KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Barnabas Ki Ning fled military-ruled Myanmar to relatively prosperous Malaysia, but found life is not a lot rosier.
The 29-year-old teacher from Myanmar's ethnic Chin minority can't find a job, is denied refugee status and forced to squat in a crowded two-bedroom flat in Kuala Lumpur.
"We are struggling here. I have no proper income and have to rely on others for rent and food," said Ki Ning, who faces jail in a country which regards him as an illegal immigrant.
Sitting next to man wearing a black T-shirt bearing a picture of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Ki Ning said he was dismayed by the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Yangon.
Myanmar soldiers have rounded up suspected participants, even onlookers, in last week's huge demonstrations against military rule led by Buddhist monks despite international calls for restraint and people in Yangon describe an atmosphere of fear.
"I was hoping for some change there," said Ki Ning, whose people allege the military government tries to force them to convert to Buddhism, the dominant religion in the country.
"Now it looks like business as usual."
More than 23,000 Chins have fled to Malaysia.
Instead of finding safety, they face harassment, arrest, detention, caning and deportation, said the Chin Human Rights Organisation which tries to represent them.
In one recent case, about 60 Chin asylum seekers, including 20 women and children, were arrested for illegal entry, it said.
"Life for the Chins in Malaysia is full of abuses and uncertainties," the organisation said. "Since the beginning of this year, several hundred refugees and undocumented migrants have been caught up in similar immigration raids."
Malaysia has an estimated 46,000 refugees, just over 36,000 of them registered with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and have official status.
Of the total, about 12,700 are members of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority, another 12,000 are from other Myanmar minority ethnic groups, such as the Chins.
Malaysia views unregistered refugees as illegal immigrants since the country has yet to sign the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, ratified by more than 140 nations.
Another Chin, who gave his name as Anthony, said he was jailed for 11 months before being deported to Thailand.
He managed to raise $700 by working there, enough to pay agents to smuggle him back to Malaysia.
"Some who were unable to raise the money were sold to Thai fishermen to work on fishing boats," said the 34-year-old former computer engineer.
"My dream is to go the U.S. and start a better life."
