ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND ITS EFFECTS TO THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STABILITY OF A STATE

**This is my short research paper for MS-ERP related to public safety & security**

1.0  INTRODUCTION

This paper discusses the relationship related to the influx of illegal immigrants in Malaysia's to the political, economic and social stability. It involves a direct impact on national security, and some of the recommendations and views of the author are highlighted for the influx of illegal immigrants that overview collectively. This study is based on statistics and reports from related departments regarding immigrants in this country and the actual situation on field in view of the author.

1.1  General

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Land borders are shared with Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei; and maritime borders exist with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. Department of Statistic Malaysia reported that, in 2010, Malaysia’s population was 28.33 million, with 22.6 million living on the Peninsula, and is projected to increase by 10 million (35.0%) to 38.6 million in 2040.

Malaysia is a developing country is heading for the limelight nowadays. No wonder that now world is looking at Malaysia as a country that can grow with leaps and bounds. As a result of the dedication and integrity of the nation's leaders, Malaysia's named uttered in every foreigner in the world. With economic stability and the peaceful and prosperous country contributed to the immigrants came flooding Malaysia for employment.

1.2  Migration Pattern And Trend In Malaysia

Migration rate for the period 2010–2011 was 2.5 per cent which was 711,600 persons. This percentage increased by 0.6 percentage point compared to 2009–2010 period which was at 1.9 per cent. The number of migrants increased by 181,200 persons from a total of 530,400 migrants for the previous period.

Migration pattern for the period 2010–2011 showed that the population tend to migrate within the same state. Majority of migrants were intra-state migrants at 59.0 per cent, followed by inter-state migrants (27.8%) while the remaining 13.2 per cent are international migrants (does not include emigrant from Malaysia). Internal migrants (intra and interstate migrants) represent 86.8 per cent of the total migrants.

The changes of intra-state migrants for the period 2010–2011 increased by 0.6 percentage point over the previous year which was 58.4 per cent. Similarly, inter-state migrants increased by 1.5 percentage point from 26.3 per cent. However, the percentage of international migrants declined by 2.1 percentage point from 15.3 per cent. In connection with that, this paper outlines some of the key factors influx of illegal immigrants that affect the country.

Various possibilities immigrants flooded Malaysia especially from neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Philipine and countries in West Asia. Due to statistic in 1992 it is estimated that there are 1.2 million foreign workers employed in Malaysia. after more than 10 years, the statistics now indicate the number of illegal immigrants were more likely to reach the 3 million people. Many of them are illegal immigrants because they don’t have legal documents. 

Total migrant workers who flooded in Malaysia are increasing. This indicates that too many immigrants in Malaysia. It is estimated that more than 1,000,000 immigrants who have not yet registered or illegal. However, through 6P Programme that newly introduced, some positive benchmarks show to control entry of illegal immigrants into the country.

6P program stands for Comprehensive Settlement of Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants. It is a program package that incorporates several recommendations made by Management Lab Foreigner (MPWA) as the latest approach by the Government to strengthen the management of foreign immigrants in Malaysia. The number six (6) in the name of the 6P program means to the six stages of implementation to be deployed throughout the program, beginning with the Registration, Whitening, Amnesty, Monitoring, Enforcement and Repatriation.

2.0  MIGRANT EFFECTS

There are several factors as a result of the influx of illegal immigrants into the country. This situation would be worse if not addressed carefully. This paper outlines the four main causes of the destruction of the state if it is not controlled properly, ie: (i) political/security threat; (ii) job opportunities; (iii) cultural threat and contribution; and (iv) social or economic burden.

2.1  Political/Security Threat

There are various possibilities why Malaysia to be a premier destination for immigrants come to Malaysia. The key factor is the political factor Malaysia itself. Politically stable and peaceful clear signal for immigrants come to Malaysia which safe for them to stay. If politics is in an unsafe condition certainly illegal immigrants not come to Malaysia. Although Malaysia has a diversity of political views that form the basis of national interest in peaceful government, despite political differences. For examples, in Indonesia and Thailand, factors that causing political instability in the country and cause their people to go out and become illegal immigrants to other countries such as Malaysia.

The conflict and security dilemma that may result from illegal immigration in Malaysia could upset the social order and lead to political instability. Political instability is an important variable that has been widely shown to hamper economic growth (Alesina et al., 1992; Barro, 1991; 1996). Instability engenders uncertainty about future policies thereby discouraging investment and leading to capital flight. It also adversely affects the quantity and quality of labor available for production as the most skilled and educated workers in the economy flee to avoid persecution (in the wake of political upheaval) or leave in search of better economic opportunities (Fosu, 1992). Consequently, the level of output would decline and the economy would not be on an optimal growth trajectory. This underscores the importance of political stability and the need to investigate the channels through which different factors may upset the political balance.

The second category that identified is perception of migrants as a political threat or security threat to the regime of the host country. This was exemplified in the bombing on our neighbourhood countries. Immigrant groups also may pose a security threat to host countries by smuggling arms or people, forming alliances with domestic opposition groups, or participating in drug trafficking.

Influx of migrants resulting factor of safety because they have a representative of the country's ambassador to Malaysia and the High Commissioner to Malaysia. If their security is threatened, they can report to the ambassadors of their respective countries. This can make them work without discrimination by employers. Security interests that are of concern to the Government of Malaysia be a major factor influx of foreigners.

Malaysia’s law does not provide any protection to assure the safety of the offender immigrants guaranteed in Malaysia. The strength of national security at likely rope by the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), Imigration Department of Malaysia, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Home Affairs as well as other security personnel. For example, the safety of foreigners who work in Malaysia will be defended, accordingly as an event that shook Malaysia a long time ago, a case worker from Indonesia, Nirmala Bonat punish by her Malaysian employers. Employers Nirmala was sentenced by the court due to abuse done to the employees. These factors make immigrants flooded Malaysia for their welfare will be protected and secured.

2.2  Job Opportunities

Job opportunities are too many possible why foreigners came to Malaysia. High requirements in various sectors of employment resulted in increased employee and this necessarily requires a lot of human resources. Labor shortages and prompted foreign labor is required. High demand of human resources of foreign workers resulted some of the employers taking advantage of employing illegal workers to reduce their production costs and increase their margins. For example, in the construction and manufacturing, domestic energy is scarce and needs the support of foreign labor. Like the Sony factory in Prai, Penang, foreign workers equal to the local workers as well as in the construction sector.

2.3  Cultural Threat or Contribution

Malaysia has a population of multi-racial, religious and customs, comprising Malays, Chinese, Indians and indigenous people, it shows the coloring peace since independence. A violation of the norms of the host country may be regarded as a threat to basic values and a threat to national security. How a host community defines itself and how they decide who can be admitted into the community will determine the rights and privileges of those permitted to enter and whether the host culture regards a migrant community as potential citizens.

However, there is a view that the impact of illegal immigrants into the country without control, will result in the leakage of a new generation of Malaysian culture, and the worst scenario it can be a cultural threat. The perception of cultural threat to national security has led to the realization of the importance of a culture of Malaysia's which have unique multi-racial and religous that live in peaceful and united.

The contributions of immigrants to various aspects of Malaysian culture are too numerous to mention. In painting, sculpture, music, dance, scholarship, fashion, popular entertainment, and sports, immigrants have brought elements of their own culture and have embraced, reinterpreted, and reinvigorated Malaysian culture to produce a product, which although uniquely Malaysian in its formation, has near universal appeal. Malaysian music, film, and fashion have become increasingly popular throughout the world as they exalt Malaysian values in a context readily understandable to people all over the planet. Alternatively, aspects of culture brought by immigrant groups survive intact. Residents of the Malaysia can listen to music such as Dondang Sayang, Dikir Barat and Zapin and enjoy scores of different traditional cuisines. The presence of the culture of immigrants expands the recreational and leisure activities available to Malaysian and enhances our knowledge and appreciation of other cultures and peoples. Ultimately, this enhances the ability of Malaysian to communicate, travel, and conduct business abroad, enriching us socially and economically.

2.4  Social or Economic Burden

Migrants may be perceived as a social or economic burden because of the fiscal costs they impose or because of their purported social behavior, such as criminality or welfare dependency. Societies may fear that the numbers of people entering are so numerous that they will create a substantial economic burden by straining housing, education, and transportation facilities. In advanced industrial societies, services provided by the welfare state to newcomers may generate resentment. The perception that immigrants receive social welfare benefits for which they are ineligible or manipulate the asylum process to delay their removal from the Malaysia results in laws designed to stop these perceived abuses.

In fact, that immigration produces net economic gains for domestic residents. Immigrants increase the supply of labor and help produce new goods and services. However, as they are paid less than the total value of these new goods and services, domestic workers as a group gain. However, there may be losers as well as gainers among different groups of Malaysia residents. Along with immigrants, the gainers are owners of productive factors that are complementary with the labor of immigrants whose incomes will rise. Consumers who buy goods and services produced by immigrant labor also benefit. The losers may be less-skilled domestic workers who compete with immigrants and whose wages will fall.

The evidence points to the conclusion that immigration has had a relatively small adverse impact on the wage and employment opportunities of competing native groups. This effect does not appear to be concentrated in the local areas where immigrants live, but instead is dispersed across the Malaysia. This dispersal comes about in part because competing native workers migrate out of the areas to which immigrants move.

Overall, in the massive and complex Malaysia economy now a days, immigration is unlikely to have a very large effect on relative earnings or gross domestic product per capita. The impacts of immigration on the economy are relatively modest.

3.0  CONCLUSION

Whether one subscribes to traditional or modern ideas of national security, it is fair to conclude that under certain circumstances immigration can pose a threat to national security. Immigration is closely intertwined with foreign policy and national security, with each acting upon and being influenced by the other.

As a solution, for the influx of immigrants into the Malaysia has certainly succeeded in raising the level of industrialization. However, the influx of immigrants has brought many unhealthy symptoms, especially for the peace of Malaysia. Many cases reported due to crime involving illegal immigrants, particularly in cases of severe as murder, robbery and drug trafficking. Therefore, all parties must work together with government in order to control the influx of immigrants into Malaysia. Each party members concerned must carry out the tasks entrusted to the best possible. This meant that Malaysian security is preserved even with the influx of illegal immigrants.