Have a heart, Malaysia
We must pressure our government to accept the boatloads of Rohingya and Bangladeshis who have reached our shores
Fa Abdul, Free Malaysia Today
I once spoke to a 10-year-old girl who told me how she and her family hid inside a bus, escaping from the Myanmar army as their village was destroyed and villagers killed, including her grandparents.
She told me stories of how they endured crawling through deep waters and thick woods in the dead of night, ever so fearful of being caught.
Upon embarking on a small boat with dozens of others like herself in Thailand, her father promised them that their lives would change for the better the moment they reached Malaysia. Full of hope, she hugged her shivering little sister throughout the turbulent journey.
Upon reaching Malaysian waters, their boat was detained by the authorities. Her father was taken to a detention centre with the other men. Her mom took care of her and her three other siblings in a strange country all by themselves.
The first few weeks in Malaysia were the toughest she claimed. They slept on the streets and scavenged for food. She cried as she recalled her father’s promise which turned out to be nothing but lies.
It has been two years since the day she arrived. With her father still in detention, her mom washes dishes at food stalls to make ends meet. She doesn’t earn much, just enough for rental and simple food for the four of them.
Once in a while when they are pressed for money by officers in uniform, they are left without even a sen, and resort to begging instead.
Accompanying the girl home one day, I found myself in a low cost flat in the middle of KL city. Upon receiving a warm welcome from some 20 others sharing the tiny two room flat, I was taken to a corner and introduced to the girl’s mom and siblings.
To my surprise, I was served a can of Coke and invited to join them for lunch – a humble plate of plain rice and boiled veggie. As I took my first mouthful, I observed all the big smiles surrounding me – it was truly heart-warming.
They had nothing much to give, yet they gave everything they had.
I am not a politician and I may not know much about politics, but I know for a fact that these people we call refugees are not coming to our country to steal our wealth or disrupt our peace. They just want to survive – not even live, just survive.
