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Controlling Irregular Migration: the Malaysian Experience *OUFSOBUJPOBM -BCPVS 0SHBOJ[BUJPO &VSPQFBO6OJPO ILO Asian Regional Programme on Governance of Labour Migration Working Paper No.14 Controlling Irregular Migration: The Malaysian Experience Vijayakumari Kanapathy July 2008 Copyright © International Labour Organization 2008 First published 2008 Publications of the International Labour Offi ce enjoy copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. Nevertheless, short excerpts from them may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to ILO Publications (Rights and Permissions), International Labour Offi ce, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: [email protected]. The International Labour Offi ce welcomes such applications. Libraries, institutions and other users registered with reproduction rights organizations may make copies in accordance with the licences issued to them for this purpose. Visit www.ifrro.org to fi nd the reproduction rights organization in your country. Kanapathy, Vijayakumari Controlling irregular migration : the Malaysian experience / Vijayakumari Kanapathy; International Labour Offi ce; ILO Regional Offi ce for Asia and the Pacifi c, Asian Regional Programming on Governance of Labour Migration. - Bangkok: ILO, 2008 22 p. (Working paper ; no.14) ISBN: 9789221213864; 9789221213871 (web pdf) International Labour Offi ce ; ILO Regional Offi ce for Asia and the Pacifi c, Asian Regional Programming on Governance of Labour Migration irregular migration / irregular migrant / migration policy / Malaysia 14.09.2 ILO Cataloguing in Publication Data The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Offi ce concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Offi ce of the opinions expressed in them. Reference to names of fi rms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Offi ce, and any failure to mention a particular fi rm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications and electronic products can be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offi ces in many countries, or direct from ILO Publications, International Labour Offi ce, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Catalogues or lists of new publications are available free of charge from the above address, or by email: [email protected] Visit our website: www.ilo.org/publns Printed in Thailand Controlling Irregular Migration: The Malaysian Experience Vijayakumari Kanapathy Abstract This paper examines Malaysia’s experience in curbing irregular migration. It traces the country’s shifting policies on irregular migration as it moved from relatively “soft” policies to tougher sanctions and controls. The paper proceeds to evaluate the effectiveness of these policies in terms of controlling irregular migration and sustainability. Finally, the paper speculates and makes recommendations on future policy directions. About the author Ms. Vijayakumari Kanapathy is an economist currently working as a project consultant for the World Intellectual Property Organization. Previously, she was Senior Analyst with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia and a Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, University of Malaysia. Her research interests include trade and industrial policy, labour market, and CGE Modeling. The responsibility for opinions expressed in this working paper rests solely with the author or authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Office of the opinions expressed in them, or of any products, processes or geographical designations mentioned. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Irregular Migration 2 Who are the Irregular Migrants? 3 Rationale for Irregular Migration 5 3. Policy Experiments in Combating Irregular Migration 6 Phase One: 1950s to Early 1980s 6 Phase Two: Mid-1980s to 1997 7 Phase III: 1997 Onwards 10 4. Directions for Future Policy 14 5. Concluding Remarks 16 References 17 List of Tables Table 1. Estimates of Registered Migrant Workers 19 Table 2. Policies to Combat Irregular Migration 20 Table 3. Types of Diseases Found In Registered Foreign Workers 21 Table 4. Number of Crimes Committed by Foreigners 21 Table 5. Contribution of Factors of Production 22 Controlling Irregular Migration: The Malaysian Experience Vijayakumari Kanapathy 1. Introduction Malaysia had selectively practised ‘open borders” even after gaining Independence in 19571, and irregular migration revealed itself as a “problem” only in the early eighties when the economy began to slow down. From the late 1950s to the 1960s, undocumented migrants, predominantly from Indonesia, were “silently welcomed” as they belonged to the same racial stock (bangsa serumpun) and could be easily assimilated and integrated into the Malay community. In an ethnically-based power- sharing political system, the new migrants contributed to the numerical strength and electoral power base of the Malays vis-à-vis the non-Malays (Liow, Joseph, 2003). This political motivation was later followed by economic imperatives. In the 1970s, rapid development under the New Economic Policy (NEP) allowed for the absorption of a new wave of migrants, and by 1984, there was an estimated half a million migrant population in the country, all of whom were undocumented (Ministry of Labour, n.d. p, 15). The unofficial estimates were much higher at around one million. The 1985 recession and rising unemployment witnessed a turning point in public sentiments towards migrants, invoking state response to guard and control its borders. Following a decade or so of policy experimentation using relatively “soft” approaches, the state resorted to tough sanctions to control and downsize irregular migration. What is the rationale behind the drastic shifts in policy towards irregular migrants? How successful are these polices? Are they sustainable? These are the issues that will be addressed in this paper. Section 2 provides some background information on the phenomenon of irregular migration in Malaysia. Section 3 outlines and evaluates the policies and strategies for controlling irregular migration. Section 4 speculates on future policy directions and Section 5 draws some concluding remarks. At the outset it is useful to emphasize that any meaningful analysis of irregular migration in Malaysia has to distinguish the phenomenon in mainland Peninsula from that 1 Before Independence in 1957, immigrants from China and India came in large numbers under the British rule. 2 Vijayakumari Kanapathy observed in the state of Sabah. The economic and political factors underlying the influx of migrants into Sabah differ drastically from that of the Peninsula. Also, the historical, cultural and geographical aspects tend to enhance Sabah’s propensity to attract and absorb migrants. Given the complexities in cross-border migration in Sabah, its incidence of irregular migration is relatively high and almost intractable. On the other hand, migration in Sarawak is a relatively new phenomenon, and irregular migration is insignificant. In addition, immigration is a state matter, and mainland Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak have control over their respective immigration policies. In practice, national policies on migrants are adapted to the situation in each of the states. The following will focus on the phenomenon of irregular migration in mainland Peninsula and the state of Sabah. 2. Irregular Migration Estimating the size of the migrant population in the country is a rather slippery task as the number in irregular status varies drastically. Moreover, defining the term “irregular” or “unlawful” migration itself is fraught with difficulties, especially in the case of Sabah which has a unique migration experience. Official estimates of undocumented migrants in the Peninsula has sunk to as low as 400,000 immediately following an amnesty and subsequent crackdown by the authorities and has peaked to over a million when there is a lapse in enforcement. The current estimate of the number migrants in irregular status in the Peninsula is around 0.7 million (Malaysiakini, July 17, 2006). In the state of Sabah, the official estimate ranges from 150,000 to 200,000 million (The Star, May 9, 2000), while unofficially it is estimated to be as high as 500,000. The number of documented migrant workers in the country is 1.9 million (Table 1). In other words, the incidence of irregular migration in Malaysia is relatively high at around 35 to 39 percent compared to 5 to 20 percent of annual admissions in the OECD countries (ILO, 2004, p.119). More than 70 percent of the undocumented workers are from Indonesia. In the initial years, illegal entry and employment was more common, especially among the Indonesians and the Filipinos entering Sabah. However, with the increase in border surveillance, irregular migrants are predominantly those who enter the country lawfully under different visa conditions but overstay. About half of the Indonesians who entered Sabah under a tourist visa between 1996 and
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