Around 400 illegal Myanmar migrant workers arrested in Malaysia in one month

Photo – Illegal border crossers entering Malaysia are arrested, punished, and then repatriated to their respective countries. Around 400 illegal Myanmar migrant workers have been arrested in Johor, Malaysia, during the month of July, it has been learned. This is a tally from July 1 to July 23, according to U Min Thant, Chairman of the Johor Bahru Chinese Cemetery Funeral Aid Society. "The arrests have been very frequent recently. On July 17, there were over 100 Myanmar nationals in a single bus," he said. He also stated that 172 illegal Myanmar migrant workers were arrested from a factory, and he has been assisting them. "The number of undocumented Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia is increasing. They are coming through unofficial channels. Upon arrival in Malaysia, the current Myanmar Embassy is not issuing new passports at all; they are only renewing existing passports and processing lost passport applications, making it very difficult," said the Chairman of the Johor Bahru Chinese Cemetery Funeral Aid Society. In Pekan Nanas town, Johor State, illegal border crossers arrested are typically brought to court for examination every Thursday. On July 16, 372 individuals, and on the previous day (July 23), over 300 individuals were brought to court for illegal border crossing into Malaysia, it has been learned. Approximately two-thirds of these are Myanmar nationals, and it is understood that Myanmar nationals will also be among those to be examined in court on July 30. "Primarily, one should be careful about applying Thanaka, wearing a Longyi, and chewing betel nut. Chewing betel nut in public view also requires caution. Some have been arrested after complaints from neighbors due to noise," said a Myanmar national in Malaysia. It is understood that migrant workers who entered illegally face exploitation of their labor, demands for monthly payments as "bribes to the police" to avoid arrest, and financial fraud under the guise of obtaining identification documents. Furthermore, it is understood that business owners who are fined for hiring illegal migrant workers sometimes deduct a proportional amount from the wages owed to the migrant workers as a "fine," instead of paying the fine themselves. It is understood that those arrested are typically sentenced to imprisonment ranging from approximately five months to one year by Malaysian courts, depending on the offense. The fine typically ranges from approximately 4,000 to 8,000 Malaysian Ringgit, depending on the offense of the illegal resident and the judge's discretion. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo