Myanmar suspends sending migrant workers to Malaysia

Myanmar authorities have indefinitely suspended sending of migrant workers to Malaysia in wake of demonstrations there against Myanmar, according to a statement of the Labor Department made public Wednesday.

Notifying employment agencies through which the Myanmar migrant workers are sent, the statement said the suspension will be effective from Tuesday for the sake of safety of Myanmar workers.

Recently, demonstrations, organized by Malaysian political parties and religious organizations, were reportedly held in front of Myanmar Embassy in Malaysia which was seen as putting pressure on the internal affairs of Myanmar with regard to the affairs on Rakhine state.

In the weekend, a counter protest was staged in front of the Yangon City Hall by Myanmar political activists.

Tension has been going on in Rakhine state, especially after Oct. 9 violent attacks by armed men on three border posts in Maungtaw, The violence by armed men has plunged the state into a renewed instability and created new displacement.

The incident has promoted the government to form a 13-member investigation commission, led by First Vice President U Myint Swe, to probe into the background of Oct. 9 violent attacks by armed men on the three border posts in Maungtaw.

The said commission is tasked to report to the president by Jan 31, 2017.

Kofi Annan, who is chairman of Myanmar government-appointed Rakhine State Advisory Commission and toured the state over the past week in a fact-finding mission, also called on all communities to renounce violence, urging the security services to act in full compliance with the rule of law. Endit