Malaysians seek refuge in Australia to escape 'failed federation', says activist

Desmond Davidson Desmond Davidson Updated 4 years ago · Published on 29 Aug 2019 11:06AM · 6 Comments

Star president Lina Soo has blamed the federal government for its failures as many Sabahans and Sarawakians have filed for refugee status in Australia. – The Malaysian Insight pic, August 29, 2019.

PUTRAJAYA must acknowledge its failure in uniting the federation as many Sabahans and Sarawakians have sought refugee status in Australia, said Borneo rights activist Lina Soo.

Soo, who is also president of the State Reform Party (Star), said 33,000 Malaysians reportedly sought refugee status in Australia – majority of them from Sarawak and Sabah – because they were fleeing a “failed federation”.

“Does Putrajaya have the answers why have so many young Malaysians fled their country to be refugees in Australia or are they like the proverbial ostrich that chooses to bury its head in the sand?” said Soo, whose party is seeking a fully autonomous Sarawak.

She said Putrajaya’s promises to convince Sarawakians and Sabahans to give up their independence and right for self-determination in return for peace and prosperity have rung hollow.

It has also left them with hopelessness and despair, she added.

She was referring to recent remarks by Australian High Commissioner Andrew Goledzinowski that Malaysians form the largest group of people from one country who have filed for refugee status in his country.

She said the failure by the federal government to fulfil the promises of a secular multicultural union, autonomy and religious freedom, development, social progress and prosperity in the 56 years of the federation, have taken their toll on the young people of Sarawak and Sabah.

The two territories, she said, had been confirmed by the World Bank as the two poorest states of the federation.

She also cited recent United Nations reports that poverty in Sarawak is higher than the national average with critical human rights issues such as healthcare, education, statelessness, land rights woes and other social development concerns.

An independent researcher also revealed that Sarawak has seven – Pakan, Lubok Antu, Song, Kanowit, Selangau, Simunjan and Daro – of the top 10 poorest districts in Malaysia. – August 29, 2019.

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Comments

  • Good. See refuge and be second class citizen.

    Posted 4 years ago by It's me GR · Reply

    • Looks like you haven't lived anywhere outside Malaysia. You sound like a village bumpkin.

      Posted 4 years ago by K Pop · Reply

    • Which, you will be one soon, once we start exporting your kids to Indonesia to work as maids.

      Don't make fun of that notion; Indonesia is progressing leaps and bounds under Jokowi, and they will overtake Malaysia in many ways.

      Ta apa - you terus tersenggih je la

      Posted 4 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • Many other people worse off than Malaysians are not seeking refugee status. Dont shame Malaysia. The 33,000 are just self serving opportunists.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Now that UMNO-BN is gone, let's hope for the better.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Lina Soo should get her facts right. Most Malaysian refugees are here (I live in Australia) for economic reasons. They would come into the country with a tourist visa with the only intention of finding work, which they are not even allowed to in the first place. The tourists visa allows one to remain in the country for three months. In order to remain in the country on a longer term, these illegal workers could simply declare themselves as political refugees and the Aus government would provide them temporary shelter to remain in the country on a longer term. After working here for a couple of years, these refugees would return home to their families while the Aus government would put a five year ban on these defaulters from entering the country in future. The Aus government is totally aware of this loophole and is currently taking great measures to curb it.

    Posted 4 years ago by Vincent Chan · Reply