>> ASIAONE / NEWS / THE STRAITS TIMES / STORY

How many Myanmar nationals here? Close to 100,000, say some
Sun, Mar 09, 2008 The Straits Times
MOST of the Myanmar nationals who are here legally range from professionals such as accountants and engineers to unskilled workers and students. They quietly go about their business and their numbers may surprise - officially, the figure is put at between 50,000 and 60,000, although Myanmar nationals here say it is closer to 100,000. If so, they would make up 10 per cent of the total number of foreigners in Singapore, which rose to just over one million last year, according to Department of Statistics estimates. The meeting place for this community is the Peninsula Plaza building near City Hall MRT station, where they flock to during weekends. Travel agents, bookshops and Myanmar food are available at this 'Little Myanmar'.

Associate Professor Daniel Lwin, the president of the Myanmar Club here, said he believes more Myanmar nationals have made their way here following the pro-democracy protests of last September. However, he could not say if they were illegal or legal immigrants.

The Myanmar Club has a membership of 100 professionals.

Prof Lwin, a former lecturer at Nanyang Technological University, has been a permanent resident here for over 20 years. He could not cite figures of Myanmar nationals here but said that his obsevation was based on 'coffee shop talk' among the Myanmar community here.

Mr Myo Myint Maung, 23, a business management undergraduate at the Singapore Management University, said he had friends who came to Singapore after the protests.

Those friends, though, 'told me they'd always wanted to leave the country. But for those who are involved in politics, or have a record of involvement, it will be almost impossible to get the passports'.

The drawcard of a life in Singapore is understandable - an estimated 90 per cent of the population in Myanmar live on about US$1 (S$1.40) a day.

Mr Myo Myint Maung himself waited three months to obtain a passport, and about a day to get a visa to enter Singapore, about 11/2 years ago.

Another Myanmar national The Sunday Times spoke to, Mr Soe Thiha, a 22-year-old mechanical engineering undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, said that for the past three years, he has heard of his countrymen swimming from Johor Strait into Singapore, although he did not know any personally.

According to him, the people who usually flee are Rohingya Muslims whose movements are restricted, such as needing to obtain a travel permit even to visit a neighbouring village.

He said: 'They can't make a living properly as they do not have full rights as citizens, and have limited access to education and health. I've heard some escaping to Thailand, Bangladesh and Indonesia.'

While the Myanmar Club helps fellow countrymen in trouble - such as hooking up abused Myanmar maids with local welfare agencies - it stays away from those who enter Singapore illegally.

Prof Lwin said: 'I've heard of them swimming across from Malaysia. It is very, very sad. I pity them as they must be very desperate.

'If they get caught, they will be deported. We cannot do anything - we leave it to the authorities.'