Though it has already been two days since the Malaysian government started crackdown on illegal immigrants, Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is clueless about the number of Nepalis detained in Malaysia.

“We have been receiving reports about the arrest of Nepalis in different parts of Malaysia. But we don´t have the exact number,” a senior official at the Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur told Republica over the phone on Wednesday. 

According to local media reports, more than 1,500 immigrants, including around 60 Nepalis, have been arrested from different parts of Malaysia so far.
The official said Malaysian authorities are not clearly informing them about the legal process for repatriation of the arrested Nepali workers. 
According to Nepali foreign employment agencies, around 35,000-45,000 Nepalis are working illegally in Malaysia which is home to around 500,000 Nepalis.

Binaya Rai, a Malaysia-based Nepali businessman, told Republica that the Malaysian government´s fresh action has left Nepali migrants, including those working legally, terrified.
Business outlets, including restaurants and stores, run by Nepali wear deserted look. “Nepali businessmen, who are running business such as restaurant and stores targeting Nepali workers, have suffered huge loss,” Rai, a supplier of apparels in Kuala Lumpur, said. He said even the workers having valid visa have gone into hiding fearing arrest by security agencies.

Malaysia security agencies have conducted search operations at major localities where migrant populations are high, including Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baharu, Penang, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Kampung Gersik, Petra Jaya, Demak Laut and Samariang, Bau, Kedah, Serian, Melaka, Perak, Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Sandakan and Limbang. 
Around 10,000 enforcement officials from the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysia Police and People´s Volunteer Corps (Rela) have been deployed for a nationwide crackdown after the three-month special program ended on Monday.

Meanwhile, Nepali Embassy on Wednesday issued travel documents to more Nepalis who were working illegally in Malaysia. Around 1,800 illegal Nepali workers received travel documents from the embassy over the past four days to fly back home.

Published on: 23 January 2014 | Republica