More than 300 Myanmar migrant workers trapped in Malaysian detention camps are set to come home, after Kuala Lumpur-based charities raised money to fund air tickets for those who couldn’t afford the fare.
The money, donated by Myanmar people living in Malaysia, was raised in honor of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s 71st birthday last week. The recipients could be flown home as early as next month.
“We have money for 315 people,” said an employee of the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur, which received the funds from social groups. “But the problem is that [people] in charge of the detention camps are not working as it is Ramadan. We prepared to send them back after Ramadan. We will prioritize those with health problems or having difficulties.”
Thousands of migrant workers from Myanmar are spending weeks, months and even years in Malaysian detention camps while they wait for paperwork to be approved.
Hla Khaing, who spent 8 months there, recently told the Myanmar Times: “We couldn’t connect to anyone and the Myanmar embassy came to the camp only once every 45 days, but we had no permission to meet with them.”
Ko Thura Soe, another migrant, added: “Many people suffer from skin diseases and others who had to stay longer went mad.”
Hundreds of migrant workers in Malaysian camps are returned to Myanmar each month, mostly on their own dime. The embassy, which says the vast and increasing numbers of migrants make tickets too expensive, has only funded the fare once.
