large areas.

- CNA

Najib meets Syrian families taking refuge in Malaysia

RIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took time off from his busy schedule at the Umno general assembly to meet Syrian families taking refuge in the country.

Accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Najib spent about 20 minutes talking to the three families who have fled their war-torn country.

Salam Ali, 17, who arrived in Malaysia with her sister and parents, said she was looking forward to continuing with her studies.

"Malaysia is beautiful," said Salam, adding that she hoped to be as happy here as she was in Syria before the conflict started.

Mohamed Ibrahim, 29, whose family has finally joined him in Malaysia where he has been working as a hairstylist for four years, said he was happy to have the chance to meet the Prime Minister.

"I am so happy, I don't know what to say. Insya Allah, we will have a good life here," he said, adding that he was thankful for the help of Malaysians in bringing his family to the country.

Mohamed said he was glad that his parents, brother and sister are safe with him now.

His family was the first group of Syrian refugees to touch down at the KL International Airport on Tuesday.

Flying in from Istanbul, the family originally came from Idlib city in Syria.

The move to bring Syrians here was part of Najib's promise to help 3,000 Syrian refugees currently fleeing from conflict in their country.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Federal Terri­tories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Syrian families reunite under Malaysia's refugee plan

Syrian hairstylists Mohamed Ibrahim (back row, third from left) and Ali Abdul Naser (back row, fourth from left) with their families who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday from Turkey. The families are the first batch of Syrians who are in Malaysia as part of the government's plan to take in 3,000 refugees over three years to help ease the migrant crisis.PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

KUALA LUMPUR • Malaysia has welcomed its first batch of Syrian migrants as part of its plan to take in 3,000 refugees from Syria over three years to help ease the migrant crisis.

The group of eight Syrians, comprising two families, flew in from Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday into the arms of their waiting kin at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Hairstylist Mohamed Ibrahim, 29, who has been in Malaysia since 2012, said he was grateful that his parents, brother and sister were safe in Malaysia now, The Star reported.

"Our house was destroyed in the war. I was worried something might happen to my family if they remained in Idlib city (in north-western Syria)," he said.

Like Mr Mohamed, Mr Ali Abdul Naser, 30, successfully applied to the Malaysian government to accept his family. "I cannot believe that they are here after just a month. I am very happy that they are here with me," Mr Ali was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insider news site. "At least we are all safe now. We can look forward to rebuilding our lives here," said Mr Ali, 30, also a hairstylist. "I consider Malaysia my second home."

But he hoped they could go home once there is peace in his homeland.

More than four million people have fled Syria's brutal civil war and more than seven million others are displaced within the country.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com