The Malaysian Insight

HUNDREDS of refugees who have been working in wet markets in the Klang Valley have lost their jobs since the movement-control order (MCO) in March due to stringent laws enforced by authorities to stem the spread of the Covid-19.

These foreigners are mostly UNHCR card holders, which are not recognised by the local governments.

A Myanmar community leader in Selayang, Kuala Lumpur, 52-year-old Abdul Razak, said each wet market in an area where large numbers of refugees live would have at least 200 refugee workers.

“Imagine the number of wet markets and the total number of refugees who have lost their jobs, since most of them work at wet markets,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Another refugee from Myanmar, 52-year-old Kassim Hussain, has been out of work since March.

“The rules state that if you want to work at wet markets, you must either have a Malaysian identity card or passport, as UNHCR card holders are not recognised,” he said.

Kassim’s wife has been supporting the family by working as a dishwasher in a nearby restaurant, earning RM5 per hour and working three hours a day.

The couple have two daughters, aged 12 and 15. Both have stopped attending a refugee school as their parents cannot afford the cost of RM300 a month.

Migrants were banned from working at markets earlier this year in the early months of the MCO to curb the spread of Covid-19, after market traders began testing positive for the coronavirus.

Markets, such as the wholesale market in Selayang, and the PJ Old Town Market, were temporarily shut.

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) then began enforcing existing by-laws (Undang-undang Kecil Penjaja 2007 MBPJ) banning foreign workers at markets, and so did Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Another refugee, Shahkandar Aban Nadin from Myanmar, has also been without work since the MCO in March and is using his savings to support his family of four.

“I used to collect recyclables to sell but now, due to the conditional MCO, I am not allowed to move around and this has prevented me from earning an income,” said the 38-year old.

Pre-pandemic times, he could earn between RM40 and RM80 on a good day from selling recyclables.

All refugees can depend on now are donations of aid and food from civil society groups.

What they really want however, is the means to earn an honest living.

“I want a job instead of donations because with a job I can have certainty in providing for my family. But with donations, I am not sure when or if they will come,” said 43-year-old Hussain Ali from Myanmar.

Civil societies that help refugees also know there is only so much that can be done.

Selayang-based Women For Refugees (WFR) maintains hope in the power of education by providing reading and writing lessons in English and Bahasa Malaysia to refugee women so that they stand a better chance fending for themselves.

WFR founder Arissa Jemaima said they have made video lessons for the refugees so that classes can continue online.

They also help with food packages to Rohingya, Indonesian migrants and Malaysian urban poor.

Kakak Services is another Klang Valley-based civil society group that raises funds for some 1,400 refugees around the Klang Valley, Port Klang and Selayang.

Kakak also has a digital platform to provide refugees with jobs in domestic services.

As of end August 2020, there are some 178,140 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Malaysia, some 68% are men, while 32% are women.

Those interested to volunteer or assist WFR may reach out at arissa.ismail@yahoo.com (012-4595318) and those interested to help Kakak may reach out on their instagram page kakak.services. – November 15, 2020.