CNI News

13 October 2023

As Malaysian authorities are checking by surprise and arresting illegal foreign workers, Myanmar embassy has warned its citizens to take passports and necessary documents with them. 
Myanmar people need to take care of their steps for the time being and when they have to go unavoidably, they are asked to carry the evidence in order to show them when there are checks.

" Currently, as Malaysians are putting so much pressure on their government relating to foreigners through social media such as Facebook or Tiktok, their government is also conducting checks and arrests. In Malaysia, authorities tend to check motorcycles and cars first. It's finished. For the time being, the customs department is checking illegal shops. The immigration department will start checking in about December. But the places that have been complained is being checked." said Hmwar Michael who is living in Malaysia, to CNI News.

Three entertainment centers that had been opened illegally were arrested by Malaysian immigration department and police on 16 September 2023 and 92 so-called Myanmar people were arrested reportedly.

" Authorities are currently checking licenses and illegal goods of the shops. At present, if you are arrested, you can't negotiate at all or you can't give money like in the past. You'll be sentenced to 7 month imprisonment or you must pay 100,000 ringgits as a fine at a court." he added.

While foreigners were being arrested in Malaysia

Although there were a lot of arrests in Malaysia after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, because Myanmar embassy did not release any warning statements, Myanmar people in Malaysia were taken aback by this warning statement. 
However, the embassy should find ways that could help Myanmar people in Malaysia instead of releasing the statement like that, said U Nyi Nyi Lwin, director general of the Center for Arakan Refugees, to CNI News.

" If you apply for a new passport, you'll have wait from three months to one year to get it. So, most of Myanmar people here have no documents. And if you register at the UNHCR for protection and care, you'll have to wait about one year. There is nothing that is served quickly. There are one hundred thousand above Myanmar workers here. 70 percent of them have no documents. That the embassy has released a statement like this is right. But rather than the statement, Myanmar Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should find ways that can help Myanmar citizens. How can they do to issue passports quickly? To the best of my knowledge,if a Bangladeshi applies for a passport today at the Bangladeshi embassy, he will get the passport tomorrow. But he needs to have necessary facts." said U Nyi Nyi Lwin.

Myanmar illegal workers should apply for Rekalibrasi permit that allows illegal foreign workers to officially work if convenient, urged Myanmar embassy.

Although the program will be served until 30th December, it probably will be extended and arrests will increase when it is drawing near to the period designated, said Myanmar citizens in Malaysia.