Open AccessThe Smuggling Activity and Irregular Migration to Malaysia: A Case Study of the Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar
Author(s) -
Aizat Khairi,
Andika Abdul Wahab
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
global journal al-thaqafah
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 6
eISSN - 2232-0482
pISSN - 2232-0474
DOI - 10.7187/gjat072018-6
Subject(s) - refugee , persecution , respondent , newspaper , state (computer science) , dignity , government (linguistics) , geography , political science , socioeconomics , criminology , economic growth , sociology , law , politics , linguistics , philosophy , algorithm , computer science , economics
This study describes the smuggling activity and irregular migration to Malaysia performed by the Muslim Rohingyas from Myanmar. The Rohingyas become refugees due to a long history of systematic persecution and discrimination in their place of origin, particularly the Rakhine State. Their irregular migration from Myanmar to Malaysia has been made possible by the presence of smuggling networks whose appearances are not well understood given their clandestine and complex nature of activities. The quantitative research method was used to collect secondary and primary data. Secondary data was collected from various sources including library study, newspapers and websites. Meanwhile, primary data were collected using the method of survey. The respondents have been chosen randomly of 48 Rohingya refugees in the area of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. As result, the smuggling activity and irregular migration of the Rohingya refugees to Malaysia were influenced by the smuggler called Dalal. The Dalal has played five major roles as a recruiter, creditor, travel assistance, interpreter, and broker in their smuggling business activities. This study suggests that the Malaysian government should address the irregular migration and migrant smuggling in terms of the people-centered approach that favors not only the state’s security but also the well-being, dignity, and freedom of the people at large.