Arakanese migrant still in critical condition one month after Malaysia hit-and-run 

By Admin 04 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
4 December 2024, Mrauk-U

An illegal Arakanese migrant worker has been hospitalised for more than a month after he was badly injured in a motorbike accident in Malaysia’s Penang.

U Zaw Myint tun, 45, from the Arakan State capital Sittwe, was hit by a Malaysian biker while shopping on November 3, resulting in fractures to his arms and legs, and internal injuries.

“He is still in the emergency ward, and in critical condition. The Malaysian man who hit him has taken no responsibility and is currently in hiding. We haven’t yet got contact with the patient’s family,” said U Than Zaw Myint, a volunteer helping Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia.

Volunteers cannot help open a case for U Zaw Myint Tun as he is an illegal worker. Financial assistance is also needed for his medical treatment, they said.

Traffic accidents involving Malaysian citizens and foreigners are frequent in Malaysia, said migrants from Arakan State who called on fellow migrant workers to exercise caution.

“These incidents frequently occur in Malaysia. When they happen, it is usually the foreign workers who suffer. Malaysian citizens escape with impunity. Therefore, Arakan workers should be mindful in their daily lives and try to live harmoniously with the locals,” said Ko Lin Myint, an Arakan worker in Malaysia.

Unemployment and armed conflict have prompted many Arakan State residents to seek jobs overseas, especially in Malaysia and Thailand, where many of them are undocumented workers.