WHAT is the real intent behind giving Sabah and Sarawak their own autonomy over immigration matters, including the right to ban people from entering these states? Political scientist Dr Wong Chin Huat looks at how a good intention has been abused and no longer serves its original purpose.
immigration
The impact of migration
(Pic by mirofoto / sxc.hu) WITH the recent attack on churches, a Catholic school and a Sikh gurdwara, migration is likely to be on the minds of some Malaysians. Despite government assurances that “everything is under control“, diminishing respect for rights as demonstrated by the “Allah” issue has naturally caused consternation among educated Malaysians. At […]
Why Fatine can’t come home
THE Malaysian authorities are being discriminatory and ignorant in their treatment of transsexual woman Fatine, who is facing visa problems in the United Kingdom. Instead of assisting Fatine in negotiating with the UK authorities, the Immigration director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman has instead threatened her with stern action for overstaying in the UK. Abdul Rahman […]
It’s Fatine’s choice
I’M emotionally disturbed by the public response towards the marriage of Fatine Min Baharin with Ian Young. Our Malaysian Immigration Department has declared that Fatine overstayed in the United Kingdom. If found guilty, she’ll be barred from leaving Malaysia for two years. If we don’t want people to stop us from doing what we like and what is […]
Fatine’s right to dignity
WITH reference to news reports on Malaysian transsexual Fatine‘s potential deportation from the United Kingdom, we wish to register our grave concerns at statements by Immigration Department director-general Abdul Rahman Othman and at how the story was reported. We question why Abdul Rahman singled out Ms Fatine as having “brought great shame upon us”, allegedly […]
1Malaysia and citizenship
(Source: Wiki Commons) SINCE 1Malaysia accords with the Malaysian constitution, what are some of the constitution’s main principles that can help to promote the idea? Is citizenship one such principle? The concept of common citizenship contained in the constitution is one of the most solid foundations for the creation of a united, integrated nation, a […]
Riot at Semenyih detention camp
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 July 2009: A small riot broke out at the Semenyih immigration camp near Kajang about 8pm last night involving 30 Bangladeshi, Indonesian and Myanmarese detainees. In the incident, the illegal immigrants broke the walls of their rooms. Kajang police district chief ACP Shakarudin Che Mood, when contacted, said swift action by Immigration […]
Bombs destroy immigration posts in southern Thailand
GOLOK (Southern Thailand), 14 Jan 2009: Two bombs exploded at the Malaysia-Thailand checkpoint this morning, destroying three new posts belonging to the Thai immigration at the Golok bridge. The first bomb went off at 6.30am local time (7.30am Malaysian time), destroying three of the six posts. Fifteen minutes later another bomb exploded nearby, forcing the […]
