PERAK, Malaysia: An undocumented migrant from Myanmar lost his life in a road accident while attempting to escape from an immigration detention center in Malaysia.
The breakout occurred at the Bidor immigration detention depot in Malaysia’s Perak state, involving a total of 131 migrants. The group, comprising 115 ethnic Rohingya refugees and 16 Myanmar nationals of other ethnicities, escaped from the men’s block of the detention center.
Regrettably, one migrant lost their life in a road accident, as confirmed by Immigration Department director-general Ruslin Jusoh. Search operations are currently underway to locate the remaining escapees. This marks the second reported breakout from a Malaysian detention center in recent years, emphasizing the challenges faced by undocumented migrants seeking refuge.
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Malaysia, despite not recognizing refugee status, has been a sought-after destination for ethnic Rohingya escaping persecution in Myanmar or refugee camps in Bangladesh.
However, the Malaysian government has implemented stringent measures, turning away boats carrying Rohingya refugees and conducting crackdowns on undocumented migrants, leading to overcrowded detention centers. The incident sheds light on the complexities surrounding migration and the precarious conditions faced by those seeking asylum.
