Govt takes steps to solve Myanmar problem

The police, Immigration Department and UNHCR will work together to solve the problem involving Myanmar nationals, said Zahid Hamidi.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will work with the police, Immigration Department and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to send back illegal Myanmar nationals, and take measures to prevent clashes among these refugees, said Home Minister Zahid Hamidi.

“There is an ethnic cleansing of Muslims back home in Myanmar and the in-fighting has spilled over to our country,” he said after visiting the Selayang Wholesale Market today where two Myanmar nationals were killed in a clash between Myanmar Muslims and Buddhists early last month.

Representatives from the UNHCR were also present during the visit.

Zahid said fewer people were going to the wholesale market after the incident and the police had set up a mobile station to prevent clashes.

He said 90% of the workers at the wholesale market were Myanmar refugees who are Muslims.

He added the workers had obtained refugee status through UNHCR but there were also illegal Myanmarese in the market.

Zahid said the wholesale traders were forced to hire Myanmar refugees as workers because Malaysians were unwilling to work in the market.

“The Myanmar refugees can work here but they have to follow the laws of the country,” he said.

He said the new UNHCR refugee card had a microchip to track their movement.

“The 140,000 illegal Myanmarese will be sent back to their home country by the Myanmar embassy and Home Ministry,” he added.