About 3,000 Arakan residents detained in Malaysia over three months

By Admin 13 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
13 September 2024, Sittwe

Some 3,000 people from Arakan State who are working in Malaysia due to the lack of jobs and livelihood hardships in their home state were reportedly arrested by Malaysian police and immigration officials in June, July and August.

“There are various ways of being arrested. Some of them were arrested because their neighbours complained to the police about causing a disturbance,” said U Zue Wai, who assists Arakanese migrant workers in Malaysia.

Although some of those people were released after negotiating with the relevant authorities, there are also many who have been charged under Malaysian immigration law.

“I was arrested by the police on the street. I explained to the police. Fortunately, I was released,” said a resident of Arakan State’s Pauktaw who works in Malaysia.

A combined squad led by Malaysian police arrested 70 Arakanese people at a workplace in the first week of August.

Arrestees were told they would be released on August 20, but they have not been released yet and have not been allowed to see their family members.

“The detained migrant workers were not released on August 20 nor allowed to meet family members. I am worried that they will be handed over to the Myanmar military regime,” said the father of an arrestee.

In Malaysia, those facing prosecution are not allowed to meet with their families while their case is being investigated, but rather only after they have been sentenced to prison, according to migrant labourer advocates.

Detained migrant workers are typically sent back to Myanmar after serving sentences of between two and six months in prison under Malaysia’s immigration law.

Due to the scarcity of employment opportunities in Arakan State, local people pawn or sell assets such as jewellery, cattle, and land to leave for foreign countries through often illegal routes.

As the military conflict intensifies in Arakan State, locals who travel to foreign countries to work by any means are daily facing the alternative threat of arrest in countries like Malaysia.