Arakan workers struggle as Malaysian authorities intensify crackdown

By Admin 03 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
3 December 2024, Mrauk-U

Arakan migrant workers in Malaysia are having a hard time working in the country as Malaysian authorities step up a crackdown on illegal migrants, according to volunteers assisting Myanmar migrant workers.

Malaysian authorities have been raiding houses, restaurants, factories and farms daily, leaving those working in those places in constant fear, said workers from Arakan State in Malaysia.

“We are not safe at all as undocumented workers here. Mostly the arrests are made in response to complaints by [Malaysian citizen] neighbours. Malaysian authorities conduct raids and make arrests daily. Arakan migrants are arrested almost every day,” said Daw Cho Cho, one such worker in Malaysia.

On November 26, 89 undocumented Myanmar nationals, including some workers from Arakan State, were arrested in Ampang, Malaysia.

In another case, more than 20 Myanmar nationals including four Arakan migrants were arrested in Kulai on November 24.

Over 50 Myanmar migrants were arrested during raids on restaurants in Johor on November 11-12, and many of the detainees were from Arakan State, according to volunteers.

“There were arrests before, but not this harsh. There have been arrests every day over the past two months. Detainees no longer receive bail, but are deported to Myanmar after serving their prison sentences. It has become hard to continue to work here,” said Ko Kyaw Min Htay, an Arakan migrant working in Malaysia.

Since December 2023, Malaysian authorities have been conducting operations targeting undocumented migrants in the country.

Previously, those arrested were released on bail of 6,000 Malaysian ringgit (US$1,343) to 8,000 ringgit (US$1,791), but now they are arrested without the opportunity to post bail, sentenced to prison and deported to Myanmar after serving time, according to Arakan workers in Malaysia.

A volunteer helping Arakan workers in Malaysia said: “There are many people who are struggling in Malaysia. They don’t dare to go outside because of widespread arrests, making it hard to find work. Some employers don’t recruit Myanmar nationals. Some have been here for over two months, but they still can’t find a job.”

It is estimated that there are around 500,000 Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia, and around 200,000 of them are undocumented.

Armed conflict and resultant economic turmoil since the 2021 coup have prompted many Arakan State residents to leave Myanmar in search of work abroad.