Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: Why do migrant workers risk it all to enter Malaysia?

The thunder roared as the rain continued to pour.  A wooden barge that 60 Indonesians had used to enter Malaysia illegally was battered by the seas that evening. Mr. Nurdan was carrying an unconscious stranger in a densely vegetated forest in the eastern coast of Johor. He, alongside others, were unaware of where they were or where to go. In spite of that, all he could think about was “Don’t get caught”. If they were, as undocumented migrants, they may face up to five years in prison and six strokes of the cane. Mr. Nurdun was only 1 of many others that embarked on this perilous journey to Malaysia.

 

The World Bank estimates that there were 1.2 to 3.5 million undocumented migrants in Malaysia between 2018 and 2020, mainly those who hail from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Meanwhile, the number of documented migrants during the same period were around 1.4 to 2 million.

 

To avoid getting caught, these journeys were made during harsh stormy weather and poor conditions as they believe that they were less likely to be intercepted by patrol boats. Over the years, hundreds have lost their lives making the sea journeys from Indonesia’s Riau to the southern states of Johor and Melaka. According to the International Organization for Migration, there were 4000 recorded fatalities on worldwide migratory routes annually, with around 60 per cent being attributed to drowning. Luckily for Mr Nurdun, he was rescued by the migrants’ Malaysian contacts, who were ready to transport them to a safe house in the city of Johor Bahru.

 

Despite the risk of drowning or arrests, migrants still take the risk to land a job in Malaysia every year. Most migrants work in labour-intensive sectors such as construction, agriculture and manufacturing. They face constant fear that their lodging would be raided and be arrested for their immigration offences, facing deportation. Some even face abuse, unfair treatment and even unpaid wages from employers who could call the police on them.

 

This does not stop thousands, who would risk their lives and freedom just for a chance to earn three or five times their pay back home.

 

According to Mr Imam Riyadi of the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI),  people do not want to go through the legal channels because the process is too long or that they are not qualified. These migrant workers would require 11 different legal documents as well as undergo medical and psychological evaluations. These do not include the required training courses related to their line of work.

 

Mr. Nurdan was eventually arrested and deported in August. Yet, despite everything, what deters him from trying again was not his time at the detention center or risk of mistreatment. But rather, the ordeal at the sea.

 

 “I will not take the sea route again. It’s too risky.”

 

 

Sources:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-indonesia-illegal-migrant-workers-sea-land-journeys-dangerous-4745371