Continuous human rights persecutions have forced nearly one million Rohingyas to flee from Myanmar and seek refuge in Bangladesh. While their forced migration to the first asylum country of Bangladesh is inevitable, some have been compelled to move onward to other transit countries. Existing studies indicate various factors influencing cross-border activities among different segments of immigrants. They also suggest that the degree of transnationalism affects different kind of people on the move, subsequently brings about unique consequences to receiving community. In this study, we aim to determine factors contributing to the onward movement of Rohingyas from their refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to Malaysia. We utilize the broader concept of transnationalism in order to gauge the Rohingyas’ perception and the realities they face in relation to their onward movement from Bangladesh to Malaysia. This study employed three methods of data collection namely a survey, an in-depth interview and a focus group discussion in engaging the Rohingyas in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Resulting from a two-part of data collection conducted in 2013 and 2016, we found that the onward movement of Rohingyas was mostly driven by poverty, unconducive livelihood experiences, limited access to humanitarian aid, and inadequate refugee protection in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, positive Rohingyas’ perception toward Malaysia, coupled with the availability of job opportunities have attracted them to choose Malaysia as the next asylum country. While this study enriches the existing literatures on transnationalism and onward movement of refugees, it also provides empirical evidences for humanitarian assistances in Bangladesh and Malaysia. Keywords: Forced migration, onward movement, refugees, Rohingya, transnationalism. Cite as: Ab. Wahab, A. & Khairi, A. (2019). Moving onward: Transnationalism and factors influencing Rohingyas’ migration from Bangladesh to Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 4(1), 49-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol4iss1pp49-68
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people who are unable to access legal counsel in the justice system. It is regarded as an important aspect of the right to justice. In Malaysia, migrant workers and refugees are among the most vulnerable population, facing unequal and discriminatory treatments compounded by ineffective mechanisms to guarantee their right to justice. Malaysian legal aid schemes strive to serve various segments of vulnerable population to access legal assistance but tend to confine it to Malaysian citizens. Consequently, migrant worker and refugee population are remained vulnerable, and at risk of their rights being ignored and violated. This study argues that despite the evolution of legal aid schemes into a hybrid system that paves the way for a more robust public-private partnershipit does not result in the expansion of services to the vulnerable non-citizens. Deriving from several key informant and in-depth interview sessions with vulnerable noncitizens in Malaysia, this study highlights four key barriers hindering the provision of legal aid to the vulnerable non-citizens. They are: (i) limited scope of legal aid's coverage; (ii) financial constraint; (iii) limitation in private lawyers' participation in legal aid schemes; and (iv) the lack of awareness. Drawing from Rawls's theory of justice, this study conclude that the failure of social institutions in particular the legal aid providers to provide adequate access to legal aid to the vulnerable non-citizens suggests unfair distribution of justice in Malaysia's modern social justice system.
Artikel ini menganalisa tentang masalah pengungsi Rohingya yang melarikan diri dari tanah air mereka kerana dinafikan HAM oleh pemerintah Myanmar. Kehidupan sebagai pengungsi tidak aman berbanding dengan komunitas lokal. Mereka harus melarikan diri dari tempat asal demi kelangsungan nyawa. Proses untuk keluar tidak mudah kerana mereka harus menghadapi tantangan baik faktor pemerintah maupun kondisi alam. Malangnya, sesetengah dari pada mereka tidak terselamat dan tewas dalam pergerakan sebagai pengungsi. Walaupun mereka berjaya tiba ke destinasi baru seperti Malaysia untuk memulai kehidupan yang lebih baik, masalah lain pula muncul kerana polis pemerintah Malaysia yang tidak mengiktiraf status pengungsi bagi orang Rohingya. Jadi, masalah yang dihadapi oleh pengungsi Rohingya di Malaysia telah dikaji dari kanta Human Security United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Hasil analisa menunjukkan bahwa kehidupan seharian pengungsi Rohingya berada di dalam kondisi tidak menentu berdasarkan 7 kategori UNDP. Walau bagaimanapun, kebanyakan Rohingya merasakan bersyukur kerana kehidupan di Malaysia adalah lebih baik dari pada di Myanmar. Walaupun pemerintah tidak mengiktiraf mereka, tetapi pemerintah tidak meletakkan mereka di kem-kemtahanan. Jadi, Rohingya berasa bebas bagi lakukan aktivitas kelangsungan hidup di Malaysia. Inisiatif membantu pengugnsi Rohing ya harus diikhtiarkan supaya mereka mempunyai kehidupan yang lebih baik di Malaysia sementara menunggu pulang ke tempat asal mereka pada masa hadapan. Kata Kunci: Pengungsi Rohingya, UNHCR, UNDP, Pemerintah Malaysia
Artikel ini mengkaji dilema serta polemik dasar pengambilan pekerja asing seiring dengan faktor migrasi transnasional dan kebejatan kebanjiran Pendatang Tanpa Izin (PATI). Penyelidikan dijalankan menerusi perspektif proses penggubalan polisi (policy decision-making process) dalam Pengajian Kerajaan dan Pentadbiran Awam (Government and Public Administrative Studies). Kaedah penyelidikan kerja lapangan kualitatif dijalankan dengan menemubual pelbagai responden yang terlibat secara langsung dan tidak langsung dalam penggubalan serta pengurusan pekerja asing di Malaysia. Sampel responden dikategorikan kepada pegawai kerajaan iaitu mereka yang terdiri daripada Ahli Jawatankuasa Kabinet Mengenai Pekerja Asing dan Pendatang Tanpa Izin (JKPA-PATI), serta pegawai bukan kerajaan seperti wakil majikan dan pekerja, Badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) dan ahli akademik. Hasil kajian mendapati penglibatan pelbagai pihak dalam pengurusan pekerja asing dan kekaburan matlamat menjadi dua elemen yang mewujudkan pertikaian utama dalam perlaksanaan polisi ini. kajian juga mendapati wujud pelbagai pihak yang terlibat dalam pengurusan pekerja asing di pelbagai peringkat penggubalan dan pelaksanaan Dasar Pekerja Asing. Hal ini telah mengakibatkan berlaku percanggahan dalam proses perlaksanaan dasar tersebut sehingga proses dan titik akhir polisi yang berkaitan dengan pekerja asing tidak selari atau bercanggah dengan prioriti keselamatan negara dan kepentingan nasional Malaysia. Secara keseluruhannya, kelemahan serta ketirisan yang dikenal pasti adalah suatu risiko dan kos terhadap polisi awam, baik di peringkat penggubalan mahupun pelaksanaan, khususnya mendepani cabaran mutakhir peningkatan jumlah PATI. Ini suatu indikator penting bagi sesebuah polisi awam yang kurang berjaya tetapi boleh diperbaiki. Dapatan kajian ini sebenarnya adalah peluang untuk membantu penambahbaikan berterusan serta usaha sedia ada negara dan masyarakat secara menyeluruh.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.