Nearly 400 Myanmar migrant workers arrested in Malaysia’s Johor State

Nearly 400 undocumented Myanmar migrant workers were arrested in Malaysia’s Johor State in July, according to Min Thant, Chairman of the Johor Senai School Funeral Service Association. The arrests occurred between 1 and 23 July, with over 100 Myanmar nationals detained in a single raid in Pulai on 17 July. An additional 172 undocumented Myanmar migrant workers from one factory were also apprehended, Min Thant said, requiring assistance. Min Thant said there has been a significant increase in undocumented Myanmar migrants in Malaysia, many of whom entered the country through illegal channels. He said Myanmar’s embassy in Malaysia no longer issues new passports, only renewing existing ones or replacing lost documents, which creates considerable difficulties for new arrivals. In Pekan Nanas town, undocumented border crossers are typically brought before the court every Thursday. On 16 July, 372 people were prosecuted, and on 23 July, over 300 more faced charges for illegal entry into Malaysia. Approximately two-thirds of those prosecuted are Myanmar nationals, with more expected to appear in court on 30 July. A Myanmar national in Malaysia advised migrants to avoid drawing undue attention, specifically citing the public application of thanaka, wearing traditional longyi, and chewing betel quid. Complaints from neighbours about noise have also led to arrests. Undocumented migrant workers frequently face exploitation, including wage theft, demands for bribes from police to avoid arrest, and financial scams under the guise of processing legitimate documents. Employers who hire undocumented workers and are fined sometimes deduct these penalties from the migrants’ wages instead of paying them themselves. Those arrested for immigration offenses typically receive prison sentences ranging from five months to one year, depending on the offense. Fines can range from approximately 4,000 to 8,000 Malaysian ringgit (approx. US$980 to $1,960), depending on the severity of the offense and the discretion of the judge.