Last week Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association went to Malaysia for a fact finding mission on the treatment and
conditions of Pakistani Christians seeking asylum there.
Malaysia as a country receives the largest amount of funding of any South-East Asian nation via the UNHCR current aid being in the region of $20,000,000.
This taken into account explains why the situation faced by asylum seekers and refugees is definitely less traumatic then faced by the same asylum
seekers in Thailand, a country that only receives close to $7,000,000 who we have extensively reported on.
The majority of of the 152,830 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia are according to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees),
from Myanmar, some 141,920, while the rest are from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Somalia, the Middle East and a small number of other countries. It is
believed that approximately 3000 Pakistani Christians reside in Malaysia and make up the largest group after refugees from Myanamar.
Malaysia has neither adopted the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or the 1967 protocol similar in situation with Thailand. As such refugees have no official
status and are considered illegal immigrants by law. However, there is de facto acceptance of refugees under the UNHCR’s mandate, albeit without affording
them any real rights.
During his visit Wilson Chowdhry met with 6 indigenous pastors and 7 Pakistani pastors who are involved with Urdu Fellowships – he even squeezed in
four talks at different churches to encourage asylum seekers. Whilst there he discovered that many Christian asylum seekers and refugees have
relatively settled lives and have permission to work in the informal sector (cash paid low grade employment), however in most cases employment is found
in the illegal black market where exploitation can occur. Accounts given of extensive working hours on extremely slight wages or no payment at
all, highlight some of the risks of asylum in Malaysia.
On an extremely positive note the response of the local indigenous churches who have worked hard to make better lives for large swathes of Pakistani
Christians and other asylum seekers and refugees, has been far beyond expectation. The provision of education centres, food supplies, rented
accommodation and advocacy help are just some of the many ways in which local churches have supported victims. Moreover they have allowed free
use of church buildings for Urdu services. This is contrary to the common insouciance and reticence to help Pakistani Christians by churches
in Thailand. Perhaps churches in Thailand could learn from the practice of those based in Malaysia who have exhibited a great passion to help the oppressed.
However in fairness Christians do make up 10% of the population of Malaysia and their churches have enjoyed a longer established period, and
hence churches have the resources and manpower to assist.
Irrespective of the large number of Pakistani Christians who have managed to get steady employment including some who have achieved business visa’s
making it legal for them to gain full employment, there are still many suffering abject poverty. Their are families squeezing into tiny rooms
albeit they have a separate shared living room area which is a boon when compared to Pak-Christians in Thailand. Moreover, many hundreds of children
have no access to formal education, they are not permitted to use public schools and private schools are well beyond the means of deprived asylum seekers
and refugees. The UNHCR funds groups to operate local schools but these are small ill equipped and receive little financial support from the
UNHCR – all are struggling to make ends meet.
Refugees have also complained about the intimidation they felt through the use of an entirely Muslim interpreter service by the UN. Moreover
some have alleged that Muslim interpreters are intentionally undermining their applications for asylum through poor or incorrect translation. There
is also a belief that local Pakistani Muslim’s are stirring up hatred towards Pakistani Christians.
One of the Pastor’s Wilson met with was Lukes (pronounced Lucas) Chnann who has initiated an educational institute named “Dignity for Children
Foundation.” Dignity is also operating a local Urdu fellowship – one of many similar churches beginning to proliferate in Malaysia. In
2014 the group applied to the UNHCR for registration as a (CBO) Community Based Organization and UNHCR ratified their request. The group is now known
as Hope for Pakistani Refugees (HPR). With the help of some private donors and and a local church they now have a small school operation of 40
children which also operates as a community centre. Sadly some local Muslim’s in the predominantly Islamic nation have taken offence to his work
for Christians and have started to react to his work.
“in that call they were abusing me and using harsh words and said to me the Muslim people are looking for me. They were demanding [That I give them] Pakistani Christian asylum seekers and refugees contact numbers and address. I was shocked because I won’t be able to do this. I consulted my well-wisher’s and community members, they suggested me to inform UNHCR, so I registered my application to OPI department on 21-04-2016.”
The angst against Pastor Lukes and his community began after an allegation of blasphemy by one of the parishioners Pastor Lukes cares
for. A local Pakistani Christian apologist Mufti Zia recorded a video that spoke against Muhammad and released it on his Facebook ID and on YouTube.
The caller held Pastor Lukes responsible for the video.
In recent days a Muslim man named Nazar Hussian has filmed his own video and has uploaded this onto his Facebook account. In the video he has displayed
the UNHCR identity card of Lukes Chnann which also contains and image of the terrified pastor. In the video he describes the alleged blasphemy
of Mufti Zia and claims that Pastor Lukes is responsible for the act of blasphemy and encouraging Christians to do so and that he is protecting Mufti
Zia.
Pastor Lukes professes his innocence, he added (sic):
“In five years I met him [Mufti Zia] only three times. He is not our community member he is not my relative even he is not my friend or our church member. Now me and my family life is at risk, I have received death threats. Since 20-04-2016 I am at home I am not going for work I am not going out. My children and wife still at home, children are not going to school. We keep on moving to different places [each] night [to] stay [away] from unseen danger. Sir I can hide myself in this situation for few days but cannot hide me and my family like this long time, my kids are very small.”
Pastor Chnann has told the BPCA that he fears for his life. Protecting a blasphemer is equivalent to blasphemy to extremists. He has little
knowledge of the person and whereabouts of Muft Zia and believes he is being unfairly targeted by the extremists seeking revenge. Moreover
he is also concerned that little help is being provided by the UNHCR to better protect him forma potential backlash and the Pakistani Muslim community
in the country are responding to the video posted by Nazar Hussain and threatening to kill Pastor Lukes and his family.
From the response from Pakistani Christians it would seem that the level of arrests of visa overstayers is low especially when compared to the same treatment
of asylum seekers in Thailand. However, none of the groups met with could provide any definitive data, as groups work in isolation and often Christian
families fear sharing their concerns with the wider community. We intend to revisit Malaysia and secure meetings with the UNCHR obtaining clear data
on estimated figures for the Pakistani Christian asylum community based there – we will also visits prisons in an attempt to gauge the number of victims
arrested.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said:
“There is a dire need for support for the asylum seeker children in Malaysia. Schools are inadequate provide extremely basic education and serve only a small fraction of the thousands of children needing formal education. A generation will be lost.”
He added:
“The inability of the UNHCR in Thailand and Malaysia to recruit Christian Urdu interpreters is a failing that has undermined many Christian asylum claims. Without such a facilitation how can the UNHCR possibly state that their asylum process is fair? Alleged feelings of intimidation and negative contrivance in undermining asylum claims by interpreters create doubt and suspicion in regards to the intent of the UNHCR. Cancellations and postponements of interviews and determination dates have left Pakistani Christians demoralised, replicating the delays in Thailand UNHCR Malaysia are leaving tehse victims stranded for up to 6 years.”
We intend to support the two established schools for asylum seekers in Malaysia, including the school run by Pastor Lukes and a school that has been started
by Pastor Ghalib through the Agape Christian Mission a pentecostal movement. Both Schools have asked for ten computers (£200 each), ten desks (£40
each), and 10 chairs (£20 each). Pastor Ghalib has also requested 4 sewing machines so that they are able to begin providing stitching courses
at their venue.
Before leaving Wilson visited some of the struggling families and gave several gifts of 50 Rm to various single mothers and families without employment.
He also provided food packages to the Agape church congregation and a smaller church run by Pastor Adam Yousaf whose church is sponsored by the ‘Redeemed
Christian Church of God.’
We would also like to be able to help some of these victims with help with small hardship grants to help with food and rent in times of dire need. We
have offered some advocacy support to a few asylum seekers and have passed on contact details for a colleague who can provided them with free telephone
support in completing applications and other concerns. Some of the victims are single mothers who have lost their husbands to fatal attacks in Pakistan
and one who is rearing her children without the support of her husband who was deported back to Pakistan.
We have initiated an appeal to provide the above mentioned support to the Pakistani Christian asylum seeker community of Malaysia as described above. If you would like to contribute to this appeal please (click this link).
Any donations for this appeal should contain the following reference ‘Love for Malaysian Asylum seekers’
Wilson Chowdhry was invited to speak at Pastor Adam Yousaf’s Church sponsored by the Redeemed Church of Christ
Dates on these photos provided by Pastor Adam are incorrect.
Wilson prays for more effective response from UN to the plight of Pakistani Christians.
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Food packages were given to the families of the congregation 
A small but passionate and lively church.
Several pastors and a larger congregation at Hope for Pakistani Christian Refugees Church
Four pastors prayed for Wilson and the BPCA.
Wilson told us how blessed he felt by the prayers from these pastors.
Pastor Tariq John prays for Wilson Chowdhry and the BPCA.
Wilson prayed for refugees at Agape Pentecostal Mission Church.
Translating was Ash Chowdhry a local Asylum seeker who managed to gain a business visa via a Christian businessman and has found employment for several other Pak-Christians too. He has agreed to be the BPCA spokesman and lead officer in Malaysia.
Ash Chowdhry translates Wilson’s talk.
Hannah Chowdhry having fun with Asylum seeker children during a barbecue at Agape International Church Ministries Australia and Malaysia’s centre for Pakistani Christians.
More children.
The centre provides clean good quality accommodation for mothers and children and will soon provide a school and stitching centres. 
The lads
Wilson Chowdhry with Pastor Ghalib and his deputy who run the centre for Agape.
Wilson with Pastor Johnson and Pastor Lukes.
Praying for the school set up by ‘Hope for Pakistani Christian Refugees.’
This family share a small room.
This single mother is surviving through charitable donations.
This single mother’s husband was deported back to Pakistan and now she survives through charitable handouts and what little her husband is managing to send despite in hiding in Pakistan.
This family will be resettled in New Zealand soon and are one of the few success stories.
This family have had their initial application and appeal rejected.
Image of staff and children at the HFPCR school.
The community made their own tables to save costs.
Students enjoy the ability to learn again.
Study provides escape from their status and situation.
Students are cooperative and help each other and are determined to help their families and other victims escape poverty and persecution.
Teachers kindly volunteer their time.
Small but growing numbers of children.
A keyboard allows for some music lessons. Computers are desperately needed.
Primary aged children get to study too!
They love their books!
Learning is fun for these children.
Our work began from the first hour we arrived in Malaysia and throughout the days. We met many useful contacts and hope with their help to make the situation faced by Pakistani Christians in Malaysia improve.