A decision on whether Myanmar refugees can be allowed to work as assistants at the Selayang wholesale market will be made next month.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said meetings have been held between his department, Wisma Putra, City Hall, police and representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to discuss the proposal.
Local laws do not allow refugees to work. However, on humanitarian grounds, they are allowed to take on odd jobs to help them survive.
Some refugees are already helping out traders in the Selayang wholesale market.
“They are not allowed to trade but they will be allowed to help out the traders in the market,” Mahmood said.
Asked if the decision would be a precedence for other nationals accorded refugee status in the country, Mahmood said the Selayang case was the first model being considered, and he would first prefer to see how this worked out.
Two months ago, City Hall said since locals were reluctant to work at markets, it would recommend refugees be allowed to do so.
Last week, City Hall petty traders and hawker management department director Ramly Othman reiterated the stand.
What is interesting are the comments posted after the article. Steven Aung Ling from the Daai community (he is known to us) posted a comment. Good job, Steven!
So did 2 xenophobic Malaysians. Have a look at their response. It does not represent a cross-section of our society sure, but it does show how limited a Malaysian's knowledge is on refugees/ asylum seekers & how our work is cut out for us in increasing this knowledge.
Click on the link at the end of this email to view the comments posted.
anne
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