CNI News

23 Sept 2022

As the number of illegal migrants who sneaked into Malaysia from southern Thailand has increased, authorities have tightened security along the border, Myanmar organizations in Malaysia told the CNI.

Majority of the illegal migrants who sneaked through the border were Myanmar nationals. A senior immigration officer inspected the border on 15^th September and issued orders to tighten security there.

Ma Cho TheI, who has been helping Myanmar workers in Malaysia, told the CNI, “Myanmar nationals went to Thailand by using visit visas and illegally entered Malaysia from the Thai border. They could enter Malaysia by bus or through the waterway. No government wants to accept illegal migrants in their country.”

Some Myanmar citizens illegally entered Malaysia via Kawthaung-Ranong road and from 10 to 50 Myanmar nationals sneaked into Malaysia every day by hired vehicles.

General Secretary U Chit Kaung of the Social Assistance Association for Myanmar Migrant Workers in Malaysia told the CNI that the border, which was previously manned with the police, is now guarded by the police and the military.

“The border was previously manned by the police. Now, they reinforce security by deploying the military together with the police. I think they assigned the military to guard the border. The military arrested illegal workers and handed them over to the police, who filed cases against them before transferring them to the immigration. Although they have deployed the military, they do not shoot at illegal migrants. In Malaysia, the majority of people fear the military. So, they stop when the military orders them to stop. If Myanmar illegal migrants do not understand the situation and try to flee, the military may shoot at them. So, I would like to advise Myanmar nationals not to flee if they cannot escape and let the military arrest them. They may shoot at illegal migrants who try to escape. Under the Malaysian law, the police can shoot at suspects who attack them at the scene. As they shot and killed their nationals, they will not hesitate to shoot at illegal migrants.  If Myanmar illegal migrants do not understand the situation, they may get into trouble.

Recently, Myanmar migrant workers who sneaked into Malaysia include those who went to the country for the first time as well as those who overstayed in the country previously and were sent back to Myanmar after having their fingerprints taken. Such workers have been denied entry to the country.

Some illegal migrants were arrested while there were some others who managed to avoid being detained but they were being accused of bribing brokers and authorities, Ma Cho Thel told the CNI.

“It is difficult to earn a living in Myanmar. So, they have economic hardship. Some people returned to Myanmar after working in Thailand or Malaysia but they found themselves in difficulty finding a job. They want to come back to Malaysia because of the political situation and rising commodity prices in Myanmar. However, some of them had returned to Myanmar after paying fines and having their fingerprints taken. Malaysian authorities have denied entry to such people. So, they came to Malaysia illegally. As a result, Malaysian authorities have tightened security along the border,” she said.

At present, Malaysian authorities are rounding up illegal workers not only along the border but also in the entire country and the security measures may be in place until the end of the year, according to Myanmar organizations in Malaysia.