Myanmar government delegation leaves for Malaysia

A Myanmar special delegation comprising government officials left for Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to probe into a case, in which some Myanmar citizens were attacked and murdered in Malaysia, local media reported. The delegation members include Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Zin Yaw, Deputy Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security Daw Win Maw Tun and six members of the Federation of Overseas Employment Agencies. Myanmar President U Thein Sein called on the delegation to provide full protection for the safety of Myanmar citizens living in Malaysia. From May 30 to June 8, a total of six Myanmar workers were attacked and killed with 12 others being hospitalized in Malaysia. They were separately attacked by some gangs of Malaysian youths in the northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. On June 4, Myanmar's Foreign Ministry called on the Malaysian authorities to immediately probe into the case and take legal action to responsible persons. Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Zin Yaw, in his Aide Memoire to Malaysian Ambassador to Myanmar Ahmad Faisal Bin Mohamad on Tuesday, also called for providing adequate protection for the safety of Myanmar citizens living in Malaysia. Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has decided to cut by 50 percent the air fare for workers returning from Malaysia where they are faced with growing violence. Besides, the private Htoo Foundation will initially donate 100, 000 U.S. dollars for the Myanmar workers who want to return to Myanmar from Malaysia, according to the foundation. There are more than 400,000 Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia, according to the Myanmar embassy. About 300,000 are legal workers, while about 40,000 are illegal and about 90,000 are in various processes of refugee status.