The Outcast

Malaysia has been highly regarded as a developed country, at least ever since the leadership of Tun Mahathir Mohamed. Strong & stable in economics and technological achievements while to a certain extent, has proven itself as an independent sovereign when the neighbors succumb to the IMF offerings in the previous economic turmoil, indeed the achievement of this country is to be envied by many.

The center of the achievement would be the capital city – Kuala Lumpur, where amongst the locals, there exists thousands of foreign workforce, both legal and illegal. All are here with but one aim - apart from contributing to the success and wealth of this nation – to earn a decent living for their family back in their home countries.

Sadly, unknown by many, a sub-set of this vast number of foreigners would be a group of 50 Bangladeshis. Originally being brought into the country by "an agency", they have been showered with many but still unfulfilled sweet promises. Now, they are literally living in a limbo.

Living underneath the concrete structure of a railway station, almost unseen to the eyes of the public, they simply could not care about the hygiene factors and the daily conditions they are in. The reality is, their only concern in life would be to settle an amount of USD4000 they each "owe" to "the agency" or face a brutal consequence, so brutal in fact death would be a blessing in disguise.

Without any legal documents and work permit, they are truly helpless creatures in a limbo. Their best logical options would be either to be caught by the local enforcement and shipped back to their home country where they will face a certain death by the hands of "the agency", or die here, in a foreign land, leaving nothing but traces of stain depicting a painting of their desperate struggle.

Indeed, death would be a blessing – though never a wish dare even to be thought by them, nor their loved ones back home.

Photos:Ian Ahmad/easternimages2008
Text:Kyril F. Jamian