Handling of the Refugee Problem

The first refugees arrived on the shores of Malaysia after the fall of Saigon in '75. They were mainly Vietnamese ethnics seeking greener pastures in the Western World. The United States, licking its wounds in the sidelines after a humiliating thrashing, (the defeat of the world's military giant by some "Stave carrying peasants) could not swallow her pride. True to Uncle Sam's spirit, she decided to intensify the propaganda war, to cover up a lost military war.

Hence, for a brief period there was a hustle-bustle of human shipments from Vietnam and operation Airlift Baby. The sensational live telecast of ex-president Gerald Ford gingerly huddling one of the cute little babies, was flashed across the TV screens all over the world. Later, the world focus was no longer on Vietnam, and the refugee problem was also conveniently forgotten.

Meanwhile, the refugees continued to arrive at a steady stream in Malaysia, rising to a peak in 78-79, the height of the Vietnam-China conflict. From the very beginning, the Malaysian Government refused to recognise them as bona fide refugees, a discriminatory departure from former policies, and contrary to the humanitarian spirit as adopted by the United Nations. Despite international censure, the Malaysian Government obstinately clung to her practice of calling the refugees illegal immigrants for obvious sly political reasons. Under international laws, illegal immigrants could at any time be booted out of the host country and deported back to where they came from.

Secondly, the double standard of the Malaysian authorities in dealing with the refugees is despicable. Since the beginning of the secession war by Muslim minorities in Mindanao, Philippines in late 1972, there began a mass exodus of Muslim refugees to Sabah. It was estimated that there are still around 100,000 refugees in the East Malaysia state. To date, the Malaysian government has maintained a silent approval or more precisely turn a blind eye to their presence. Fan Yew Teng, (an ex. DAP MP) in a letter to Far Eastern Economic Review, 11 May. 1979 wrote:

"To the credit of the Malaysian authorities there has been no fuss, outcry, stone throwing or drowning for these people of the Muslim minority group running away from the oppression of the Marcos regime. They are not called illegal immigrants but are allowed to stay as refugees. Why, then, should it be different for the Vietnamese boat people? Is it because they are of a different religious and ethnic background."

Also to the credit of the Malaysian authorities 4000 muslim refugees from Kampuchea were also allowed into the country. The question thus, is religion or race a means test for humanitarianism?

Granted Malaysia is a third world country, clouded with internal problems and frustrated by the hypocracy and half-hearted resettlement plans of Western nations, however the ruthless treatment of the Vietnamese still impinges and breaches the international code of humanitarianism. To quote a recent TV news:

"A leaking boat loaded with 100 refugees was towed into deep sea by the Malaysian authorities, given only 4 hours of fuel supply. When finally picked up by a World Vision ship, it has been adrift for 3 days. All occupants were suffering from dehydration and hunger and only 2 out of the hundred could stand on their feet!