CNI News

26 Nov 2022

Labour activists for Myanmar migrants in Malaysia told the CNI that they hoped illegal migrants would be allowed to stay in Malaysia during the term of the new prime minister.

The general election was held in Malaysia on 19th November and veteran opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim became the new prime minister.

As Anwar made promises about foreign migrants during his election campaign, such hopes have sprung up, labour activists for Myanmar migrants told the CNI.

U Babu Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar migrants in Malaysia, told the CNI, "Factories and workshops are suffering labour shortages. There are not enough workers who officially come to Malaysia to solve the problem. Employers are not allowed to hire illegal migrant workers. They will be fined if authorities find out that they are employing illegal workers. So, I hope that the new government will allow illegal migrants to stay and work in Malaysia. I think they will surely do that. It will be good for illegal migrants. There are many Myanmar illegal migrants in Malaysia. They will be able to stay and work peacefully without worrying about arrests."

New Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. (AFP)

Myanmar labour activists in Malaysia hope that the situation of migrant workers will improve as every new government in Malaysia does something or other for migrant workers and the new prime minister is a reformist.

He hopes for the best for refugees, an official from the Alliance of Chin refugees told the CNI.

He said, "The new prime minister was a prisoner in the past. We hope that he will be able to serve best for the country and foreign migrants. As for the refugee issue, Malaysia governments have been working with the UNHCR for many years. Last, Malaysian authorities held meetings with the world refugee body. I think they are working for the best of all."

Although the prime minister has been appointed, there will be delays to form a new government because of some political issues and security is still tightened, U Babu Gyi told the CNI.

Migrant Workers.

"We don't know exactly why security is still tightened. Although the prime minister has been appointed by the king, there is another rival of the prime minister. He has not formed a government by appointing ministers and deputy ministers. He has started going to the prime minister's office. We don't know who will be ministers because we don't understand their political systems. There may be misunderstandings, differences and divisions. A large number of people support the opposition. Therefore, we are urging undocumented workers not to go out."

During his election campaigns, the new prime minister made two promises about foreign migrants including resolving the issue of foreign migrants in Sabah State in eastern Malaysia and a better and faster process for hiring foreign workers.