Rashvinjeet S. Bedi and Martin Vengadesan
National League of Democracy (NLD) activist Nyan Lin said many Myanmar nationals wanted to go home because they feared for their lives, adding that a lot of families back in Myanmar were afraid for their loved ones and had asked them to return.
"Everyone is scared because of the violence, but only those with permits can go back now," he said.
He said that even if the fighting amongst the Myanmar nationals was dying down, workers were also afraid of being detained by Malaysian police during their operations, as they believed that even carrying legal documents would not prevent them from being detained.
Commenting on reports that Myanmar's national airline was offering half-price tickets for Myanmar nationals who wish to return home from Malaysia, Burma Campaign Malaysia president Tun Tun said it was a joke that the workers would want to go back home because of the salary difference.
"When they are working in Malaysia they can support their family. If they work in Burma, they can only support themselves," he said.
He also alleged that the Myanmar government-controlled media were biased and played up the death of Buddhists here.
"Did they report about the Muslims who died and the many mosques that were destroyed in fires in Myanmar?" he asked.
It was reported yesterday that a number of Myanmar nationals are believed to be hiding following sporadic clashes at the Selayang wholesale market.
Police believe the clashes were a spillover from the religious violence in their home country, causing anxiety among those here.
In Selayang, there have been groups carrying the 969 symbol on their vehicles, causing alarm within the Myanmar community.
The movement known as 969 numerals which espouse Buddhist beliefs has been blamed for the troubles in Myanmar.
Seven clashes involving Myanmar nationals were reported in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Selangor between May 30 and June 4.
Nyan Lin said that Myanmars of different religions had co-existed peacefully for a long time before this.
"Myanmar is undergoing democratic changes but some groups are not satisfied. They are trying to cause problems by playing the religion card," he explained, dismissing the influence of the 969 movement in Malaysia.
There are an estimated 400,000 Myanmar nationals in Malaysia legal, illegal and refugees.
It has been reported by irrawaddy.org that a Myanmar special delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Zin Yaw and Deputy Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Daw Win Maw Tun arrived in Malaysia yesterday to help diffuse the situation.
Meanwhile, The Hindu newpaper reported that the Aywyawady Foundation planned to provide free air tickets for 1,000 workers to return home while the Kanbawza Bank would donate money to cover the funeral services of the Myanmar labourers killed in Malaysia.
Source: http://www.articles.myanmaronlinecentre.com/myanmar-workers-in-msia-clamouring-to-go-home/
Publication Date : 13-06-2013
Myanmar workers in Malaysia are clamouring to go home despite reported clashes between rival factions here having calmed down, said an activist.
National League of Democracy (NLD) activist Nyan Lin said many Myanmar nationals wanted to go home because they feared for their lives, adding that a lot of families back in Myanmar were afraid for their loved ones and had asked them to return.
"Everyone is scared because of the violence, but only those with permits can go back now," he said.
He said that even if the fighting amongst the Myanmar nationals was dying down, workers were also afraid of being detained by Malaysian police during their operations, as they believed that even carrying legal documents would not prevent them from being detained.
Commenting on reports that Myanmar's national airline was offering half-price tickets for Myanmar nationals who wish to return home from Malaysia, Burma Campaign Malaysia president Tun Tun said it was a joke that the workers would want to go back home because of the salary difference.
"When they are working in Malaysia they can support their family. If they work in Burma, they can only support themselves," he said.
He also alleged that the Myanmar government-controlled media were biased and played up the death of Buddhists here.
"Did they report about the Muslims who died and the many mosques that were destroyed in fires in Myanmar?" he asked.
It was reported yesterday that a number of Myanmar nationals are believed to be hiding following sporadic clashes at the Selayang wholesale market.
Police believe the clashes were a spillover from the religious violence in their home country, causing anxiety among those here.
In Selayang, there have been groups carrying the 969 symbol on their vehicles, causing alarm within the Myanmar community.
The movement known as 969 numerals which espouse Buddhist beliefs has been blamed for the troubles in Myanmar.
Seven clashes involving Myanmar nationals were reported in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Selangor between May 30 and June 4.
Nyan Lin said that Myanmars of different religions had co-existed peacefully for a long time before this.
"Myanmar is undergoing democratic changes but some groups are not satisfied. They are trying to cause problems by playing the religion card," he explained, dismissing the influence of the 969 movement in Malaysia.
There are an estimated 400,000 Myanmar nationals in Malaysia legal, illegal and refugees.
It has been reported by irrawaddy.org that a Myanmar special delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Zin Yaw and Deputy Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Daw Win Maw Tun arrived in Malaysia yesterday to help diffuse the situation.
Meanwhile, The Hindu newpaper reported that the Aywyawady Foundation planned to provide free air tickets for 1,000 workers to return home while the Kanbawza Bank would donate money to cover the funeral services of the Myanmar labourers killed in Malaysia.
Source: http://www.articles.myanmaronlinecentre.com/myanmar-workers-in-msia-clamouring-to-go-home/
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