VOCR
7th February, 2010
Kuala Lumpur
By Salai C C

Refugees in Malaysia are deep concern over the recent government's announcement to raid illegal foreign workers in the country. Indeed, the Malaysia Government and Immigration department are planning to issue the ID to refugees, but arrest and corruption over refugees is still continuing.

Despite the announcement was thump-up by local NGOs and Chin refugees who fled their home country to Malaysia for a while, a moment later, the refugees are confused whether the government will really keep its announcement as the police are continuing arrest over the refugees in Malaysia.

"Immediately, after the announcement has been made, many of refugees working at factory and doing odds job had been arrested by RELA and Immigration joined operation. According to the information we received, most of the arrestees are UNHCR card holders and some have appointments to UNHR office to issue the card" one refugee community worker said.

He also expressed that if we quoted the star newspaper publicized recently, the home minister said that all refugees who have been recognized and issued the card by UNHCR can stay in the country temporarily but they cannot do anything but odds job. In fact, we (the Chin refugees) never intend to work in offices and good jobs which are separated for the local people. We all are waiting to be resettled to the country which officially accepted refugees. But the home minister department accused us that we are doing good jobs even though we are trying to compensate the local people with doing odds job. But now, many refugee workers who are doing odds job have been discharged by their bosses and population of jobless is steadily increasing".

When VOCR scrutinize regarding this matter, all Chin refugees do appreciate and applaud to the Government's announcement for recognizing refugees and allowing them to stay in the country temporarily. They also hope that they will not be sent back to Myanmar as the Malaysia government is well-known about refugee condition inside the country and to be given a chance to work for daily survival while in Malaysia.

Mr. Sang from Chin National Day Celebration committee also said that we are really worrying to observe football tournament within this period but it must be done as the committee has already agreed to do this tournament. We are aware that the funs around Kuala Lumpur City are feared to come because they have not legal protection for their safety.
Despite the government has announced to issue ID to recognize here in Malaysia, we fear that we all will be arrested within this period before the government issued the ID or confirmed its announcement, he said.

In order to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year smoothly, the government postponed its timetable to act against illegal workers yesterday but any announcement regarding this matter has not been made. However, the Chin refugees from Burma are troublingly waiting to see whether they will really be safe.