Pressured by pandemic, more than 40 migrant workers end their lives

 

Facing financial, emotional and mental pressures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 40 migrant workers have committed suicide since the movement control order (MCO) was implemented on March 18.

According to the police, there have been at least 49 foreigners who committed suicide from March to October - 46 of whom are from countries that export labourers.

A police source told Malaysiakini that most of the 46 cases occurred at workers dormitories or rumah kongsi (shared housing), leading police to believe that most of them are migrant workers.

Statistics provided by Bukit Aman CID's Prosecution and Legal Division to the news portal showed that 14 of the deceased are from Myanmar, Bangladesh (nine), Nepal (nine), Indonesia (six), India (five), Pakistan (two) and Vietnam (one).

There was also a British national, an Australian and an individual of unknown nationality among the deceased.

Of the 49 deceased, 46 had valid documents, while three were undocumented.

The source said police also found that one of the deceased had mental health issues, while 48 others had financial or family problems.

Most of the deceased, 33 of them, were between the ages of 26 and 45, while seven others were aged 19 to 25.

North South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira posited that young migrant workers might be under extra pressure if they are newlyweds, and thus more susceptible to the stresses of financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic.

However, Pereira told Malaysiakini, the actual number of foreigners who committed suicide during the MCO might be higher than the cases recorded by the police.

“When the documented workers (find out about suicide) normally they will not report it. If they report it, they will be penalised (by the authorities),” he said.

Pereira added that those working in rural areas, including in Sabah and Sarawak, may be facing worse situations.

Tenaganita executive director Glorene Das concurred.

"The number indicated by the police is worrying and troubling. Indeed, there might be cases which are not reported, as they may be undocumented," she said.

The Covid-19 pandemic had at times stoked anti-migrant sentiments in Malaysia, especially after an Al-Jazeera documentary critical of the treatment of migrants by the authorities.

However, Glorene said society must learn from the HIV pandemic and the SARS outbreak, and ensure that all preparations, responses and recovery efforts are grounded in human rights.

She said financial and health planning in response to the pandemic has to be comprehensive, inclusive and take into account all people, including migrants and refugees.

“One of the guiding principles is that suicide is preventable, and that action should be taken now to protect people’s mental health," Glorene added.

Malaysiakini has contacted the embassies of the deceased migrants' home countries for comment.

Myanmar news agency The Irrawaddy reported on June 17 that several undocumented migrants from Myanmar had committed suicide in Malaysia.

According to the report, U Aung Zaw Min, the labour attaché at the Myanmar Embassy, said he was aware of some of the Myanmar suicide cases, saying undocumented workers are unable to find work and were struggling to make a living due to the crackdown by the authorities.

On June 24, after reports of eight suicide cases involving undocumented Burmese migrants, the government of Myanmar requested Putrajaya to repatriate its illegal workers in Malaysia.

If you are feeling depressed or suicidal, or know someone who is, please call the following hotlines:

Agape Counselling Center Malaysia

Hotline: 03-77855955 or 7781 0800

The Befrienders

Hotline: 03-79568144 or 03-79568145

Life Line Association Malaysia

Hotline: 03-42657995

- Mkini