Rohingya refugees pay up to $3,000 to enter Malaysia seeking safety

Rohingya refugees are willing to pay exorbitant fees, up to RM15,000 (approximately $3,000), to enter Malaysia, viewing it as a sanctuary from the ethnic cleansing they have faced in Myanmar for over 40 years. These high costs, paid to international smuggling syndicates for air travel, do not deter desperate individuals. Many sell their belongings, borrow money, or rely on relatives to fund their journey, driven by a lack of other options and the pursuit of safety.

"Many who come to Malaysia are not looking for wealth, but because they have no other choice," said Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani Mehrom, president of the Rohingya Malaysia Organisation. "They flee oppression, conflict, and an uncertain future in their homeland. Because of this, they are willing to pay any amount demanded by syndicates as long as they can escape their life-threatening situations."

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Many who come to Malaysia are not looking for wealth, but because they have no other choice. They flee oppression, conflict, and an uncertain future in their homeland. Because of this, they are willing to pay any amount demanded by syndicates as long as they can escape their life-threatening situations.

Zafar Ahmad also highlighted cases where refugees are kidnapped by human trafficking syndicates and held for ransom before being sent to Malaysia. The syndicates demand substantial sums from the victims' families or acquaintances.

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For example, if they choose to travel by sea, the fees charged by syndicates are between 40,000 to 50,000 taka or around RM1,500 to RM1,600 per person.

Dr. Aizat Kairi, a senior lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, noted that refugees utilize two main routes into Malaysia: sea and air. The fees vary based on the route and the risks involved. Sea travel costs between 40,000 to 50,000 taka (around RM1,500 to RM1,600) per person. Air travel is significantly more expensive, involving forged passports, likely operated from Bangladesh.

Refugees typically travel illegally from Myanmar's Rakhine state or from refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Transit through neighboring countries like Thailand and Indonesia is common before attempting entry into Malaysia, often via sea. Overland entry points are frequently Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah and Sungai Golok in Kelantan.

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However, the fees charged for air travel are higher because they require the services of a passport forgery syndicate believed to be based in Bangladesh.