diaspora digest 04
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REPORT ON VISIT TO MALAYSIA 2010 (May 28th – July 20th )
Val Inchley
My original plan was to spend most of the time in Malaysia but also a week in Singapore. However,
the group in Singapore cancelled due to having to shift their church premises. This worked out as
clearly the Lord’s plan as it meant I could spend that week in Ipoh, where I had a great time of
blessing with both the Nepalis and the Tamil church.
Most of my time was taken up with Nepali ministry (preaching, teaching & visiting) and preparation for
that and meeting up with various Malaysians involved in Nepali ministry. On
arrival and in between visits I stayed with Heike and the total time with her
amounted to approximately 3 weeks. That allowed for fellowship,
understanding her situation and praying with her about study and ministry
problems and her future plans. However, I also visited IKEA (to sort out the
details for the new kitchen in my flat in the UK that my friends are currently organising) and Low Yat
(where I bought a new computer – as the present one, like me, is getting old)!
Nepali Fellowships
I visited Nepali fellowships from Kedah in the north to Johor Bahru in the
south, mostly travelling by bus. In almost all places – i.e. 2 fellowships in KL
(Sungai
Buloh &
Damansara); Klang; Kluang;
Batu Pahat; JB; 2 fellowships in
Ipoh; and Penang (Sancho Mitra,
Bayan Point, Prai & Valdor) I
preached evangelistic
messages. In Ipoh 10 men
accepted the Lord.
The following are some pictures to illustrate the different Nepali fellowships scattered throughout
Malaysia.
This was a Bible Yatra
seminar in the north,in
KEDAH, in Alor Star, with
participants from 2 of the
scattered fellowships in
the state (Jitra & Gurun)
The following pictures are all from PENANG state and illustrate fellowships and house groups.
In order, they are: (1) Sancho Mitra Fellowship (2) Bayan Point Fellowship (3) Arrowana Ladies
(4) Prai Fellowship (5) Valdor Fellowship (6) Local House Group
Below are pictures of the two fellowships in IPOH
In the KL area there are many small
fellowships. In order, those illustrated
are: (1) Shalom Centrte (2) St Mary’s
Church (3) Damansara Fellowship
group (4) Sungai Buloh meeting place
(5) Petaling Jaya Fellowship
In the south, in JOHOR BAHRU state, which is a very big, there are many fellowships. The two
pictures on this page are (1) Kluang and (2) Batu Pahat.
Devendra
Mitra Niwas
Sapana
NeMUN
Prior to my going to Malaysia, I was involved with the formation of the
Nepali Migrants Unity Network and Sapana Basyal (married to a Malaysian)
and Rajesh Maharjan (ex Qatar) had begun to design a logo and publicity
brochure. While in Malaysia, I refined this and produced a draft in
English (and also did some preparatory work on a Nepali version
together with Sapana). In each of the fellowships I visited, including where I
taught Bible Yatra, I was able to share about NeMUN and its link with Mitra
Niwas. This idea was positively seen as fulfilling a genuine need. Even the
suggestion of current migrants contributing to the budget was acceptable and a
couple of groups indicated that they would like to do this.
In JB itself, there are fellowships associated with 3 churches (denominations). In order they are:
(1) Joint Fellowship meeting (2) Men’s Bible Stusy (3) Village church (4) Town church (5) Mens’
hostel group, (6) Ladies hostel group
INF Partnership
One of the things I was asked to do by INF was to look into 2 possible options for partners for INF in
connection with our proposed Asia Regional Office. Heike helped set up the meetings and came with
me – which means she is available as a contact person if one or other of these is further developed.
Pax Tan is a senior staff member of Malaysian Care. This is a large and well-respected registered
NGO, which has involvement with refugees but not with migrants. It has links with Interserve.
Michael Moey is the Chair of Mobilisation Network, which is a coordinating body for
migrant work particularly among Nepalis. It is registered as a non-profit company.
Both men would be willing to consider their organisation partnering with INF – which
would involve them in representation, finance transfer (perhaps) and maybe some kind of
training activities. They are aware that INF does not want to open its own office and does not – at this
time – even see the need for an office in the organisation’s premises. There are pros and cons of
each organisation. MC is the better known and respected in Malaysia and is an NGO (registration
rules are stricter) but it does not work specifically with migrants. MN is newer and currently quite
small (Michael only has a small committee as yet) and is registered as a company, but it is directly
targeting migrants.
Nepali Ambassador to Malaysia
During my time in Malaysia, Sapana Basyal Karong and Kailee Wong had arranged a meeting with Dr
Rishi Adhikari, the Nepali Ambassador to Malaysia. This was a follow up to a former meeting about 2
years ago just after Dr A had arrived.
Sapana Basyal (KL & Ktm – convenor), Kailee Wong, Ashok Ghimire, Gill Nash, Ps Peter, Rabin Bogati & Susan
Khoo (Penang), Michael Moey (MNSB), Shirley Tan (MMP), Ps Santosh (MMP – PJ), Buddhi Khadka (Shalom
Centre), Ps Dhan & Amrit and Ps Elanka (MMK), Ps Rohn Pakhrin & Santa Lal Dong (JB – Holy Word), Ps Dawa
Sherpa & Rajan Nagarkoti (JB – Calvary), Ps Bhakta (Kluang), Ps Indra (Batu Pahat), Ps Bedu Khanal (Muar),
Ps Purkha (Segambut), Bed Kumar Khatiwadi (GEFONT) and Heike & myself. (not in order as in photo)
It was a very pleasant and informal gathering and I was impressed that the Ambassador (plus the
Labour Attaché plus the Consul) were willing to give over 2 hours of their time to discuss migrant
issues with a group of Christians (Nepali pastors and Malaysians involved with Nepali ministry).
Various matters were raised including the need for a comprehensive MoU (the terms of which should
be publicised), especially if Nepali girls are going to be accepted to work as maids in Malaysia. For
some reason they say a minimum wage cannot be specified ‘as wage levels depend on market
forces’. Contracts should be produced in both Nepali and English. Problems related to ID and travel
documents need to be settled so that migrants are not likely to be arrested. The problems of
Outsourcing need to be stopped. Our help with translation and advocacy is clearly appreciated but
some official recognition is also needed. The upcoming amnesty was also
mentioned.
One of the participants at that meeting was Bed Kumar Khatiwadi, a Christian who
works with GEFONT (General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions) as the Co-
ordinator of their Support Group, Malaysia (Nepali Migrant Workers' Association).
However, currently migrants are prohibited from forming unions.
Bible Yatra
Over the 7 weeks I taught Bible Yatra 5 times (NT x 4 & OT x 1) in Petaling Jaya (nr KL), Klang,
Penang, Kedah & Ipoh. Except for the 70 who attended in Klang, the numbers attending the Nepali
seminars were not great but the enthusiasm
was. Because of long working hours, 3 of
the 4 Nepali seminars were conducted in
the late evening or in one day-long session.
The 5th seminar was in English for one of
the Tamil Methodist Churches in Ipoh,
whose members support the Nepali
ministry. I was hesitant about this, but they
were so keen and I felt it was a good way to
express our gratitude for all they do for the
Nepalis. Now they want OT next year!
Rabin & Gita
(Penang)
Ashok
(Penang/Kedah)
Buddhi (KL) Lalu (KL)
Amrit & Dhan (Klang)
Phurke
(Segambut nr KL)
Nepali Girls
Whereas last year, numbers of migrants were on the decline, this year they are increasing (with the
improvement in the financial situation) and discussion is underway to allow Nepali girls to come to
Malaysia as maids (so far most Nepali girls work in factories). Even now, there are already more girls
than last year. However, follow up is difficult as most of the pastors do not have their families with
them and cannot visit the girls in their hostels on their own.
In some places there are married pastors (e.g. Penang, KL, & Ipoh. Also, one
pastor in JB currently has his sister visiting and with a friend who works in a hotel,
they are able to visit the scattered groups of girls in their hostels). While I was in
JB I was able to visit with them and this was far more profitable than going on my own
It was exciting to discover that Maya – who was baptized
when I was visiting last year – is going on with the Lord and
that her sister is now also a believer. Heike & I had visited
her mother in Jorpati last year.
One day, Heike and I went with Michael (Moey) and Buddhi
(who works with MN and MMP in the KL area)
to investigate a new group of girls in a place
called Nilai. To our amazement, we found one Christian girl (Nirmala from Bagdol) and
a (non-Christian) relative of Buddhi’s. Heike is involved in following this contact up but
there are many other such groups where we still have no contacts.
Nepali Leaders
Because the turnover of migrants is relatively short, leadership is a sometimes a problem as is also
the training of new lay leaders. In Klang, the leader of the MMM related group has
recently returned to Nepal and I have subsequently heard that both of the main
leaders of the MMK group will be leaving soon (their other
senior leader – who had been studying MDiv has also
recently left). There was a monthly meeting held in the
Cameron Highlands but now that has stopped,
although folks from Ipoh are trying to visit every 2
weeks.
Surya & Grace
(Ipoh)
Some groups have no real leaders. Some leaders are working full time in demanding jobs and have
little time for preparation for services or pastoral work. Others are on professional or outsourcing
visas and able to work full-time as pastors. However, little visitation can be done in the day-time as
most migrants are at work then for long hours. Some pastors are on student visas, but this means
they are only free for ministry at the week-ends. Most pastors have left their families behind in Nepal
and this inevitably creates its own tensions. I was also able to discuss NeMUN with all the leaders I
met – with universal enthusiasm.
Malaysians
For many years now the Malaysian church (mostly Chinese and Indian Tamil-speakers) has been
giving generously to the migrants (and to visitors like myself who go to minister to Nepalis). The most
profitable ministry has been with the Nepali migrants, but they are also involved with other
nationalities like Myanmarese, Indonesians and Bangladeshis.
This generosity has been shown in their opening their church premises for Nepali fellowships,
accepting Nepali pastors as associates, providing transportation to/from meetings, providing
khana/khaja at meetings, helping with English and computer courses and welcoming and paying
expenses for visiting teachers. There are several associations in different parts of the country that
have a loose connection with each other – both through the Nepali Sangati (started by Franklin
Karong) and now Mobilisation Network (formerly Outreach to Foreigners). In the north, in Penang,
there is a drop-in centre, Sancho Mitra and links between several fellowships and a looser link with
others in Kedah. In the KL-Klang area MMP (Migrant Ministry Partnership – that runs Shalom Centre
in KL), MMM (Malaysian Missionary Movement – Tamil Methodist) and MMK (Migrant Ministry Klang
– an interdenominational group of Klang churches of which 3 have a special interest in Nepali
ministry) work. In the south, in JB there are 3 groups of churches that facilitate Nepali ministry, but
the Nepali pastors work closely together and with others from towns elsewhere in the state.
Dawa & Rajan
(Johor Bahru)
Indra
(Batu Pahat)
Bhakta
(Kluang)
Aite, Santa & Rohn
(Johor Bahru)
JB Pastors’ Fellowship
In all areas I had meals and chats with various Malaysians and
was able to share with them also the vision of NeMUN and give
them draft English brochures. Their response was universally
positive. In JB I was also given the opportunity to share (which
I did through a PP presentation) for 5-10 minutes on NeMUN at
the area Pastors’ Fellowship.
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