THE government is advised to prepare a white paper to explain to Malaysians the real situation and the implications of the influx of Chinese citizens in the country.
Stressing that the matter raised does not involve racial issue, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation, International Islamic University Malaysia’s (ISTAC-IIUM) Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican nevertheless expressed concern that it will have implications especially from the aspect of national security.
“All of us need to know. Even I as a Malaysian don’t know the real situation,” he told Malay language new portal Pertiwi TV at the Jati Diri Merdeka Asas Negara Unggul forum at Anjung Melayu in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (Aug 19).
“What has actually happened to the 1.3 million Chinese citizens who entered our country and did not leave as exposed before? This is a serious matter and no official statement has been issued to explain why this situation happened.”
Kerajaan disaran menyediakan kertas putih untuk menjelaskan kepada rakyat keadaan sebenar dan implikasi kebanjiran warga China di Malaysia, kata Profesor Sejarah Sosial dan Intelektual ISTAC-UIAM, Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican. pic.twitter.com/IqJI6KTwmH
— TV Pertiwi (@TVPertiwi_MY) August 19, 2024
Murad further referred to a Financial Times report which – citing government officials, academics, schools, and business and community associations – stated that the number of Chinese citizens living in Malaysia has almost doubled over the past three years, driven by a jump in students and new investors.
“Today, there are easily 150,000, and it could even be 200,000” Chinese citizens in Malaysia, according to Universiti Malaya’s Institute of China Studies director Ngeow Chow Bing, director, up from about 82,000 in 2022 which he described a “very conservative estimate”.
Commenting further, Murad is of the view that the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) can also examine and study the implications and the real picture regarding this issue considering that the media does not really delve into this topic.
When asked why Chinese citizens are interested in buying real estate in this country, the visiting professor at the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) attributed such tendency to Malaysia’s low-cost living standard compared to other countries in terms of medicine, education and economy.
“This is the only attraction in Malaysia. Many chose to study in Malaysia because they know our economic situation compared to other countries,” opined Murad who had in recent times proposed that places named by colonialists should be reverted to their original names, ie Tanjung Penaga for Penang capital George Town.
“The government must be vigilant because we have encouraged foreigners to come. Over time, this can have implications for the country’s security and demographics. This is what needs to be explained.”
Recall that Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had in March rubbished claims by opposition MP Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas) that there are 1.2 million illegal Chinese nationals in the country.
“I want to settle once and for all the allegations made by YB Kepala Batas that there are 1.2 million Chinese nationals who entered the country since 2018 and have not left,” Saifuddin pointed out when winding up his ministerial replies on the motion of thanks on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on March 11.
Stressing that the Madani administration was transparent about the issue and based its response on data, Saifuddin went on to clarify that 46 million foreigners had entered the country between Jan 1, 2021 and Dec 31, 2023.
“Of this, 39 million had left, meaning six million are still here,” he revealed, noting that those who remained behind were on long-term passes valid for three to five years (excluding social visits, diplomatic and student passes).
“There are those who have overstayed, and that is why we implemented the recalibration programme so that they can register (and return home),” he shared, adding that 2.6 million foreigners who overstayed had come forward to register with the Immigration Department. – Aug 21, 2024
Main image credit: mStar
