"The Fear Is Always With Me": Refugees in Malaysia Recount Recent Lockdowns and Raids

“The Fear Is Always With Me”: Refugees in Malaysia Recount Recent Lockdowns and Raids

Since Malaysia imposed a Movement Control Order amid the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration raids following strict lockdown orders have affected refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers. In addition to the virus, these communities must also cope with persistent fears of possible arrest and deportation.

Author: Jaw Tu Hkawng Author: Emily Fishbein Photographer: Benjamin Photographer: Hasnoor Hussain

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center

When two people in white protective gear entered Siddique’s three-room apartment in Kuala Lumpur on 11 May, he thought they were medical personnel. Then he noticed “POLIS” written on the backs of their uniforms. “They searched every corner, [to see] if anyone was hiding. Only then did I understand that a raid was happening,” says Siddique, a Rohingya refugee from Myanmar who has lived in Malaysia for 13 years.

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