ID :
370032
Fri, 06/05/2015 - 06:51
Auther :

Rohingyas Brought In By Syndicates Packed In Rented Premises In Perai In M'sia's Penang State

By Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop BUTTERWORTH (Penang, Malaysia), June 5 (Bernama) -- Most ethnic Rohingyas brought into Penang by human trafficking syndicates are packed in rented premises in Perai. The Rohingya refugees work in small factories in Mak Mandin, Bagan Dalam and Perai and at construction sites in order to avoid detection by the authorities. Nurul Islam Yusuf Jalal, 63, said some of his family members and friends came into this country via arrangements made by human trafficking syndicates operated by Rohingyas. "The syndicate's agents persuaded the Rohingyas in Myanmar to come to Malaysia by promising them jobs. "Upon arrival, they were packed in rented premises, mostly in Perai and were forced to give a monthly sum to the syndicate members. "The Rohingyas could not communicate with outsiders and if found, they and the persons they contacted would be killed," he told Bernama, here. Nurul Islam who has been living here since 1986, said the human trafficking syndicates began to bring Rohingyas to Malaysia in 2009. "Not all arrived safely. Some were killed while others were left to die after their family members failed to pay the syndicates," said the UNHCR card holder. Another Rohingya, Jamaludin Jamal, 49, said he worked in a garment factory upon arrival four years ago after an arduous journey at the hands of a human trafficking syndicate. "About 100 people boarded the boat but less than 70 arrived here. Some died from illness and were thrown into the sea. "Most of the survivors work in factories around here (Mak Mandin and Perai). We had to give half our pay to the syndicate members for six months," he added. A supervisor at a construction site in Bukit Mertajam who wished to be known only as Teh, said most of the construction workers in the area were Rohingyas. "Some of them have UNHCR cards but most do not have documents. We sourced them through agents." He said the salaries offered to the Rohingyas were lower than that for other workers as they did not have documents, but they were provided with accommodation. "Most of them have artisan skills and are hard working as they need the money to settle their debt with the syndicates," he said. An eatery operator in Mak Mandin who identified herself as Zubaidah, said most of the Rohingya women in the area did not go out to work but stayed home to look after their children. She said some houses in her area were rented by Rohingyas, with up to three families crammed in one house, in some cases. "There have been Rohingyas who approached me for work at my restaurant, but I dare not hire them," she said. -- BERNAMA

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