They escaped from their motherland fearing for their lives, hoping for utopia away from the bullets and bombs of war. They fled their country, embarking on a journey of hope to a foreign country which they heard was well-known for its hospitality — Malaysia.
However, Malaysia has not proven to be the land of dreams they had hoped for.
"Prisoners in our own home", was how a female Sri Lankan refugee, who only wished to be known as Pathmapriya, and her family have described their current situation.
Now they still regret coming to Malaysia.
They claimed that they were even afraid to walk the streets in daytime, for fear of being harassed by authorities, despite carrying the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) identification card.
Pathmapriya, her husband Ratnasabapathy and two kids, aged seven and four, arrived in Malaysia about a year ago. They entered Malaysia as tourists with a one-month-visa and registered themselves at the UNHCR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The refugees, in an exclusive interview with Malay Mail, claimed they were targets for the authorities, adding that they they had been beaten and even threatened to have their UNHCR cards torn up.
The woman, who now fears for her well-being, explained: "We cannot go out anywhere. If the police spot us, we are stopped and questioned. Despite producing our UNHCR identification cards, we are still brought to the station."
The mother is also saddened by the fact that her children are unable to get basic education and proper medical benefits in government-run institutions here.
Another refugee, Santhanantham Sinnathamby, 46, who came to Malaysia three years ago, is still waiting to go to a third country where he can make a living.
Santhanantham described his experience in Malaysia as sad and disappointing.
"I came here because I was told Malaysia is known for its hospitality but the local authorities have been very rude to us, especially to women and children," claimed Santhanantham.
"Upon arrival, I found out that refugees are not allowed to work here. I respect that, because it is the law but I am pleading to the Malaysian government to help us on a humanitarian basis. We just want to make a living until we leave this country.
"How are we to survive if we are not allowed to work and we have no money? The UNHCR in Malaysia is not helping either."
For the past three years, Santhanantham and other refugees have been living on the public’s charity. The family is now staying in Rawang. They claimed that the rent is being paid for by a Good Samaritan.
"Some people donate money and foodstuff. On a good week, there will be a kind soul everyday donating to us. But there are also times when we go two to three days without anything coming in," said Santhanantham.
Some refugees, unable to cope with the situation, have resorted to working illegally and eventually get nabbed by the Immigration Department.
A UNHCR spokesman, when contacted, said UNHCR had received complaints from refugees about local authorities but the organisation was unable to do anything.
She declined to comment further on any issue regarding the refugees.
When contacted, Immigration director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said the department had no right to arrest refugees.
However, during raids, refugees would be checked for the authenticity of their identification cards.
"If the card is genuine, then the bearer should not have a problem" said Mahmood.
"Usually the enforcement officers will carry a thumb print verification kit during raids and it is used to identify these refugees."
When asked on allegations of officers harassing refugees, Mahmood replied: "My officers do not do that."
http://www.mmail.com.my/No_solace_in_Malaysia.aspx
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